As Emmy voting draws to a close, the 2020 music nominations span rookies to regulars. Martin Phipps landed his sixth nomination overall for the dramatic score to Netflix’s “The Crown.” Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and his scoring partner Atticus Ross nabbed a nomination for their first series, HBO’s “Watchmen.” Emmy fave “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” grabbed another music supervision nom, while composers Thomas Mizer and Curtis Moore landed their first for music and lyrics.
There is a wealth of music nominated across different sounds and genres. Variety breaks it all down in the annual Emmy chart.
Music Composition for a Series
"The Crown" (Netflix)Composer: Martin PhippsPedigree: Six previous nominations
“Aberfan”Vibe: Solo horn for a grieving Elizabeth; choir for mourning Welsh village
"Euphoria" (HBO)Composer: LabrinthPedigree: First nomination (two this year)
“’03 Bonnie and Clyde”Vibe: Contemporary sounds complement teen sex-and-drugs drama
"The Mandalorian" (Disney Plus)Composer: Ludwig GoranssonPedigree: First nomination
“Redemption”Vibe: Bass recorder, unusual colors, 70-piece orchestra for bounty hunter
"Ozark" (Netflix)Composers: Danny Bensi, Saunder JurriaansPedigree: First nominations
“All In”Vibe: Grim, unsettling sounds for dangerous drug cartel schemes
"Succession" (HBO)Composer: Nicholas BritellPedigree: Won last year for theme
“This Is Not for Tears”Vibe: Classically styled “concerto grosso” for son betraying father
Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special
"Hollywood" (Netflix)Composer: Nathan BarrPedigree: Two previous noms (three this year)
“Hooray for Hollywood”Vibe: Jazzy soundscape for ’40s-era film-biz glamour
"Little Fires Everywhere" (Hulu)Composers: Mark Isham, Isabella SummersPedigree: One win for Isham; first nomination for Summers
“The Spider Web”Vibe:Piano, percussion, strings for powerful Mia-burning-Elena-photo finale
"Mrs. America" (FX)Composer: Kris BowersPedigree: One previous nomination
“Reagan”Vibe: Propulsive strings for determined ERA supporters post-Reagan win
"Unorthodox " (Netflix)Composer: Antonio GambalePedigree: First nomination (two this year)
“Part 1”Vibe: Dramatic score avoids Hebraic music clichés
"Watchmen" (HBO)
Trent Reznor, Atticus RossPedigree: First nomination for both (both received two this year)
“It’s Summer and We’re Running Out of Ice”Vibe: Nine Inch Nails-style driving electronic score for superhero sequel
“Watchmen”
HBO
Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special
"Becoming" (Netflix)Composer: Kamasi WashingtonPedigree: First nomination
Doc about Michelle ObamaVibe: Breezy, ‘70s-style soul-jazz score from L.A. saxophonist
"Home" (Apple TV Plus)Composer: Amanda JonesPedigree: First nomination
“Maine” episode of architectural seriesVibe: Indie-rock-style acoustic guitar for rural New England house
"McMillion$" (HBO)Composers: Pinar Toprak, Alex KovacsPedigree: First nominations
Doc about McDonald’s Monopoly game fraud in FloridaVibe: “Heist” vibe, cop-show jazz provides lighthearted tone for FBI probe
"Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness" (Netflix)Composers: Mark Mothersbaugh, John Enroth, Albert FoxPedigree: Second nomination for Mothersbaugh, first for Enroth, Fox
Doc about bizarre Oklahoma zookeeperVibe: Electric guitars, banjo, marimba for locale and caged big cats
"Why We Hate" (Discovery)Composer: Laura KarpmanPedigree: Two prior Primetime nominations
Six-part series about hatred around the globeVibe: Orchestra, electronics, voices paint moods from violent to melancholy
Music Direction
"The Kennedy Center Honors " (CBS)Music Director: Rickey MinorPedigree: One win, eight other nominations (two this year)
Annual Washington, D.C., salute to the artsPerformers: Carrie Underwood, John Legend, Audra McDonald, among others
"Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince" (CBS)Music Directors: Sheila E., Jimmy Jam, Terry LewisPedigree: First nominations
Four-year anniversary of artist’s deathPerformers: Susanna Hoffs, St. Vincent, Beck, Mavis Staples, among others
"The Oscars" (ABC)Music Director: Rickey MinorPedigree: One win, eight other nominations (two this year)
92nd Annual Academy AwardsProduced all music, conducted 45-piece orchestra
"Saturday Night Live" (NBC)Music Directors: Lenny Pickett, Eli Brueggemann, Leon PendarvisPedigree: Second noms for Pickett, Pendarvis; one win for Brueggemann First
“SNL at Home” episode
Chris Martin performs; tribute to music producer Hal Willner
"Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show" (Fox)Music Director: Adam Wayne BlackstonePedigree: Second nomination
Annual music show during year’s top-rated sportscast
Shakira, Jennifer Lopez perform
Music and Lyrics
"The Black Godfather" (Netflix)Music and Lyrics by: Pharrell Williams, Chad HugoPedigree: First nominations
Song “Letter to My Godfather”Vibe: End-title anthem celebrating legendary music executive
"Euphoria" (HBO)Music and Lyrics by: LabrinthPedigree: Second nomination this year
Song “All for Us”Vibe: Zendaya sings; huge production number closes final episode
"Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" (HBO)Music and Lyrics by: David Dabbon, Joanna Rothkopf, Jill Twiss, Seena ValiPedigree: Four wins for Twiss, two for Vali, one for Rothkopf; first nom for Dabbon
Song “Eat S—, Bob”Vibe: Hilarious, profane production number targeting litigious coal magnate
"Little Fires Everywhere" (Hulu)Music and Lyrics by: Ingrid MichaelsonPedigree: First nomination
Song “Build It Up”Vibe: Ballad about mothers and daughters closes miniseries
"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" (Amazon Prime)Music and Lyrics by: Thomas Mizer, Curtis MoorePedigree: First nominations
Song “One Less Angel”Vibe: Faux ‘60s pop hit for performer Shy Baldwin at USO show
"This Is Us" (NBC)Music and Lyrics by: Siddhartha Khosla, Taylor GoldsmithPedigree: Second nomination for Khosla, first for Goldsmith
Song “Memorized”Vibe: Blind singer (Kate and Toby’s son) performs before stadium crowd
"Watchmen" (HBO)Music and Lyrics by: Trent Reznor, Atticus RossPedigree: Second nominations this year
Song “The Way It Used to Be”Vibe: ’40s style big-band number with vocalist set against lynching
Nicole Rivelli/Amazon
Main Title Theme Music
"Carnival Row" (Amazon Prime)Composer: Nathan BarrPedigree: Second nomination this year
Period fantasy about fairies, other mythical creaturesVibe: Theater organ, virtuosic violin, women’s choir set grand stage
"Defending Jacob" (Apple TV Plus)Composer: Ólafur ArnaldsPedigree: First nomination
Miniseries about family torn apart when son accused of murderVibe: Violin, cello, electronics establish melancholy, noirish tone
"Hollywood"(Netflix)Composer: Nathan BarrPedigree: Third nomination this year
Ryan Murphy series about making it in post-WWII film bizVibe:Big band plus strings for wannabes climbing back of Hollywood sign
"Unorthodox" (Netflix)Composer: Antonio GambalePedigree: Second nomination this year
Fact-based miniseries about leaving Orthodox Jewish familyVibe: Propulsive strings, electronics for lines establishing Jewish eruv concept
"Why We Hate " (Discovery)Composer: Laura KarpmanPedigree: Second nomination this year
Roots of tribalism, bigotry, violence exploredVibe: Symphonic overture for hateful imagery hints at darkness, hope
"Wu-Tang: An American Saga" (Hulu)
Composer: The RZA
Pedigree: First nomination
Dramatized history of Wu-Tang Clan against drug, violence backdrop
Vibe: Hip-hop beat, plus voices, orchestra for images of bees, drugs, kung fu
Music Supervision
"Better Call Saul"(AMC)Music Supervisor:Thomas GolubićPedigree:Two previous nominations
“The Guy for This” episodeVibe:Swiss yodeling for ice-cream-devouring ants; Reggaeton for Jimmy
"Euphoria"(HBO)Music Supervisors:Jen Malone, Adam Leber
Pedigree” Second nomination for Malone, first for Leber
“And Salt the Earth Behind You” episodeVibe:Arcade Fire song for abortion scene; Donny Hathaway for Rue’s dad
"Insecure"(HBO)Music Supervisor: Kier LehmanPedigree: First nomination
“Lowkey Movin’ On” episodeVibe: SiR, Vince Staples perform live at Issa’s block party
"Killing Eve" (BBC America)Music Supervisors: Catherine Grieves, David HolmesPedigree: First nominations
“Meetings Have Biscuits” episodeVibe: Eve, Villanelle kiss to Unloved cover of the Kinks’ “This Strange Effect”
"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" (Amazon Prime)Music Supervisors: Robin Urdang, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Daniel PalladinoPedigree: Five wins for Sherman-Palladino, three for Palladino, two for Urdang
“It’s Comedy or Cabbage” episodeVibe: Period ‘60s tunes for Shy Baldwin
"Stranger Things" (Netflix)Music Supervisor: Nora FelderPedigree: Second nomination
“The Case of the Missing Lifeguard” episodeVibe: ‘80s songs by Madonna, Wham!; “American Pie” for violent finale
"Watchmen" (HBO)Music Supervisor: Liza RichardsonPedigree: First nomination
“This Extraordinary Being” episodeVibe: Garland Wilson, Ink Spots, Eartha Kitt tracks set 1940s mood