Oscars toughen up best song rules

No Oscar will be awarded for best song at next year's ceremony if none of the tunes is deemed to be good enough, organisers have announced.

New rules mean that every song entered must get a minimum score of 8.25 on a scale of six to 10 when voted for by Academy music members.

"We're trying to improve the quality," said composer Bruce Broughton, head of the Academy's music branch.

He added the move would make entries "as good as possible".

Honorary Oscar

"There's been a lot of talk about the songs in films, the lack of memorability compared to songs in the past, the almost forgettability of some of them" said Mr Broughton.

The music branch of the Academy has about 230 members, who rate each song entry.

In another move, the Academy is moving its honorary Oscars out of the main ceremony and will instead present them at a separate event.

Academy president, Sid Ganis, said creating a separate ceremony would ensure "that each honouree will be given his or her full due".

The first honorary Oscars event will take place in November.

The change will also mean the main awards ceremony next year will be shorter.

The show has often attracted criticism for its long running time.

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