Hollywood's big night of music is approaching and "Wicked: For Good" is at the top of this year's nominations for 2025 Hollywood Music in Media AwardsThe phenomenal film starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo stars alongside a glittering roster full of big names, from Ed Sheeran and Miley Cyrus, to Hans Zimmer and Ludwig Göransson.
The magic of Wicked: For Good continues — this time not only in theaters, but also at the premier ceremony honoring music in cinema. The sequel to the beloved Wicked, who stole the show in 2024, leads this year's nominations at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) 2025, collecting six awards and confirming his power as a musical and cinematic phenomenon.
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The event, which will be broadcast live worldwide for the first time on November 19th via the Laurel Canyon Live app, is the most glamorous Oscar anteroom for those active in the field of entertainment music. The nominations include legendary names, acclaimed composers, singers and producers, proving that 2025 is a year when music meets cinematic storytelling more dynamically than ever.
This year's top contender is Wicked: For Good, with six total nominations, followed by Sinners with five, and the F1 and The Ballad of Wallis Island with four. Wicked's music, composed by the legendary Stephen Schwartz, managed to captivate audiences and critics alike. The songs "No Place Like Home" (featuring Cynthia Erivo) and "The Girl in the Bubble" (featuring Ariana Grande) are up for the top spot in the "Song – Feature Film" category.
The film's soundtrack, signed by Republic Records, is also among the favorites for the “Soundtrack Album” award. Composer John Powell, known for his work in How to Train Your Dragon and The Bourne Identity, is nominated for “Best Score – Feature Film”, attracting particular interest for its emotional and theatrical approach.
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The list of nominees is impressive and full of strong musical names. From Miley Cyrus, who is up for the award for the song “Dream As One” by Avatar: Fire and Ash, to Ed Sheeran who co-signed the "Drive" by F1, this year's event looks like a musical summit. Among them is Hans Zimmer, who continues to dominate with nominations for the F1 and other productions, proving that he remains the ultimate composer of cinematic tension.
His presence Sinners, with music by Ludwig Göransson, completes the golden foursome of this year's favorites. Göransson, known from the Black Panther, combines soul, alternative pop and cinematic drama in a unique way, while the songs “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” and “I Lied to You” They stand out for their intensity and emotion.
Among the composers who received distinctions are Alexandre Desplat (Frankenstein), Max Richter (Hamnet), Jonny Greenwood (One Battle After Another), but also Volker Bertelmann (A House of Dynamite). All of them are constants in the field of film music, giving HMMA this year an air of “Oscar buzz”.
It is noteworthy that this year's awards include, for the first time, separate categories for television productions, video games and advertising projects, showing how music is now expanding into every form of digital storytelling.
From League of Legends until Valorant, video game music is officially recognized as a major form of artistic expression, with names like Nine Inch Nails (Tron: Ares) and Michael Giacchino (Fantastic Four: First Steps) to give a new dimension to the musical spectrum of the entertainment industry.
This year, the Hollywood Music in Media Awards celebrates its 16th anniversary, with the Avalon Theater in Hollywood welcoming the biggest artists and creators of the year. Among the guests and performers, AR Rahman, Diane Warren, Kesha, Aiyana-Lee and Aryana Sayeed stand out. The ceremony promises a dazzling musical evening, full of surprises, emotion and of course… real magic.
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And while Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo continue to enjoy the success of Wicked: For Good, the public is eagerly waiting to see if their "green magic" will turn into golden statuettes at this year's HMMA.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain: the Wicked: For Good has become a symbol of the connection between music and cinema — a work that reminds us why songs can tell stories just as powerful as images.
