This week, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlists in consideration for the 97th Oscars in ten categories, including Music (Original Score and Original Song). To see the complete list of shortlisted scores and songs, click here.

Announced this week were new composer assignments for Benjamin Wallfisch (Until Dawn), Dominic Lewis (Karate Kid: Legends) and Daniel Blumberg (Ann Lee), among many others. For the full list of composer and music supervisor assignments from this week, click here.

Over 30 new soundtrack albums were released this week. Click here for the full schedule.

Opening in theaters nationwide this week are (with music by): Homestead (Benjamin Backus), Mufasa: The Lion King (Dave Metzger (score) & Lin-Manuel Miranda (songs)), and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Tom Holkenborg).

We are tracking song credits for the following new theatrical releases:
- Homestead (2 songs)
- Mufasa: The Lion King (11 songs)
- Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (6 songs)

The following composers are celebrating their birthdays within the next week:
- David Michael Frank (Hard to Kill, Out for Justice) is turning 76 on tomorrow, December 21.
- Devonte Hynes (Queen & Slim, We Are Who We Are) is turning 39 on Minday, December 23.
- Christian Henson (The Devil's Double, Triangle) is turning 53 on Wednesday, December 25.
- Ira Newborn (Planes, Trains & Automobiles, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!) is turning 75 on Thursday, December 26.
- Roger Neill (Beginners, 20th Century Women) is turning 61 on December 26.