Academy Release Statement on Song DQ

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences have just released a statement regarding their recent decision to disqualify Alone Yet Not Alone from the Original Song race. They outline how Bruce Broughton broke Academy guidelines regarding campaigning and promotion of eligible songs.

In a nutshell, they criticise Broughton of exploiting his position within the Academy by lobbying for votes, and in doing so breaking confidentially rules to prevent unfair voting within the category.

Via AMPAS:

The Board of Governors’ decision to rescind  the Original Song nomination for “Alone Yet Not Alone,” music by Bruce  Broughton, was made thoughtfully and after careful  consideration.  The Academy takes very seriously anything that undermines  the integrity of the Oscars® voting process. The Board  regretfully concluded that Mr. Broughton’s actions did precisely that.

The nominating  process for Original Song is intended to be anonymous, with each  eligible song listed only by title and the name of the film in which it is  used—the idea being to prevent favoritism and promote unbiased  voting.  It’s been a long-standing policy and practice of the  Academy—as well as a requirement of Rule 5.3 of the 86th Academy Awards®  Rules—­­to omit composer and lyricist credits from the DVD of eligible songs  that are sent to members of the Music Branch.  The Academy wants members  to vote for nominees based solely on the achievement of a particular song in a  movie, without regard to who may have written it.

Mr. Broughton sent an  email to at least 70 of his fellow Music Branch members—nearly one-third of the  branch’s 240 members.  When he identified the song as track #57 as one he  had composed, and asked voting branch members to listen to it, he took  advantage of information that few other potential  nominees are privy to.  As a former Academy Governor and current  member of the Music Branch’s executive committee, Mr. Broughton should  have been more cautious about acting in a way that made it appear as if he were  taking advantage of his position to exert undue influence. At a minimum, his  actions called into question whether the process was “fair and  equitable,” as the Academy’s rules require. The Academy is dedicated to  doing everything it can to ensure a level playing field for all potential Oscar®  contenders—including those who don’t enjoy the access, knowledge, and influence  of a long-standing Academy insider.

Tell us your thoughts! Should Alone Yet Not Alone be banned? Are the rules fair, and how would you change them? Should the song even have been nominated in the first place?