The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited Taylor Swift, David Byrne, the Weeknd, and over 300 more figures to join its organization. “The Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership,” the academy’s CEO, Bill Kramer, and president, Janet Yang, said in a statement. “They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide.”
Last year, the academy invited Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas, to join after they won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “No Time to Die.” The 2023 Best Original Song winners, M.M. Keeravani and Chandrabose, have now been invited to join the academy, too.
Taylor Swift and the Weeknd made the 2023 shortlist for Best Original Song for “Carolina” and “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength),” respectively. Byrne also made the shortlist and was ultimately nominated for “This Is a Life,” which he performed at the Hollywood ceremony. The Talking Heads frontman had won Best Original Score in 1988 for his work with Cong Su and Ryuichi Sakamoto on The Last Emperor.
While Swift was invited to the academy as a musician, she is readying her directorial debut for Searchlight Pictures.
