Theodore Shapiro received the BMI Icon Award at the 2026 BMI Film, TV and Visual Media Awards, which was held on Wednesday (May 13) at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The award recognized his body of work across film and TV over the last 25 years. The event also saluted the composers of the previous year’s top-grossing films, top-rated primetime network television series, highest-ranking cable and streamed media programs and video games.
Mike Steinberg, BMI executive vp, chief revenue & creative officer, presented Shapiro with the BMI Icon Award, stating “Teddy, it is such a privilege to celebrate your incomparable and enduring contributions to the world of film and television music. We are very proud to pay tribute to your rich legacy and beyond excited for all you will create next.”
During the ceremony, a tribute video featured messages from Shapiro’s family and many collaborators including Paul Feig, Chris Fogel, Ludwig Göransson, Karyn Kusama, Jay Roach, Sam Schwartz and Ben Stiller.
Upon receiving the award Shapiro said, “I want to thank BMI for everything you do on behalf of all of us, the work that you do in support of us is so impactful.” He went on to thank his peers and collaborators and stated, “There are so many people in this room who have taught me so much… and I feel a really strong kinship with all of you, that shared language that we have knits us into a community… it’s such an honor to accept this award in your presence.”
In addition to the BMI Icon Award, Shapiro won three regular BMI Awards for his work on Another Simple Favor, Severance and The Housemaid, bringing his total to 28 BMI Awards.
Shapiro won two Primetime Emmys in 2022 and 2025 for scoring Apple TV+’s Severance. He received his first Primetime Emmy nod in 2012 for scoring HBO’s Game Change.
Shapiro has also won multiple Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Most recently, he scored The Devil Wears Prada II, Focker in Law, and the Apple TV+ mini-series The Off Weeks.
Previous BMI Icon Award include Terence Blanchard, Mychael Danna, Alexandre Desplat, Ramin Djawadi, Harry Gregson-Williams, James Newton Howard, Christopher Lennertz, Thomas Newman, Rachel Portman (PRS), Mike Post, Atticus Ross, Alan Silvestri, Brian Tyler and John Williams.
Atli Örvarsson won the most awards of the night — six. Other multiple award winners included Dominic Lewis, Brian Tyler, Ramin Djawadi, Fil Eisler, Christopher Lennertz, Mike Post, Atticus Ross and Alan Silvestri.
Other composers honored during the ceremony include Sherri Chung for Found, Alexandre Desplat for Jurassic World Rebirth, Harry Gregson-Williams for The Gilded Age, Ludwig Göransson for Sinners, Gustavo Santaolalla for The Last of Us and Sarah Schachner for Predator: Badlands.
The event celebrated 19 first-time award winners including Joshua Carro, Zach Cregger, Ilan Eshkeri, Michael Griffin, Hays Holladay, Ryan Holladay, Alexis Martin and Antonio Sanchez.
The show was hosted by three BMI executives: Mike O’Neill, CEO; Tracy McKnight, vp, creative, film, TV & visual media; and Shapiro.
For a complete list of winners, visit the BMI site.
