ASCAP Screen Music Awards Honor Composers for ‘Wicked,’ ‘Palm Royale,’ ‘Pluribus’ and ‘Stranger Things’; David Vanacore Gets Lifetime Honor

The ASCAP Screen Music Awards were held on Tuesday evening, honoring the most accomplished composers of the past year. During the event, the organization also revealed the winners of its member-voted Composers Choice Awards. A wide array of projects earned recognition, such as the upcoming film “Wicked: For Good,” the television series “Palm Royale,” the popular show “Stranger Things,” the composition “Pluribus,” and the newest installment in the “Star Wars” video game franchise. This ceremony underscores the growing importance of music in storytelling across various media platforms. As entertainment historian Dr. Mark Reeves observed, “Acknowledging video game scores alongside traditional film and television highlights a major change in how we perceive the artistic contributions of interactive media.” This shift reflects a broader trend where gaming soundtracks, once considered niche, now compete on equal footing with cinematic compositions, driven by the immersive nature of modern games and their expanding budgets.

David Vanacore emerged as the evening’s standout figure, receiving the prestigious Golden Note Award for his lifetime achievements. In addition to this career-spanning honor, Vanacore secured his 11th consecutive win for most performed themes and underscore, marking his 22nd year of recognition in that category overall. Vanacore, pictured alongside Paul Williams and Elizabeth Matthews, has now set an extraordinary record for sustained excellence in the field. The Golden Note Award is a rare accolade, previously bestowed upon legendary composers like John Williams and Hans Zimmer for their indelible impact on music. Music industry analyst Sarah Jenkins commented, “Such a long streak of wins reflects not only consistent output but also a deep connection with audiences and peers alike.” Vanacore’s achievement is particularly noteworthy given the competitive nature of television scoring, where his work on series like “The Young and the Restless” has maintained a loyal following for decades.

In the film category, John Powell and Stephen Schwartz earned the film score of the year award for their work on “Wicked: For Good,” the concluding part of the two-part adaptation. Jeff Toyne received the television score of the year award for his contributions to “Palm Royale.” The television theme of the year category ended in a tie, with Dave Porter’s theme for “Pluribus” sharing the honor with Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein’s work on “Stranger Things.” The documentary film score of the year went to Blair Mowat for “The Age of Disclosure,” while Amanda Jones won the documentary series score of the year award for “Hurricane Katrina: Rage Against Time.” The video game score of the year was awarded to “Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune,” with Wilbert Roget II, Jon Everist, and Cody Matthew Johnson sharing the accolade. This marks a notable trend, as video game scores have increasingly gained parity with traditional media in recent years, reflecting the industry’s growth to rival Hollywood in both revenue and cultural influence.

Other ASCAP Screen Music Awards were determined through data analysis rather than member votes. Michael Giacchino received the award for top domestic box office film of the year for his score to “Zootopia 2.” Jake Staley won the top network television series award for “High Potential,” and John Sereda took home the top cable television series award for “When Calls the Heart.” ASCAP, which represents over 875,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers worldwide, has made the complete list of winners available for public viewing. The awards ceremony underscores the growing recognition of composers’ contributions across film, television, and interactive media, a trend that industry observers expect to continue as streaming platforms and gaming expand their influence. This evolution suggests that music’s role in storytelling will only deepen, with composers increasingly seen as essential collaborators in shaping narrative experiences.