Oscars disqualify song nomination following 'unfair advantage'

The decision was made after it was found that there was improper lobbying for the film in question.

12:30 30 January 2014

The title song “Alone Yet Not Alone” from the film of the same name has been disqualified after it was found that improper lobbying was performed by one of the tune’s writers who has connections to the Oscars committee. 

 

Written by Bruce Broughton with lyrics by Dennis Spiegel, the track was originally nominated for Best Original Song until it was found that Broughton, a former Governor and current Music Branch executive committee member, emailed members of the branch to tell them about his submission during the nominations voting period. 

 

Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Academy President explained in a press release: "No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one's position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one's own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage.” 

 

Meanwhile, Broughton, admitted to doing some lobbying but claimed that he did not specifically ask for anyone to vote for it. He said: “Our release had been very limited. It doesn't go wide until the middle of this year, so the chance of it being overlooked was pretty high because a lot of high profile movies from major studios are in competition.

 

"I knew people wouldn't know what the film was. So, I wrote a letter to people that I personally knew and thought were a member of the branch to ask them to look for the song, to be aware that there's a song there. I didn't ask for anyone to vote for it, I just didn't want the song to be bypassed."