Oscars Limit Live Song Performances to Two Amid Backlash

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that only two of the five nominated songs in the Best Original Song category will receive live performances at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15. The selected tracks are "Golden" from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters and "I Lied to You" from the Best Picture nominee Sinners, which leads all films with 16 nominations. The ceremony, hosted by Conan O'Brien, will air live on ABC at 7 p.m. ET and stream on Hulu.

In a letter sent to nominees and their representatives, producers Raj Kapoor, Katy Mullan and Taryn Hurd explained the decision stems from time constraints in the three-hour, 30-minute broadcast. The addition of a new Best Casting category, along with efforts to maintain a fast-paced and cohesive show, limited the scope for musical segments. Staging all five performances would require about 25 minutes, potentially cutting into other planned elements. Instead, the producers chose to highlight the two songs tied to films where music played a key role in global cultural resonance and audience engagement.

The remaining nominees will be featured through custom video packages incorporating film footage to...