Diane Warren Is Heading Back to the Oscars With New Track 'By Any Means'

Reset your awards season countdown calendars because Hollywood's favorite music branch staple is officially back in action. Legendary songwriter Diane Warren has thrown her hat into the ring for the upcoming Academy Awards, unveiling a fresh track titled "By Any Means." The song belongs to an upcoming movie bearing the exact same title, setting the stage for yet another high-profile campaign. Fans will not have to wait long to hear the prospective contender. Reports reveal that the single hits streaming platforms on August 21. A companion music video is scheduled to drop on August 28, with the complete film soundtrack slated to arrive on September 18. The timed rollout ensures the track is fully eligible for Oscar consideration in the Best Original Song category.

Warren’s name is practically synonymous with the Academy Awards at this point. Over her storied career, she has secured a staggering 17 nominations for Best Original Song. Even more impressive, nine of those nods have come consecutively in recent years, making her an almost guaranteed fixture on the music branch's preliminary ballots. She currently ranks behind only legendary tunesmiths Sammy Cahn, who racked up 26 nominations, and Johnny Mercer, who scored 18. Despite her record-breaking nomination tally, a competitive Oscar victory remains elusive. Voters in the main Academy body have repeatedly passed over her tracks when final ballots are tallied. The Academy did honor her exceptional industry contributions with an Academy Honorary Award in 2022—making her the sole songwriter to earn that distinct accolade—but the actual competitive trophy has stayed just out of reach.

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Warren has never shied away from her determination to keep writing cinematic anthems every single year. The Academy's music branch seems equally committed to putting her name on the shortlist whenever she delivers a new track. She has pulled in 11 nominations over the past 12 years alone, reflecting an extraordinary run of consistency that few musicians in history can match. Whether "By Any Means" will be the breakthrough track that finally lands her the elusive competitive win remains to be seen. Regardless of how the final vote shakes out, awards season voters will be hearing plenty from her once again.