Apple TV+ hit Severance keeps adding to its trophy case. The second season’s chilling soundtrack by composer Theodore Shapiro just earned a nomination for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 2026 Grammy Awards. This puts the workplace thriller in the mix with big films like Wicked and How to Train Your Dragon. Fans know that eerie piano riff from the opening credits sticks in your head long after the episode ends, much like how the show’s memory-split concept lingers in real-life thoughts about jobs and downtime.
The Recording Academy revealed the full slate of nominees on November 7, 2025, marking Apple TV+’s first-ever Grammy nods. Severance stands out as the only TV entry in the category, facing off against scores from five major releases. Shapiro’s work builds on his Emmy win from season one, where he captured the sterile dread of Lumon Industries with simple, repeating notes that feel both soothing and off-kilter. Think of it as the musical equivalent of staring at a computer screen all day—familiar, yet somehow wrong.
How the Score Fits Severance’s World
Severance follows Mark Scout (Adam Scott) and his team at Lumon, a company that surgically splits employees’ work and home memories. Season two dives deeper into the fallout, with characters like Helly R. (Britt Lower) and Irving (John Turturro) pushing against the barriers. Shapiro’s music mirrors that tension. He uses minimal instruments—piano, strings, and subtle percussion—to evoke isolation in endless white hallways.
In a recent chat at the Grammy Museum, Shapiro explained his approach. He started with four basic piano chords that Ben Stiller, the show’s director and executive producer, kept referencing during early talks. Those chords grew into the main theme, a loop that plays like a broken record, hinting at the characters’ trapped routines.
“The music had to feel like it’s part of the architecture of the building,” Shapiro said. “It’s not just background—it’s the pulse of the severance itself.”
This nomination comes after season two’s strong run at the Emmys. The show grabbed 27 nods in July 2025, the most of any series, and walked away with eight wins in September. Those included another Emmy for Shapiro in Music Composition for the finale episode “Cold Harbor.” That episode’s score swells from quiet whispers to a full orchestral rush as Mark confronts his fractured life, blending hope with horror.
Shapiro’s style draws from everyday unease. He layered in marching band elements for Lumon’s cult-like events, turning corporate chants into something rhythmic and rhythmic. Listeners compare it to walking into an office where everyone knows a secret you don’t. The soundtrack album, released in February 2025, hit streaming charts fast, with tracks like “The Four Tempers” racking up millions of plays on Spotify. One fan called it “the soundtrack to my 9-to-5 existential crisis.”
Shapiro’s Path to This Moment
Theodore Shapiro has scored over 50 projects, from comedies like The Devil Wears Prada to dramas like The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Born in 1971, he studied at Brown University and Juilliard, honing a knack for scores that amplify stories without overpowering them. His tie with Stiller goes back to 2004’s Along Came Polly, but Severance marked their TV debut together.
For season one, Shapiro built a full music library before filming wrapped, so editors could test cues early. No temp tracks from other films—just original pieces tailored to Lumon’s vibe. That prep paid off: the show won an Emmy for Original Main Title Theme in 2022, with Shapiro’s five-note piano hook becoming a TikTok staple. Videos of people humming it while folding laundry or staring at spreadsheets went viral, amassing over 10 million views.
Season two upped the ante. New characters meant fresh motifs, like a haunting melody for Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette)’s double life. Shapiro wove in classical nods, echoing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata for moments of quiet rebellion. The Grammy nod recognizes how these choices elevate the plot—music isn’t just heard; it’s felt in the gut.
Cross-checks from sources like Variety and Rolling Stone confirm the nomination’s impact. It’s rare for TV to crack this film-heavy category, last seen with The Queen’s Gambit in 2021. Shapiro joins past winners like Ludwig Göransson for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, whose Sinners score is a direct rival here.
Facing Tough Competition
The Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media field mixes blockbusters and bold choices. John Powell scores double duty with How to Train Your Dragon and Wicked, bringing epic sweeps to dragon flights and witchy anthems. His Dragon work revives the franchise’s adventurous spirit with Celtic flutes and thunderous drums, while Wicked pairs orchestral swells with Stephen Schwartz’s lyrics for emotional highs.
Ludwig Göransson’s Sinners pulses with horror-thriller edge, using distorted guitars and vocal layers to amp up suspense. Kris Bowers’ The Wild Robot opts for whimsical electronics and strings, fitting a tale of a robot mom in the wild. Each entry clocks in around 60-90 minutes, but Severance’s 10-episode spread lets Shapiro’s themes evolve over hours.
Grammy voters, over 12,000 music pros, picked these five from hundreds. The win goes to the one that best serves its story—think immersion over flash. Past champs like Hans Zimmer for Dune set a high bar with soundscapes that redefine worlds. Shapiro’s restraint could stand out, much like how the show’s slow-burn mystery hooked viewers.
Apple’s push into awards season helps. The streamer landed four noms total, three for F1: The Movie’s rock-driven tracks. Severance’s nod boosts its profile ahead of season three, renewed in March 2025. Viewership spiked post-Emmys, with season two becoming Apple’s most-watched series ever, per internal data.
Why This Matters for TV Music
Nominations like this spotlight how scores shape binge-worthy shows. Severance’s sound joins elite company—think Stranger Things’ synth nostalgia or The Mandalorian’s Western twang. Shapiro’s work proves TV can rival films in emotional depth, using repetition to mimic memory loops.
Fans on X lit up after the announcement. One post read, “Severance’s score is the real MVP—those piano notes haunt my dreams.” Another shared a remix mashup with ODESZA, Apple’s February 2025 collab that turned themes into an eight-hour “refinement” loop for die-hards.
The Grammy ceremony airs live on February 1, 2026, from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on CBS and Paramount+. Voting wraps January 5, with members weighing technical craft and cultural fit. Until then, stream the soundtrack—it’s free on Apple Music for subscribers—and let those chords pull you back into Lumon’s grip.
Season three filming starts early 2026, with new showrunners Eli Jorne and Mary Laws joining creator Dan Erickson. Expect more twists, and likely more music that blurs lines between comfort and creep.
Also Read: 11 Britt Lower Movies and Shows to Watch If You Loved Her in Severance
