New Rule for the Oscars

I was listening to NPR and heard that the Academy has changed the rules for the Best Original Song Category. 

 

II. Original Song

 

An original song consists of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film.  There must be a clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition (not necessarily visually presented) of both lyric and melody, used in the body of the film or as the first music cue in the end credits.

This means that songs that only play during the credits of a song are no longer eligible.  The Academy says that the songs nominated for this category should not be heard outside of the context of the movie.  It also bans studios from sending recordings, sheet music or music videos of the songs to those who vote for the Oscars.  It should be how a song fits the film, not just how the songs sounds by itself.

 

Previous winners that fit into this category of only playing during the end credits include:

-  "I Need to Wake Up" - An Inconvenient Truth

-  "Into The West" - Lord of the Rings

-  "Al Otro Lado Del Río" -Motorcycle Diaries