Theodore “Teddy” Shapiro will be honored with the BMI Icon Award at a May 13 ceremony in Beverly Hills, capping a year that has already brought him two Primetime Emmys and a recent Grammy nomination. The recognition underlines how composers who bridge film, network TV and streaming continue to shape the shows and movies dominating culture today.
Shapiro’s work has been singled out repeatedly by peers and industry groups — a pattern that the BMI award will highlight during an evening dedicated to composers whose scores drove last year’s biggest box-office, broadcast and streaming successes.
BMI to name Severance composer Theodore Shapiro Icon at 2026 BMI Film, TV & Visual Media Awards
Lea Michele’s Broadway Chess role to be taken over by Joanna JoJo Levesque
Across a career that moves easily between comedy and drama, Shapiro has collected numerous honors: he’s the recipient of 25 BMI awards and has earned multiple Emmy nods, including two wins for his music on Severance. Earlier this year he also received a Grammy nomination for the show’s second season soundtrack, a rare cross-platform recognition for a composer working in television.
- Award: BMI Icon Award
- Date & location: May 13, Beverly Hills, Calif.
- Recent honors: Two Primetime Emmys (for Severance); Grammy nomination for season two score
- BMI tally: 25 BMI awards for film and TV scores
- Notable credits: The Devil Wears Prada, 13 Going on 30, Bombshell, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
BMI’s creative vice president Tracy McKnight said the organization looks forward to celebrating Shapiro’s influence on modern storytelling through music. BMI executives, including CEO Mike O’Neill and EVP Mike Steinberg, will join McKnight in hosting the event.
Shapiro first drew Emmy attention in 2012 for his work on HBO’s Game Change and has since built a body of work that spans romantic comedies, prestige drama and mainstream studio releases. His scores are frequently credited with setting tone and mood—elements increasingly important as streaming platforms and theatrical releases compete for audience attention.
He remains active on both sides of that divide. In recent months Shapiro completed the score for Paul Feig’s 2025 thriller The Housemaid, and he is attached to several high-profile releases slated for the coming months, including the sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2 (in theaters May 1) and the ensemble comedy Focker in Law (Nov. 25). He also composed music for the Apple TV+ miniseries The Off Weeks, which features Ben Stiller, Jessica Chastain and Richard Gere.
The BMI Icon Award has been given to a number of prominent film and television composers, a roll call that highlights the award’s prestige within the industry:
| Selected past recipients | Field |
|---|---|
| Terence Blanchard | Film & TV composition |
| Mychael Danna | Film composition |
| Alexandre Desplat | Orchestral film scores |
| Ramin Djawadi | Television & film |
| Thomas Newman | Film composition |
| John Williams | Film composition |
Beyond personal accolades, the annual BMI event functions as a snapshot of how music supports the entertainment business: organizers will also recognize composers behind the previous year’s top-earning films, highest-rated network series and leading cable and streamed programs. For viewers and industry watchers alike, the night provides a reminder that much of a production’s emotional power comes from its score — and that those creators are increasingly visible and celebrated.
As Shapiro prepares to accept the honor, the timing speaks to wider trends: composers who can move between theatrical tentpoles and prestige streaming series are in demand, and awards like this one help translate behind-the-scenes craft into public recognition.
