Original Score of THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG Ruled Ineligible

Randy Newman’s music for THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG is out of the running for Best Score at this year’s Academy Awards.

This just in from AMPAS:

Beverly Hills, CA (January 12, 2010) – After nominations ballots and reminder lists for the Original Score category were mailed to members of the Academy’s Music Branch (on December 28), questions were raised regarding the eligibility of the score of “The Princess and the Frog.”

On Monday, January 11, the Music Branch Executive Committee met to discuss the score’s status. Based on the committee’s interpretation of the rules, it was determined that the film is not eligible in the score category, though four songs from the movie remain eligible for consideration.

The relevant language is contained in Rule 16, Section II, Paragraph E:

…scores diluted by the use of tracked themes or other preexisting music, diminished in impact by the predominant use of songs, or assembled from the music of more than one composer shall not be eligible.

The tabulators at PricewaterhouseCoopers have been instructed to disregard any votes cast for the Original Score of “The Princess and the Frog.” The movie remains eligible in all other categories for which it qualified.

Source: Oscars.org