Diane Warren says it’s ‘unfair’ to Oscar nominees for there to be no Best Original Song performances

It's almost like clockwork: The Oscar producers decide to cut something from the broadcast, ostensibly to save time, raising the ire of many.

This year it's the songwriters and musicians of the Academy who are raising their voices in protest, rather than song. In January, the Academy informed its members that the 2025 broadcast would not include live performances of the Best Original Song nominees, choosing to dedicate that time to spotlight the songwriters.

However, one of the songwriters, 16-time nominee Diane Warren, is not a fan of the change. "That's a high point," she says of the live performances. "Everybody loves to hear the songs. You want to hear these artists sing these songs that were integral to the movies."

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Warren also doesn't agree with any potential resolution that involves featuring some songs but not others. "It's frustrating," she adds. "There's been a couple of years where they tried to take only two or something. I remember with me at one point, they were going well, 'We want your song, but we don't want some of the others.' I'm like, 'If you want me, and you don't want the other people that got nominated, then don't have my song either."

Ultimately, Warren sees the decision as one that is hurtful to both the nominees, who won't have their work showcased in the traditional way, and to the viewing public, who often find the performances some of the best moments in the broadcast. Indeed, the 2024 ceremony's performance of Barbie's "I'm Just Ken" was widely hailed as the show's high point.

"It's unfair to the audience and to the nominees," she says. "Everybody was nominated, and there's a way to get these songs on there. Music is so important to film, and these songs are very important to the movies they're in. It's frustrating to all of us."

Related: The 20 best Diane Warren songs

The decision is not unprecedented in the modern era of the televised Oscars. In 2012, the show omitted the performances because there were only two contenders in the category. In 2021, the songs were only featured in a pre-show out of an abundance of caution in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Academy has also stated that the decision came in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires (which claimed Warren's Malibu home) and that instead, the broadcast will use that airtime to focus on honoring those who fought the fires.

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In an internal letter, the Academy noted that the show will "reflect on the recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism that defines Los Angeles and our industry." Reportedly, the plan is to include other "powerful musical moments" as part of this pivot.

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This year's nominees are: "El Mal" from Emilia Pérez (music by Clément Ducol and Camille; lyric by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard); "The Journey" from The Six Triple Eight (music and lyric by Diane Warren); "Like a Bird" from Sing Sing (music and lyric by Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada); "Mi Camino" from Emilia Pérez (music and lyric by Camille and Clément Ducol); and "Never Too Late," Elton John: Never Too Late (music and lyric by Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, and Bernie Taupin).

The 2025 Oscars, hosted by Conan O'Brien, air Sunday, March 2 on ABC, beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, with the official red carpet presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT.

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