‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Wicked,’ ‘Sinners’ and ‘F1’ Among Honorees at Hollywood Music in Media Awards

On November 19, the historic Hollywood venue The Avalon on Vine Street was the site of the 16th Hollywood Music in Media Awards, a ceremony dedicated to celebrating outstanding musical contributions to visual media. The animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters" was honored with the award for Best Song in an Animated Film for its track "Golden." The song was performed by the group HUNTR/X and co-written by lead vocalist EJAE alongside Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Park Hong Jun.

The feature film "Sinners" achieved a notable triple victory, securing Best Feature Film Score, Best Feature Film Song, and Best On-Screen Performance. The winning song, "I Lied To You," was performed on-screen by Miles Caton, with both the score and the song’s composition credited to Ludwig Göransson, who co-wrote the track with Raphael Saadiq. Göransson, who previously earned an Academy Award for his work on "Black Panther," is celebrated for his ability to move fluidly between musical styles. Additionally, Jon M. Chu’s "Wicked: For Good" was named Best Music-Themed Film, Biopic, or Musical, while "Wicked: One Magical Night" took home Best Music Performance or Special Program, underscoring the growing anticipation for the upcoming film adaptation of the beloved stage musical.

In the television categories, Lady Gaga and Andrew Watt received the award for Best Song in a TV Show or Limited Series for "Dead Dance," featured in the series "Wednesday." Theodore Shapiro was honored with Best Score in a TV Show or Limited Series for his work on "Severance," and Simon Franglen earned Best Score in a Sci-Fi or Fantasy Film for "Avatar: Fire and Ash." As Shapiro remarked, “Awards like the HMMAs affirm music’s role as the emotional core of visual storytelling—it’s what lets viewers connect with a narrative on a deeper level.” Atlantic Records’ "F1" soundtrack was also recognized as Best Soundtrack Album.

The awards also highlighted achievements in interactive and documentary media. "League of Legends: Welcome to Noxus" won Best Video Game Score, while "Against the Tide" from "Wuthering Waves" claimed Best Video Game Song. In the documentary field, "Dear Me" from "Diane Warren: Relentless"—written by Diane Warren and performed by Kesha and Warren herself—won Best Song in a Documentary Film. This broadening of categories reflects the increasing integration of music into gaming and streaming platforms, a trend that continues to reshape audience engagement with media soundtracks.

A full list of winners has been released to the public. The event served as a tribute to the collaborative nature of modern media composition, honoring the essential work of composers, songwriters, and performers in defining the sonic landscape of today’s film, television, and video game industries.