AMPAS is at it again with more new rules and changes.
A significant change was made in the Music – Original Song category.
The governors approved the Music Branch Executive Committee recommendation that if no song achieves a minimum average score of 8.25 in the nominations voting, there be no original song nominees and thus no Oscar presented for the category. If only one song achieves the required minimum, it and the song with the next highest score will be deemed the nominees. If two or more songs achieve the minimum score, they will be the nominees though no more than five nominees can be selected. Previously, the rules dictated that there be no more than five but no fewer than three nominees in the category.
In addition and as previously announced, the Best Picture category will have ten nominees instead of five.
Other modifications of the rules include normal date changes and minor “housekeeping” changes.