Eighteen of this year’s 54 nominees, or one-third of the total in seven categories, are first-timers to the competition. And only 12 are previous winners of TV’s highest honor. Composer Dave Porter, whose long professional relationship with creator-producer Vince Gilligan dates back to “Breaking Bad,” earned his first nominations for Apple TV’s “Pluribus”: music composition for a series, main title theme music, and (unusual for a composer) outstanding sound mixing for a series.
Three other composers received two noms apiece: Jeff Beal, composition for a limited or anthology series plus main title theme for “All Her Fault”; Sean Callery, the same two categories for “The Beast in Me”; and Daniel Pemberton, composition for a series for “Slow Horses” and best song for “Spider-Noir.” Beal and Callery are previous Emmy winners. Film-scoring legend Hans Zimmer, who already has two Oscars and five Grammys, could finally win an Emmy (in his eighth time at bat) for co-composing the documentary score for “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age.” This year’s statistics are a mixed bag. Only eight women were nominated (or 15%), down from nine last year; but 15 people of color (28%) received nominations, up from 24% last year.
Also, 31 individual programs were chosen from 417 entries in the seven music categories, down from 480 entries last year. A first in the song category (officially “music and lyrics”) is “Mis Figuritas” from “Hacks,” the first-ever Spanish-language song to be nominated. And only five of the 31 programs nominated are from traditional broadcast networks—all in the music direction category.
Final round voting takes place Aug. 17-26. Winners will be announced Sept. 5 and 6. Approximately 750 members of the TV Academy’s Music Peer Group are eligible to vote.
Music Composition for a SeriesA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max)Dan RomerOne prior nominationepisode “In the Name of the Mother”Guitars, fiddles, whistling offer homespun folk soundPalm Royale (Apple TV)Jeff ToyneOne win, one other nominationepisode “Maxine Drinks Martinis Now”Fun ’60s-style jazz with wordless vocalsPluribus (Apple TV)Dave PorterFirst nomination (three this year)episode “We Is Us”Voices, orchestra, synths create unsettling ambianceSlow Horses (Apple TV)Daniel Pemberton, ToydrumThree noms for Pemberton, one for Toydrumepisode “Missiles”Edgy contemporary sounds enhance UK spy dramaSpider-Noir (Prime Video)Kris Bowers, Michael Dean ParsonsFour noms for Bowers, one for Parsonsepisode “Step Into My Office”Cool noir-ish feel with modern orchestra, thereminWidow’s Bay (Apple TV)David FlemingOne win, one other nominationepisode “Our History”Eerie strings, dark musical colors for town’s evil past Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or SpecialAll Her Fault (Peacock)Jeff BealFive wins, 14 other nomsEpisode 7Alternately tense and melancholy strings, pianoThe Beast in Me (Netflix)Sean Callery, Sara BaroneFour wins for Callery, one nom for Baroneepisode “The Beast and Me”Scary string textures, suspenseful minor chordsBlack Rabbit (Netflix)Danny Bensi, Saunder JurriaansOne prior nom for eachepisode “Isle of Joy”Grim, percussion-heavy score for action in finaleIn the Blink of an Eye (Hulu)Thomas NewmanOne win, four other nominationsVast time-space canvas for Andrew Stanton filmSensitive orchestral, choral accompanimentWashington Black (Hulu)Cameron MoodyFirst nominationepisode “If You See My Mama, Whisper Her This…”Symphonic backdrop for emotional finale Music Composition for a Documentary, Nonfiction or Reality ProgramHigh Horse: The Black Cowboy (Peacock)Raphael SaadiqOne prior nominationepisode “F*ck Westerns”Mix of traditional score and modern hip-hopJohn Candy: I Like Me (Prime Video)Tyler StricklandFirst nominationProfile of beloved comic actorString orchestra brings emotional resonanceKingdom (BBC America)Segun AkinolaFirst nominationEpisode 2Voices, instruments recorded in ZambiaMel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man! (HBO Max)Jeff MorrowFirst nominationProfile of iconic writer-directorJazz combo, drums for aspiring drummer BrooksOcean with David Attenborough (National Geographic)Steven PriceOne win, two other nominationsExploring Earth’s undersea habitatsHuman voices, small string ensemble add intimacyPrehistoric Planet: Ice Age (National Geographic)Kara Talve, Anže Rozman, Hans ZimmerSeven noms for Zimmer, four for Talve, three for Rozmanepisode “The Big Freeze”Octobass, other rare instruments offer strange sounds Music DirectionThe Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show (NBC)Miguel GandelmanFirst nominationBad Bunny extravaganzaWith Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Cardi B, othersThe Late Show with Steven Colbert (CBS)Louis CatoFirst nominationSeries finaleElvis Costello, Paul McCartney, Jon Batiste performThe Oscars (ABC)Michael BeardenThree nominations98th annual Academy Awards ceremonyHuntrix, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban performSaturday Night Live (NBC)Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis, Eli Brueggemann, Maddie RiceOne win for Brueggemann, seven noms each for Pickett, PendarvisEpisode 16, aired April 4Host Jack Black, musical guest Jack White performWicked: One Wonderful Night (NBC)Stephen OremusOne prior nominationMusic special promoting “Wicked: For Good”Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, others in cast perform Music and LyricsThe Boys (Prime Video)Christopher Lennertz, Daveed DiggsOne win for Lennertz, one nom for DiggsSong “Raise Him Up”Diggs as Oh Father sings rousing gospel numberHacks (HBO Max)Carlos Rafael Rivera, David StalThree wins for Rivera, first nom for StalSong “Mis Figuritas”Jean Smart sings ranchera song in Grammy bidThe Pitt (HBO Max)Gavin Brivik, Andrew BirdFirst nomination for eachSong “Need Someone”Touching ballad after beloved patient Louie diesSouth Park (Comedy Central)Trey ParkerFive wins, 14 additional nomsSong “Christian Woman”Holiday tune satirizes religious attitudesSpider-Noir (Prime Video)Warren Oak Felder, Sebastian Kole,
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