Oscars 2015: New rules for music categories announced

Academy Awards organizers have put new rules in place to ensure fair campaigning in Oscar’s music categories.

Academy members are no longer allowed to contact voters via any means to promote their song for nomination.

Members will also not be allowed to attend a live performance of eligible songs unless attached to a screening.

It comes following the disqualification in the original song category this year after it emerged a songwriter had emailed voters to consider his song.

Alone Yet Not Alone, the title track from an independent Christian-faith film, beat other high-profile contenders to secure a surprise place on the shortlist.

It was later discovered Bruce Broughton – a former Academy governor and current executive committee member – emailed at least 70 of the 240-member music branch during the nomination period to bring his song to their attention.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said at the time Broughton had undermined “the integrity of the voting process”, adding he “took advantage of information that few other potential nominees are privy to”.

Bruce Broughton denied any wrongdoing and said he was “devastated” at the disqualification of his song, which he co-wrote with Dennis Spiegel.

Four compositions were left competing for the award, which was eventually won by Let It Go – written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez – from Disney animation Frozen.

The second rule change involving the attendance of live performances is understood to address the number of concert events which were held this year to highlight songs and scores.

Such events featured Idina Menzel singing Let It Go, Pharrell Williams performing Happy and the music from Inside Llewyn Davis.

Although the events will still be permitted to take place, music branch members will not be allowed to attend.

The next Oscars will be held on February, 22 2015 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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