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The World Soundtrack Academy presents this award for best original song written for a film or a television series. The song must contain original music, and a clearly audible and significant rendition of the song must be used in the body of the film or as the first song of the end credits.
The 2020 winner is “Stand Up” by Joshuah Brian Campbell & Cynthia Erivo from the film Harriet.
Submit your song
All members of the World Soundtrack Academy are invited to submit composers and songs for consideration in the categories Film Composer of the Year, Television Composer of the Year and Best Original Song. Scores and songs are eligible if the film or TV series had its world premiere between 16 June 2020 and 15 June 2021. Submissions for the WSAwards longlists are now open until 15 June, and are free of charge, but membership of the WSAcademy is required.
Submit here for the Best Original Song longlist.
Who's voting
Archive
| Year | Score | Composer | Nominees | Spotify |
| 2017 | La La Land - City of Stars | Hurwitz Justin | View nominees | |
| 2016 | Anomalisa | Burwell Carter | View nominees | |
| 2015 | The Book of Life | Santaolalla Gustavo | View nominees | |
| 2014 | Despicable Me 2 | Williams Pharrell | View nominees | |
| 2013 | Skyfall | Adele | View nominees | |
| 2012 | Albert Nobbs | Byrne Brian | View nominees | |
| 2011 | Toy Story 3 | Newman Randy | View nominees | |
| 2010 | Crazy Heart | Bingham Ryan | View nominees | |
| 2009 | Slumdog Millionaire | Rahman Allah Rakha | View nominees | |
| 2008 | Wall-E | Newman Thomas | View nominees | |
| 2007 | Casino Royale | Arnold David | View nominees | |
| 2006 | Cars | Newman Randy | View nominees | |
| 2005 | Alfie | Stewart Dave | View nominees | |
| 2004 | Cold Mountain | Sting | View nominees | |
| 2003 | Gangs of New York | Clayton Adam | View nominees | |
| 2002 | Monsters Inc. | Newman Randy | View nominees | |
| 2001 | Moulin Rouge! | Baerwald David | View nominees |
The 2020 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Harriet: Stand Up | Joshuah Brian Campbell & Cynthia Erivo | ||
| Bombshell: One Little Soldier | Spektor Regina | ||
| Frozen II: Into The Unknown | Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez | ||
| Rocketman: (I’m Gonna) Love Myself Again | John Elton & Taupin Bernie | ||
| Toy Story 4: I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away | Newman Randy |
The 2019 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs': When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings | Willie Watson, Tim Blake Nelson | David Rawlings, Gillian Welch | |
| 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse': Sunflower | Post Malone, Swae Lee | Swae Lee (as Khalif Brown), Louis Bell, Post Malone (as Austin Post), Billy Walsh (as William Walsh), Carter Lang, Carl Rosen | |
| 'A Private War': Requiem for a Private War | Annie Lennox | Annie Lennox | |
| 'A Star is Born': Shallow | Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper | Lady Gaga, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando, Mark Ronson |
The 2018 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| 'The Greatest Showman': 'This is Me' | Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble | Benj Pasek and Justin Paul | |
| 'Marshall': 'Stand up for Something' | Andra Day ft. Common | Diane Warren and Common | |
| 'Murder on the Orient Express': 'Never Forget' | Michelle Pfeiffer | Patrick Doyle and Kenneth Branagh | |
| 'Black Panther': Black Panther | Lamar Kendrick | Lamar Kendrick | endrick Lamar, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer, Solana I Rowe, Matt Schaeffer, Mark Anthony Spears and Anthony Tiffith |
The 2017 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Hidden Figures: Runnin' | Williams Pharrell | Pharrell Williams | Pharrell Williams |
| Lion: Never Give Up | Sia Furler & Greg Kurstin | Sia | Greg Kurstin & Sia Furler |
| Moana: How Far I'll Go | Miranda Lin-Manuel | Auli'i Cravalho | Lin-Manuel Miranda |
| La La Land - City of Stars: City of Stars | Hurwitz Justin | Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone | Benj Pasek & Justin Paul |
| Trolls: Can't Stop the Feeling | Justin Timberlake, Max Martin & Shellback | Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake & other cast members | Justin Timberlake, Max Martin & Karl Johan Schuster |
The 2016 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Spectre: Writings On The Wall | Smith Sam | Sam Smith | Sam Smith, James Napier |
| Jenny's Wedding: True Love Avenue | Byrne Brian | Kristina Train | Brian Byrne, Kasey Jones |
| Anomalisa: None of them are you | Burwell Carter | Tom Noonan | Charlie Kaufman |
| Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet: Hypnosis | Rice Damien | Damien Rice | Damien Rice |
| The Peanuts Movie: Better When I'm Dancin' | Trainor Meghan | Meghan Trainor | Meghan Trainor, Thaddeus Dixon |
The 2015 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Lost River: Tell Me | Jewel Johnny | Saoirse Ronan | Johnny Jewel |
| Beyond the Lights: Grateful | Warren Diane | Rita Ora | Diane Warren |
| Selma: Glory | Common & Legend | ||
| Insurgent: Carry Me Home | Trapanese Joseph | SOHN | Joseph Trapanese, Cristopher Taylor |
| The Book of Life: The Apology Song | Santaolalla Gustavo | Diego Luna | Gustavo Santaolalla, Paul Williams |
The 2014 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Her: The Moon Song | Karen O. | Scarlett Johansson; Joaquin Phoenix | Karen O.; Spike Jonze |
| Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom: Ordinary Love | Clayton Adam | U2 | Bono; The Edge; Adam Clayton; Larry Mullen Jr.; Brian Burton |
| Frozen: Let It Go | Anderson-Lopez Kristen | Idina Menzel | Kirsten Anderson-Lopez; Robert Lopez |
| Despicable Me 2: Happy | Williams Pharrell | Pharrell Williams | Pharrell Williams |
| All is Lost: Amen | Ebert Alexander | Alexander Ebert | Alexander Ebert |
The 2013 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Skyfall: Skyfall | Adele | Adele | Adele & Paul Epworth |
| Albert Nobbs: Lay Your Head Down | Gonzales Anthony | M83 feat. Susanne Sondfor | Anthony Gonzalez & Susanne Sundfor |
| Life of Pi: Pi's Lullaby | Bombay Jayashri | Mychael Danna & Bombay Jayashri | |
| The Great Gatsby: Young & Beautiful | Del Rey Lana | Lana Del Rey | Lana Del Rey & Rick Nowels |
| Beasts of the Southern Wild: The Bathub | Romer Dan | The Lost Bayou Ramblers | Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin |
The 2012 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| W.E.: Masterpiece | Madonna | Madonna | Madonna, Julie Frost & Jimmy Harry |
| Albert Nobbs: Lay Your Head Down | Byrne Brian | Sinead O'Connor | Glenn Close |
| Snow White and the Huntsman: Breath Of Life | Welsch Florence | Florence + the Machine | Florence Welch & Isabella Summers |
| The Help: The Living Proof | Newman Thomas | Mary J. Blige | Thomas Newman, Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason Jr. & Damon Thomas |
| The Muppets: Man or Muppet | McKenzie Bret | Jason Segel & Walter | Bret McKenzie |
The 2011 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Toy Story 3: We Belong Together | Newman Randy | Randy Newman | Randy Newman |
| Burlesque: You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me | Warren Diane | Cher | Diane Warren |
| Country Strong: Coming Home | DiPiero Bob | Gwyneth Paltrow | Bob DiPiero, Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey & Troy Verges |
| Tangled: I See The Light | Menken Alan | Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi | Glenn Slater |
| 127 Hours: If I Rise | Rahman Allah Rakha | Dido | Dido & Rollo Armstrong |
The 2010 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Crazy Heart: The Weary Kind | Bingham Ryan | Ryan Bingham (& Jeff Bridges) | Ryan Bingham & T-Bone Burnett |
| How to Train Your Dragon: Sticks & Stones | Bergisson Jon | Jonsi | Jon Bergisson |
| Everybody's Fine: I Want to Come Home | McCartney Paul | Paul McCartney | Paul McCartney |
| Avatar: I See You | Horner James | Leona Lewis | James Horner, Sion Franglen & Kuk Harrell |
| The Princess and the Frog: Almost There | Newman Randy | Anika Noni Rose | Randy Newman |
The 2009 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| The Wrestler: The Wrestler | Springsteen Bruce | Bruce Springsteen | Bruce Springsteen |
| Je l'aimais: Run & Hide | Chalon Anna | Anna Chalon | Anna Chalon |
| Slumdog Millionaire: O Saya | Rahman Allah Rakha | M.I.A. & A.R. Rahman | A.R. Rahman and Mathangi Arulpragasam |
| Slumdog Millionaire: Jai Ho | Rahman Allah Rakha | A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaksmi Iyver, Vijay Prakash | Gulzar and Tanvi Shah |
| Gran Torino: Gran Torino | Cullum Jamie | Jamie Cullum & Don Runner | Jamie Cullum, Clint Eastwood, Kyle eastwood & Michael Stevens |
The 2008 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Into the Wild: Guaranteed | Vedder Eddie | Eddie Vedder | Eddie Vedder |
| Beowulf: A Hero Comes Home | Ballard Glen | Robin Wright Penn & Idina Menzel | Glen Ballard & Alan Silvestri |
| American Gangster: Do You Feel Me | Warren Diane | Anthony Hamilton | Diane Warren |
| Wall-E: Down to Earth | Newman Thomas | Peter Gabriel | Peter Gabriel |
| Love in the times of cholera: Despedida | Pinto Antonio | Shakira | Shakira |
The 2007 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Casino Royale: You Know My Name | Arnold David | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell and David Arnold |
| Miss Potter: When You Taught Me How to Dance | Maltby Jr. Richard | Katie Melua | Mike Batt, Nigel Westlake and Richard Maltby Jr. |
| An Inconvenient Truth: I Need to Wake Up | Etheridge Melissa | Melissa Etheridge | Melissa Etheridge |
| Once: Falling Slowly | Hansard Glen | Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova | |
| Ratatouille: Le Festin | Giacchino Michael | Camille | Michael Giacchino |
The 2006 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Cars: Our Town | Newman Randy | James Taylor | Randy Newman |
| Tsotsi: Mdlwembe | Ikaneng Kabelo | Zola | Zola |
| Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Magic Works | Doyle Patrick | Jarvis Cocker, Jonny Greenwood, Philip Selway, Steve Mackey, Steve Claydon and Jason Buckle | Jarvis Cocker |
| The Chronicles of Narnia: Can’t Take It In | Gregson-Williams Harry | Imogen Heap | Imogen Heap |
| Brokeback Mountain: A Love That Will Never Grow Old | Santaolalla Gustavo | Emmylou Harris | Bernie Taupin |
The 2005 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Hotel Rwanda: Million Voices | Guerra Andrea | Wyclef Jean | Wyclef Jean and Jerry “Wonder” Duplessis |
| Phantom of the Opera: Learn to be Lonely | Lloyd Webber Andrew | Minnie Driver | Charles Hart |
| Alfie: Old Habits Die Hard | Stewart Dave | Mick Jagger | Dave Stewart and Mick Jagger |
| Polar Express: Believe | Silvestri Alan | Josh Groban | Glen Ballard |
| Motorcycle Diaries: Al Otro Lado del Rio | Drexler Jorge | Jorge Drexler | Jorge Drexler |
The 2004 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Cold Mountain: You will be my Ain True Love | Sting | Alisson Krauss | Sting |
| Troy: Remember me | Horner James | Josh Groban & Tanja Tzarovska | Cynthia Weil |
| Big Fish: Man of the Hour | Vedder Eddie | Pearl Jam | |
| The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Into the West | Shore Howard | Annie Lennox | Fran Walsh |
| Shrek 2: Accidentally in Love | Duritz Adam | Counting Crows |
The 2003 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Gangs of New York: The Hands that built America | Clayton Adam | Bono | Adam Clayton;The Edge;Bono;Larry Mullen Jr. |
| Quiet American: Nothing in this world | Armstrong Craig | Hong Nhung | |
| 8 mile: Lose yourself | Bass Jeff | Eminem | Jeff Bass, Luis Resto |
| Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Gollum’s Song | Shore Howard | Emiliana Torrini | Fran Walsh;Janet Roddick;David Donaldson;Steve Roche;David long |
| Jungle Book 2: Jungle Rhythm | Grabowsky Paul | Haley Joel Osment;Mae Whitman;Connor Funk | |
| Frida: Burn it Blue | Goldenthal Elliot | Caetano Veloso;Lila Downs | Julie Taymor |
The 2002 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Kate & Leopold: Until | Sting | Sting | |
| Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron: This is where I belong | Zimmer Hans | Bryan Adams;R.J. Lange | Bryan Adams |
| Final Fantasy: The Dream Within | Goldenthal Elliot | Lara Fabian | Richard Rudolf |
| Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron: Here I Am | Zimmer Hans | Gretchen Peters;Bryan Adams | Bryan Adams |
| Monsters Inc.: If I didn't have you | Newman Randy | Billy Crystal;John Goodman |
The 2001 nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| Artificial Intelligence: For Always | Williams John | Cynthia Well | John Williams |
| Felicidades: Soy un angelito | Goldstein Andrés | Goldstein Andrés & Daniel Tarrab | |
| Azzurro: Cuante cose chiare | Crelier Louis | Louis Crélier, Lucia Albertoni | |
| Atlantis: Where The Dream Takes You | Howard James Newton | Diane Warren, James Newton Howard | |
| Moulin Rouge!: Come What May | Baerwald David | Baerwald David |
The nominations for Best Original Song
| Score | Composer | Performer | Writer |
| 'Mary Poppins Returns': The Place Where Lost Things Go | Emily Blunt | Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman |