Okay movie and music fans you know the Oscars usually bring out some seriously epic musical moments right? Think show-stopping performances of the Best Original Song nominees iconic ballads and maybe even a surprise or two. Well this year's 2025 Academy Awards decided to shake things up and made a pretty controversial choice: no live performances of the nominated songs! Yep you heard that right no performances of those Oscar-hopeful tunes. But fear not music lovers there was still plenty to enjoy. Let's break down what happened on the music front at the 2025 Oscars.

Say What? Oscars Ditch Live Performances of Nominated Songs for the First Time in Years - Songwriters Not Happy!

For decades the Best Original Song performances have been an Oscars staple a chance to see incredible artists shine on the big stage and celebrate the power of music in film. But this year the Academy decided to go in a different direction. Instead of live performances they opted to "celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life". Basically they wanted to focus on the songwriters and the stories behind the songs in pre-recorded segments instead of live singing.

Now you might be scratching your head and wondering "Why?". Apparently the Academy wanted to trim down the show's runtime which is often a point of criticism. While it's not the first time they've skipped song performances it has been 13 years since the last time and folks were definitely surprised and not thrilled. Songwriters themselves were reportedly pretty bummed out Diane Warren who was nominated for "The Journey" called it "frustrating" saying "Everybody loves to hear the songs." She has a point right? Music is a huge part of movies and the Oscars.

'Wicked' Magic Kicks Off the Show: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Deliver a Musical Theater Dream

Even without the nominated song performances the Oscars were not totally music-free thank goodness! "Wicked" co-stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the whole broadcast and they totally brought the house down. They performed a moving medley that was a tribute to musical movie magic. They started with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz then Erivo belted out "Home" from The Wiz and then they joined forces for "Defying Gravity" the iconic showstopper from Wicked. It was a powerhouse performance and a perfect way to celebrate movie musicals.

Adding to the epicness they were joined by the Los Angeles Master Chorale who also performed later in the In Memoriam segment. "Wicked" itself was a big nominee this year with 10 nods including Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for Erivo and Grande even though they didn't win those particular awards their opening performance was definitely a win for everyone watching.

James Bond Theme Songs Get a Glamorous Tribute: Blackpink's LISA Doja Cat and RAYE Bring the Spy Vibes

Another musical highlight of the night was a tribute to the iconic music of the James Bond franchise. This was to honor longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson who received Honorary Oscars earlier. The tribute was super stylish and featured a trio of talented artists.

Actress Margaret Qualley started it off with a dance to the classic Bond theme. Then LISA from Blackpink took the stage to sing Wings' "Live and Let Die" the theme from the 1973 Bond film. Doja Cat followed with a glittery rendition of Shirley Bassey's "Diamonds Are Forever" from the 1971 movie. RAYE finished the tribute with a powerful cover of Adele's "Skyfall". It was a fantastic showcase of Bond music through the years and these ladies definitely nailed it.

Queen Latifah Honors Quincy Jones with an Energetic 'The Wiz' Performance: A Tribute to a Legend

The musical tributes kept coming with a special moment to honor the legendary Quincy Jones who sadly passed away in November. Oscar nominee Queen Latifah took the stage and delivered an energetic performance of "Ease on Down the Road" from "The Wiz". It was a perfect song choice to celebrate Jones' incredible career and his impact on music and film. Queen Latifah really brought the energy and it was a fitting tribute to a true icon.

Mozart's Requiem Sets a Somber Tone for In Memoriam Segment: Remembering Film Legends

The In Memoriam segment is always a moving part of the Oscars and this year was no different. The Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Academy Orchestra teamed up to perform Mozart's "Requiem" during the segment creating a really beautiful and somber atmosphere. Morgan Freeman introduced the In Memoriam with a special tribute to Gene Hackman who also passed away recently. Freeman shared some personal memories of working with Hackman and praised his generosity and talent. The segment honored many other film legends who we lost this past year including Maggie Smith Gena Rowlands Dabney Coleman Bob Newhart Kris Kristofferson Teri Garr Donald Sutherland Louis Gossett Jr. Shelley Duvall David Lynch and James Earl Jones. It was a respectful and heartfelt moment to remember those who shaped the world of cinema.

British Composer Daniel Blumberg Wins Best Original Score: A Win for 'The Brutalist'

While we are talking music at the Oscars we can't forget about the winners! British composer Daniel Blumberg took home the Oscar for Best Original Score for his work on "The Brutalist". This is his first Oscar win and only his second ever film score. His score for "The Brutalist" has been highly praised and he even won a Bafta for it last month. Blumberg's music for the film mixes jazz and experimental sounds to capture the inner turmoil of the main character. In his acceptance speech Blumberg gave a shoutout to his friends and the musicians who worked on the film with him.

2025 Oscars Musical Performances: A Quick List

  • Opening Performance: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande - Medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" ("The Wizard of Oz") "Home" ("The Wiz") and "Defying Gravity" ("Wicked") with the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
  • James Bond Tribute:
    • Margaret Qualley - Dance to the James Bond Theme
    • LISA (Blackpink) - "Live and Let Die"
    • Doja Cat - "Diamonds Are Forever"
    • RAYE - "Skyfall"
  • Quincy Jones Tribute: Queen Latifah - "Ease on Down the Road" ("The Wiz")
  • In Memoriam: Los Angeles Master Chorale and Academy Orchestra - Mozart's "Requiem"

Oscars Still Deliver Musical Moments Despite Song Performance Controversy

So even though the 2025 Oscars skipped the usual Best Original Song performances there was still plenty of music to enjoy. From the "Wicked" opening to the Bond and Quincy Jones tributes and the moving In Memoriam segment music played a big role in the show as always. While some might have missed the nominated songs being performed live the Oscars still managed to create some unforgettable musical moments celebrating film and the artists who bring it to life. And hey maybe next year they will bring back the song performances and give us even more to cheer about!