Guild of Music Supervisors Awards: 'I Lied to You' Wins Top Honor, Snubbing Oscar Rival
At the 16th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, 'I Lied to You' from 'Sinners' took home the top prize, though 'Golden' from 'KPop Demon Hunters' was ineligible. Raphael Saadiq was honored with the Icon Award.
“I Lied to You” from Sinners won best song written and/or recorded for a film at the 16th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, held Feb. 28 at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. The event occurred during the final-round voting period for the Oscars (Feb. 26 to March 5). However, the predictive value of this win for the song’s Oscar chances is limited: its main Oscar rival, “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, wasn’t eligible for the GMS award because the film lacked a credited music supervisor.
The GMS Awards recognize outstanding achievements in music supervision across film, television, documentaries, advertising, trailers, and video games.
The best song award was given to the song’s co-writers, Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson, performer Miles Caton, and the film’s music supervisor Niki Sherrod. Saadiq, a three-time Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee, also received the Icon Award at the event. He performed “I Lied to You” alongside Göransson and special guest Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes on guitar.
Sherrod also won best music supervision in major budget films for her work on Sinners.
Gabe Hilfer was a double winner as well, taking best music supervision in mid-level budget films for Marty Supreme and best music supervision in a television comedy for Season 1 of The Studio.
Robin Kaye, music producer, supervisor, and former vp of the Guild of Music Supervisors, was posthumously honored with the Legacy Award. The award recognizes a music supervisor who has made a lasting impact on the industry. Alejandro Aranda, runner-up on the 17th season of American Idol in 2019, performed a tribute to Kaye, longtime music supervisor for that show.
Diane Warren, Sharon Farber, and Eden Kontesz performed the Oscar- and GMS Award-nominated “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, which is performed by Kesha on the film soundtrack.
Additional performers included Keith Secola performing the GMS Award nominated song “NDN Kars” from Dark Winds; Spotlight Artist Cris Chil performing new song “15K”; and John Tesh performing during the Sponsor Showcase.
Presenters and attendees included current Oscar nominee Kate Hudson, EGOT recipient John Legend, and Flavor Flav.
The event was produced by the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards production committee, consisting of president Lindsay Wolfington, vp Heather Guibert, and Melissa Chapman. Show production was handled by Angelia Shepperd from ABS Collective with talent producer Julie Donsky, and technical production by Nick Urbom from Big Push Media Group.
Here’s a complete list of nominations for the 16th annual Guild of Music Supervisor Awards, with winners marked.
Film Categories
Best Music Supervision in Major Budget Films
Gabe Hilfer, Karyn Rachtman – A Minecraft Movie
Kirsten Lane – The Running Man
Maggie Rodford – Wicked: For Good
WINNER: Niki Sherrod – Sinners
David Taylor, Jake Voulgarides – F1
Best Music Supervision in Mid-Level Budget Films
Vivian Aguiar-Buff, Natalie Hayden, Alexandra Nickson – Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
Linda Cohen – The Smashing Machine
WINNER: Gabe Hilfer – Marty Supreme
Jen Malone – Caught Stealing
Howard Paar – A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Trygge Toven – Song Sung Blue
Best Music Supervision in Low-Budget Films
Lucy Bright – The History of Sound
WINNER: Sarah Bromberg, Stephanie Diaz-Matos – One of Them Days
Raife Burchell, Ian Neil – Die My Love
Jody Friedman, Cyrus Paul Ghazizadeh, Jacob Yoffee – Tapawingo
Rob Lowry, Mia Riggins – Friendship
Peymon Maskan – Pools
Best Music Supervision in a Non-Theatrically Released Film
Jumi Akinfenwa – My Fault: London
Nick Angel – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Ashley Neumeister – Ruth & Boaz
WINNER: Frankie Pine – Nonnas
Karyn Rachtman, Otis Rachtman – Plankton: The Movie
Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film
“Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless; Songwriter: Diane Warren; Performer: Kesha; Music Supervisor: Heather Guibert
WINNER: “I Lied to You” from Sinners; Songwriters: Ludwig Göransson, Raphael Saadiq; Performer: Miles Caton; Music Supervisor: Niki Sherrod
“It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be” from Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy; Songwriters: Olivia Dean, Matthew Hales; Performer: Olivia Dean; Music Supervisor: Nick Angel
“Just Keep Watching” from F1; Songwriters: Amy Allen, Tate McRae, Tyler Spry, Ryan Tedder; Performer: Tate McRae; Music Supervisors: David Taylor, Jake Voulgarides
“Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” from Sinners; Songwriters: Miles Caton, Ludwig Göransson, Alice Smith; Performers: Miles Caton, Ludwig Göransson, Alice Smith; Music Supervisor: Niki Sherrod
“My Baby (Got Nothing at All)” from Materialists; Songwriter: Michelle Chongmi Zauner; Performer: Japanese Breakfast; Music Supervisor: Meghan Currier
Television Categories
Best Music Supervision in a Television Drama
WINNER: Tiffany Anders – The Lowdown Season 1
Matt Biffa – The Girlfriend Season 1
Rick Clark – Dark Winds Season 3
Dina Coughlan, Rory McPartland – Mix Tape Season 1
Kier Lehman – Forever Season 1
Marc Mondello – The Runarounds Season 1
Best Music Supervision in a Television Comedy
Thomas Golubić, Olivia Schlichting – Poker Face Season 2
Gabe Hilfer, DeVoe Yates – The Righteous Gemstones Season 4
WINNER: Gabe Hilfer – The Studio Season 1
Javier Nuño, Joe Rodríguez – Acapulco Season 4
Robin Urdang – Étoile Season 1
Laura Webb, Lindsay Wolfington – XO, Kitty Season 2
Best Music Supervision in Reality Television
Brandon Boucher – The Challenge All Stars: Rivals Season 5
Greg Danylyshyn, Ben Hochstein – Married at First Sight Season 19
WINNER: Meryl Ginsberg, Sara Torres, Jordan Young – Love Island USA Season 7
Trina-Marie Hill – Deb’s House: R&B Season 2
Carrie Hughes – Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta Season 13
Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television
“Afterlife” from Devil May Cry Season 1; Songwriters: Amy Lee, Alex Seaver; Performer: Evanescence; Music Supervisors: Justine von Winterfeldt, Christian Zabala
WINNER: “Dialing In” from Smoke Season 1; Songwriter: Thom Yorke; Performer: Thom Yorke; Music Supervisor: Mary Ramos
“Get Millie Black Main Titles” from Get Millie Black Season 1; Songwriters: Gavin Blair, Jordan Chung, Nicholas Deane, Carly Paradis, Shanique Sinclair; Performers: Equiknoxx, Shanique Marie, Carly Paradis; Music Supervisor: Thomas Golubić
“Ghosts” from The Runarounds Season 1; Songwriters: Matthew Bair, Axel Douglas Ellis, Jesse Damon Golliher, William Sebastian Lipton, Zendé Roman Murdock, Jeremy Thomas Yun; Performer: The Runarounds; Music Supervisor: Marc Mondello
“NDN Kars” from Dark Winds Season 3; Songwriter: Keith Secola; Performer: Keith Secola; Music Supervisor: Rick Clark
“This Heart of Mine” from Virgin River Season 6; Songwriter: Wesley Schultz; Performer: Wesley Schultz; Music Supervisor: Lindsay Wolfington
Documentary Categories
Best Music Supervision in a Documentary Film
WINNER: Amanda Clemens, Jody Colero – Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery
Milena Erke, Randall Poster – Apocalypse in the Tropics
Heather Guibert – Diane Warren: Relentless
Brooke Wentz – Janis Ian: Breaking Silence
Jules Zucker – Match in a Haystack
Best Music Supervision in a Docuseries
Linda Cohen – Mr. Scorsese Season 1
Ciara Elwis, Rochad Holiday, Robin Kaye, Ashley Viergever – Number One on the Call Sheet Season 1
Kirsten Lane – Vietnam: The War That Changed America Season 1
WINNER: Deborah Mannis-Gardner – Hip Hop Was Born Here Season 1
Kirsteen McLean – Underdogs Season 1
Advertising Categories
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Synch)
Andrew Kahn, Morgan Thoryk, Danielle Toporoff – “Great Hair”
Sara Matarazzo, Stephanie Pigott, Danielle Soury – “Make Life Brighter”
WINNER: Nellie Rajabi, Jonathan Wellbelove – “iPhone 17 Pro | The Ultimate Pro”
Charlotte von Kotze, Jonathan Wellbelove – “iPhone 16 Pro | Camera Control”
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Original Music)
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – “Dancing in the Dark”
Sara Matarazzo, Stephanie Pigott, Danielle Soury – “Kiss From a Lime”
Charlotte von Kotze, Jonathan Wellbelove – “Apple Intelligence | Clean Up Photos: Cat | iPhone 16”
WINNER: Patrick Lawrence Zappia – “Give Your Gift. (2025)”
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Long-Form)
WINNER: Julian Drucker – “The Theory of Spice”
Abbey Hendrix, Mika Sheerin, Jonathan Wellbelove – “Accessibility | I’m Not Remarkable”
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – “Crafting the One”
Nellie Rajabi, Jonathan Wellbelove – “6 Out of 5 Stars | WWDC25”
Advertising Categories
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Synch)
Andrew Kahn, Morgan Thoryk, Danielle Toporoff – “Great Hair”
Sara Matarazzo, Stephanie Pigott, Danielle Soury – “Make Life Brighter”
WINNER: Nellie Rajabi, Jonathan Wellbelove – “iPhone 17 Pro | The Ultimate Pro”
Charlotte von Kotze, Jonathan Wellbelove – “iPhone 16 Pro | Camera Control”
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Original Music)
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – “Dancing in the Dark”
Sara Matarazzo, Stephanie Pigott, Danielle Soury – “Kiss From a Lime”
Charlotte von Kotze, Jonathan Wellbelove – “Apple Intelligence | Clean Up Photos: Cat | iPhone 16”
WINNER: Patrick Lawrence Zappia – “Give Your Gift. (2025)”
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Long-Form)
WINNER: Julian Drucker – “The Theory of Spice”
Abbey Hendrix, Mika Sheerin, Jonathan Wellbelove – “Accessibility | I’m Not Remarkable”
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – “Crafting the One”
Nellie Rajabi, Jonathan Wellbelove – “6 Out of 5 Stars | WWDC25”
Trailer Categories
Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Film)
Megan Barbour, Naaman Snell – The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Official Trailer
Deric Berberabe, Jordan Silverberg – Wuthering Heights – Official Teaser
Vanessa Jorge Perry, Tyler Torrison – Project Hail Mary – Official Trailer
WINNER: Adam Konger, Sanaz Lavaedian, Marina Polites – One Battle After Another – Official Trailer 2
Scenery Samundra, Gregory Sweeney – Jurassic World Rebirth – Official Trailer
Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Series)
Anny Colvin – Task: Season 1 – Official Trailer
Travis Drum, Kelsey Mitchell – The Narrow Road of the Deep North – Official Trailer
Bobby Gumm – Stranger Things: Season 5 – Official Trailer
Adam Konger, Sanaz Lavaedian, Marina Polites – Wayward – Official Trailer
WINNER: Scenery Samundra, Gregory Sweeney – The White Lotus: Season 3 – Official Trailer
Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Video Game & Interactive)
Jonny Altepeter, Peter Li, Jackie Palazzolo, Vitaly Shenderovsky – “Valorant – Why We Fight” – Ego ft. Qing Madi
WINNER: Megan Barbour, Naaman Snell – “Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 6 Season 2: Lawless” – Cinematic Gameplay Trailer
Glenn Herweijer, Ben Sumner – “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Royal Edition” – Official Launch Trailer
Steve Schnur – “Battlefield 6” – Official Multiplayer Gameplay Trailer
Video Game Categories
Best Music Supervision in a Video Game (Synch)
Benjamin Beladi – “The Sandbox – 2025 Seasons (5 & 6)”
Hideo Kojima – “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach”
Steve Schnur – “EA SPORTS College Football 26”
Olivia Taphorn – “Dispatch”
Ryan Tomlin, Brandon Young – “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4”
WINNER: Allison Wood – “NASCAR 2025”
Best Music Supervision in a Video Game (Original Music)
Jérôme Angelot, Bénédicte Ouimet – “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”; Composer: The Flight
Manu Bachet – “The Rogue Prince of Persia”; Composer: Daniel Asadi
WINNER: Hideo Kojima – “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach”; Composers: Ludvig Forssell, Woodkid
Keith Leary, Peter Scaturro – “Ghost of Yōtei”; Composer: Toma Otowa
Steve Schnur – “Battlefield 6”; Composer: Henry Jackman
Brandon Young – “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7”; Composer: Jack Wall
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