Primetime Emmy Award for Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special
Awarded forOutstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special
CountryUnited States
Presented byAcademy of Television Arts & Sciences
First awarded1955
Currently held byWeird: The Al Yankovic Story (2023)
Websiteemmys.com

This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special.

Starting in 2019, the category recognizes scripted programs. Unscripted programs compete for Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special.[1]

Winners and nominations

1950s

Year Program Nominee(s) Network
1955 Dragnet Walter Schumann NBC
Amahl and the Night Visitors Gian-Carlo Menotti NBC
A Christmas Carol Bernard Herrmann CBS
Light's Diamond Jubilee Victor Young [note 1]
Medic NBC
1956 No Award Given
1957 No Award Given
1958 No Award Given
1959 No Award Given

Note: The award presented in 1955 was for "Best Original Music Composed for TV"

1960s

Year Program Nominee(s) Network
1960 No Award Given
1961 No Award Given
1962 Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years Richard Rodgers ABC
The Price of Tomatoes Leith Stevens NBC
Project XX Robert Russell Bennett
Second Chance John Williams ABC
Vincent Van Gogh: A Self-Portrait Jacques Belasco NBC
1963 Project XX Robert Russell Bennett NBC
The Dick Powell Show Joseph Mullendore NBC
Flashing Spikes John Williams ABC
Labyrinth Gian-Carlo Menotti NBC
1964
The Making of the President 1960 Elmer Bernstein ABC
East Side/West Side Kenyon Hopkins CBS
Elizabeth Taylor in London John Barry
Greece: The Golden Age George Kleinsinger NBC
The Kremlin Georges Auric
Saga of a Western Man Ulpio Minucci, Joe Moon and Rayburn Wright ABC
1965 No Award Given
1966 No Award Given
1967 No Award Given
1968 No Award Given
1969 No Award Given

Note: Award titled Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composed for Television 1962–64

1970s

Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network
1970
(22nd)
The Challengers Pete Rugolo CBS
Gene Kelly's Wonderful World of Girls Van Alexander NBC
1971
(23rd)
The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau "The Tragedy of the Red Salmon" Walter Scharf ABC
Do You Take This Stranger? Pete Rugolo NBC
Hamlet John Addison
1972
(24th)
Jane Eyre John Williams NBC
Brian's Song Michel Legrand ABC
The Snow Goose Carl Davis NBC
1973
(25th)
The Red Pony Jerry Goldsmith NBC
A Brand New Life Billy Goldenberg ABC
Liza with a Z John Kander and Fred Ebb NBC
1974
(26th)
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Fred Karlin CBS
The Migrants Billy Goldenberg CBS
Portrait: A Man Whose Name Was John Laurence Rosenthal ABC
1975
(27th)
QB VII "Part 1 & 2" Jerry Goldsmith ABC
Queen of the Stardust Ballroom Billy Goldenberg CBS
1976
(28th)
Babe Jerry Goldsmith CBS
Dark Victory Billy Goldenberg NBC
Gypsy in My Soul Cy Coleman CBS
The Supercops Jack Urbont
1977
(29th)
Sybil Leonard Rosenman and Alan and Marilyn Bergman NBC
Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years John Barry ABC
Helter Skelter Billy Goldenberg CBS
Minstrel Man Fred Karlin
Raid on Entebbe David Shire NBC
1978
(30th)
See How She Runs Jimmie Haskell CBS
Actor Billy Goldenberg PBS
The Defection of Simas Kudirka David Shire CBS
Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women Dick DeBenedictis NBC
1979
(31st)
Friendly Fire Leonard Rosenman ABC
First, You Cry Peter Matz CBS
The Hal Linden Special Ken Welch and Mitzie Welch ABC
The Word Alex North CBS

1980s

Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network
1980
(32nd)
High Midnight Jerry Fielding (posthumously) CBS
The Last Convertible "Part 1" Pete Rugolo NBC
Salem's Lot Harry Sukman CBS
The Silent Lovers Gerald Fried NBC
1981
(33rd)
Masada "Part 2" Jerry Goldsmith ABC
Father Damien: The Leper Priest Peter Matz NBC
Homeward Bound Fred Karlin CBS
Masada "Part 4" Morton Stevens ABC
The Tempest Live with the San Francisco Ballet (Great Performances) Paul Chihara PBS
1982
(34th)
The Princess and the Cabbie Patrick Williams CBS
Ivanhoe Allyn Ferguson CBS
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Billy Goldenberg ABC
Killjoy Bruce Broughton CBS
The Letter Laurence Rosenthal ABC
A Woman Called Golda Michel Legrand Syndicated
1983
(35th)
Rage of Angels Billy Goldenberg NBC
The Blue and the Gray "Part 2" Bruce Broughton CBS
Drop-Out Father Peter Matz
The Thorn Birds "Part 1" Henry Mancini ABC
V Joe Harnell NBC
Who Will Love My Children? Laurence Rosenthal ABC
1984
(36th)
The First Olympics: Athens 1896 "Part 1" Bruce Broughton NBC
Concealed Enemies "Investigation" Jonathan Tunick PBS
Master of the Game "Part 1" Allyn Ferguson CBS
The Mystic Warrior "Part 1" Gerald Fried ABC
Something About Amelia Mark Snow
1985
(37th)
Camille Allyn Ferguson CBS
Do You Remember Love David Shire CBS
Murder with Mirrors Richard Rodney Bennett
Seduced Patrick Williams
1986
(38th)
Peter the Great "Part 1" Laurence Rosenthal NBC
Death of a Salesman Alex North CBS
An Early Frost John Kander NBC
A Letter to Three Wives Johnny Mandel
North and South "Part 1" Bill Conti ABC
1987
(39th)
Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna "Part 1" Laurence Rosenthal NBC
The Last Days of Patton Allyn Ferguson CBS
LBJ: The Early Years Johnny Mandel NBC
Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder "Part 2" Billy Goldenberg
Under the Influence Nan Schwartz CBS
1988
(40th)
The Bourne Identity "Part 1" Laurence Rosenthal ABC
April Morning Allyn Ferguson CBS
Foxfire Johnny Mandel
Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story "Part 3" Gerald Fried ABC
Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace Dick DeBenedictis NBC
1989
(41st)
Lonesome Dove "The Return" Basil Poledouris CBS
Bridge to Silence Fred Karlin CBS
The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro Chris Boardman NBC
Pancho Barnes Allyn Ferguson CBS
War and Remembrance "Part 11" Bob Cobert ABC

1990s

Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network
1990
(42nd)
[2]
The Shell Seekers James Di Pasquale ABC
Do You Know the Muffin Man? Lee Holdridge CBS
The Kennedys of Massachusetts "Part 3" David Shire ABC
Last Flight Out Christopher Young NBC
The Old Man and the Sea Bruce Broughton
People Like Us "Part 2" Billy Goldenberg
The Phantom of the Opera "Part 2" John Addison
1991
(43rd)
[3]
Stephen King's It "Part 1" Richard Bellis ABC
Decoration Day Patrick Williams NBC
Johnny Ryan Chris Boardman
The Killing Mind James Di Pasquale Lifetime
Lies Before Kisses Don Davis CBS
1992
(44th)
[4]
O Pioneers! Bruce Broughton CBS
Doublecrossed Richard Bellis HBO
Fire in the Dark Arthur Kempel CBS
A Little Piece of Heaven Don Davis NBC
Survive the Savage Sea Fred Karlin ABC
1993
(45th)
[5]
Danielle Steele's Jewels "Part 1" Patrick Williams NBC
An American Story Mark Snow CBS
Call of the Wild Lee Holdridge
Mortal Sins Joseph Conlan USA
The Sea Wolf Charles Bernstein TNT
1994
(46th)
[6]
Lush Life Lennie Niehaus Showtime
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble Richard Bellis ABC
Geronimo Patrick Williams TNT
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All "Part 1" Mark Snow CBS
Stephen King's The Stand "Part 4" W. G. Snuffy Walden ABC
1995
(47th)
[7]
Young Indiana Jones and the Hollywood Follies Laurence Rosenthal Family
Buffalo Girls "Part 1" Lee Holdridge CBS
Children of the Dust "Part 1" Mark Snow
Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long Patrick Williams TNT
30 Years of National Geographic Specials Jay Chattaway NBC
1996
(48th)
[8]
The Canterville Ghost Ernest Troost ABC
Annie: A Royal Adventure! David Michael Frank ABC
Larry McMurtry's Dead Man's Walk "Part 1" David Bell
Norma Jean & Marilyn Christopher Young HBO
The Tuskegee Airmen Lee Holdridge
1997
(49th)
[9]
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Travels with Father Laurence Rosenthal Family
After Jimmy Patrick Williams CBS
Calm at Sunset Ernest Troost
Quicksilver Highway Mark Mothersbaugh Fox
True Women Bruce Broughton CBS
1998
(50th)
[10]
Glory & Honor Bruce Broughton TNT
Forbidden Territory: Stanley's Search for Livingstone Mark Adler ABC
From the Earth to the Moon "1968" Michael Kamen HBO
House of Frankenstein "Part 2" Don Davis NBC
Merlin "Part 1" Trevor Jones
1999
(51st)
[11]
Alice in Wonderland Richard Hartley NBC
David and Lisa Marco Beltrami ABC
Mutiny Lee Holdridge NBC
Rear Window David Shire ABC
Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You Carl Johnson

2000s

Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network
2000
(52nd)
[12]
RKO 281 John Altman HBO
Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder Ernest Troost CBS
Don Quixote Richard Hartley TNT
Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble Charles Bernstein Showtime
Walking with Dinosaurs Ben Bartlett Discovery
2001
(53rd)
[13]
For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story Arturo Sandoval HBO
Bailey's Mistake Mason Daring ABC
Haven Lawrence Shragge CBS
Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot Martin Davich NBC
Papa's Angels Velton Ray Bunch CBS
2002
(54th)
[14]
Shackleton "Part 2" Adrian Johnston A&E
Dinner with Friends Dave Grusin HBO
Last Call Brian Tyler Showtime
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story "Part 2" Rupert Gregson-Williams CBS
The Mists of Avalon "Part 1" Lee Holdridge TNT
We Were the Mulvaneys Patrick Williams Lifetime
2003
(55th)
[15]
Eloise at the Plaza Bruce Broughton ABC
Hitler: The Rise of Evil Normand Corbeil CBS
The Lost World "Part 2" Robert Lane A&E
Martin and Lewis Ernest Troost CBS
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone John Altman Showtime
2004
(56th)
[16]
Eloise at Christmastime Bruce Broughton ABC
Dance in America: Lar Lubovitch's Othello (Great Performances) Elliot Goldenthal PBS
Fallen Angel Ernest Troost CBS
Helter Skelter Mark Snow
The Last King "Part 2" Robert Lane A&E
The Nazi Officer's Wife Sheldon Mirowitz
2005
(57th)
[17]
Warm Springs Bruce Broughton HBO
Miracle Run Joseph Conlan Lifetime
Pride George Fenton A&E
Revelations "Part 1" Joseph Vitarelli NBC
Salem's Lot Christopher Gordon and Lisa Gerrard TNT
Sometimes in April Bruno Coulais HBO
2006
(58th)
[18]
Into the West Geoff Zanelli TNT
The Dive from Clausen's Pier Bruce Broughton Lifetime
Human Trafficking "Part 1" Normand Corbeil
Sleeper Cell "Al-Faitha" Paul Haslinger Showtime
The Water Is Wide Jeff Beal CBS
2007
(59th)
[19]
Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King "Battleground" Jeff Beal TNT
Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters Todd Boekelheide HBO
Broken Trail David Mansfield and Van Dyke Parks AMC
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee George S. Clinton HBO
The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines Joseph LoDuca TNT
Longford Robert Lane HBO
The Path to 9/11 John Cameron ABC
2008
(60th)
[20]
The Company "Part 1" Jeff Beal TNT
Bernard and Doris Alex Wurman HBO
For One More Day Lennie Niehaus ABC
John Adams "Independence" Robert Lane HBO
Masters of Science Fiction "Jerry Was a Man" Laura Karpman Showtime
Sense and Sensibility Martin Phipps PBS
2009
(61st)
[21]
Into the Storm Howard Goodall HBO
Grey Gardens Rachel Portman HBO
Little Dorrit "Part 5" John Lunn PBS
Loving Leah Jeff Beal CBS
Taking Chance Marcelo Zarvos HBO
24: Redemption Sean Callery Fox

2010s

Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network
2010
(62nd)
[22]
Temple Grandin Alex Wurman HBO
Blessed Is the Match (Independent Lens) Todd Boekelheide PBS
Georgia O'Keeffe Jeff Beal Lifetime
The Pacific "Part 10" Blake Neely, Geoff Zanelli, and Hans Zimmer HBO
When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story Lawrence Shragge CBS
You Don't Know Jack Marcelo Zarvos HBO
2011
(63rd)
[23]
Mildred Pierce "Part 5" Carter Burwell HBO
Any Human Heart "Part 2" Dan Jones PBS
The Pillars of the Earth "Anarchy" Trevor Morris Starz
Sherlock A Study in Pink David Arnold and Michael Price PBS
Thurgood Rob Mathes HBO
2012
(64th)
[24]
Hemingway & Gellhorn Javier Navarrete HBO
Game Change Theodore Shapiro HBO
Hatfields & McCoys "Part 1" John Debney and Tony Morales History
Missing "The Hard Drive" Robert Duncan and Kim Planert ABC
Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice Michael Giacchino
Sherlock A Scandal in Belgravia David Arnold and Michael Price PBS
2013
(65th)
[25]
World Without End "Medieval Life and Death" Mychael Danna Reelz
The Girl Phillip Miller HBO
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God Ivor Guest and Robert Logan
Parade's End "Part 5" Dirk Brossé
Restless Lorne Balfe Sundance
Ring of Fire Anton Sanko Lifetime
2014
(66th)
[26]
Sherlock "His Last Vow" David Arnold and Michael Price PBS
American Horror Story: Coven "The Seven Wonders" James S. Levine FX
Clear History Ludovic Bource HBO
Fargo "The Crocodile's Dilemma" Jeff Russo FX
Herblock: The Black & the White Rob Mathes HBO
The White Queen "The Final Battle" John Lunn Starz
2015
(67th)
[27]
Bessie Rachel Portman HBO
American Horror Story: Freak Show "Orphans" Mac Quayle FX
Away and Back William Ross Hallmark
The Missing "Eden" Dominik Scherrer Starz
Sofia the First "The Curse of Princess Ivy" Kevin Kliesch Disney Channel
24: Live Another Day "11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m." Sean Callery Fox
2016
(68th)
[28]
The Night Manager "Part 2" Victor Reyes AMC
All the Way James Newton Howard HBO
Descendants David Lawrence Disney
Fargo "Loplop" Jeff Russo FX
Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise Jeff Beal Hallmark
War & Peace "Part 1" Martin Phipps Lifetime
2017
(69th)
[29]
Fargo "Aporia" Jeff Russo FX
Feud: Bette and Joan "Pilot" Mac Quayle FX
Five Came Back "The Price of Victory" Jeremy Turner Netflix
O.J.: Made in America "Part 3" Gary Lionelli ESPN
Suite Française Rael Jones Lifetime
The White Helmets Patrick Jonsson Netflix
2018
(70th)
[30]
March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step Cyril Aufort Hulu
Alias Grace "Part 1" Mychael Danna and Jeff Danna Netflix
The Commuter (Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams) Harry Gregson-Williams Prime Video
Crazy Diamond (Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams) Cristobal Tapia de Veer
Godless "Homecoming" Carlos Rafael Rivera Netflix
USS Callister (Black Mirror) Daniel Pemberton
2019
(71st)
[31]
Chernobyl "Please Remain Calm" Hildur Guðnadóttir HBO
Escape at Dannemora "Episode 5" Edward Shearmur Showtime
Good Omens "In the Beginning" David Arnold Prime Video
True Detective "The Final Country" T Bone Burnett and Keefus Ciancia HBO
When They See Us "Part 2" Kris Bowers Netflix

2020s

Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network
2020
(72nd)
[32]
Watchmen "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice" Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross HBO
Hollywood "Hooray for Hollywood, Part 2" Nathan Barr Netflix
Little Fires Everywhere "The Spider Web" Mark Isham and Isabella Summers Hulu
Mrs. America "Reagan" Kris Bowers FX
Unorthodox "Part 1" Antonio Gambale Netflix
2021
(73rd)
[33]
The Queen's Gambit "End Game" Carlos Rafael Rivera Netflix
Fargo "East/West" Jeff Russo FX
Oslo Jeff Russo and Zoë Keating HBO
The Underground Railroad "Chapter 2: South Carolina" Nicholas Britell Prime Video
WandaVision "Previously On" Christophe Beck Disney+
2022
(74th)
[34]
The White Lotus "Mysterious Monkeys" Cristobal Tapia de Veer HBO
1883 "1883" Brian Tyler and Breton Vivian Paramount+
Moon Knight "Asylum" Hesham Nazih Disney+
Station Eleven "Unbroken Circle" Dan Romer HBO Max
A Very British Scandal "Episode 1" Nathan Barr Prime Video
2023
(75th)
[35]
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson Roku
Hocus Pocus 2 John Debney Disney+
Ms. Marvel "Time and Again" Laura Karpman
Prey Sarah Schachner Hulu
A Small Light "What Can Be Saved" Ariel Marx Nat Geo

Notes

  1. ^ Light's Diamond Jubilee was simulcast on ABC, CBS, DuMont and NBC.

Programs with multiple nominations

Composers with multiple awards

Composers with multiple nominations

References

  1. ^ "Television Academy Rules Changes for 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. December 13, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  3. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  4. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  5. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  6. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  7. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  8. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  9. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  10. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  11. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  12. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  13. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  14. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  15. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  16. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  17. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  18. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  19. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  20. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  21. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  22. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  23. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  24. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  25. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  26. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  27. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  28. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  29. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  30. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  31. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  32. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  33. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  34. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  35. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
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