This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score).
Starting in 2019, the category recognizes scripted programs. Unscripted programs compete for Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score).
Winners and nominations 1960s Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network 1966(18th) Michelangelo: The Last Giant Laurence Rosenthal NBC Bonanza David Rose NBC Gunsmoke "Seven Hours to Dawn" Morton Stevens CBS I Spy Earle Hagen NBC The Making of the President, 1964 Lalo Schifrin CBS The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Jerry Goldsmith NBC Run for Your Life Pete Rugolo 1967(19th) The Andy Williams Show Ticker Freeman and George Wyle NBC CBS Playhouse Aaron Copland CBS I Spy Earle Hagen NBC Mission: Impossible Lalo Schifrin CBS Run for Your Life Pete Rugolo NBC 1968(20th) I Spy "Laya" Earle Hagen NBC CBS Playhouse "My Father and My Mother" Bernard Green CBS Gunsmoke "Major Glory" Morton Stevens The High Chaparral "The Champion of the Western World" Harry Sukman NBC Mission: Impossible "The Seal" Lalo Schifrin CBS Run for Your Life "Cry Hard, Cry Fast" Pete Rugolo NBC 1969(21st) Heidi John Williams NBC Hawaii Five-O "Pilot" Morton Stevens CBS Hemingway's Spain: A Love Affair Jacques Belasco ABC Mission: Impossible "The Heir Apparent" Lalo Schifrin CBS The Outcasts "Take Your Lover In The Ring" Hugo Montenegro ABC
Note: Award titled Outstanding Individual Achievements in Music Composition (1966–69)
1970s Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network 1970(22nd) Hawaii Five-O "A Thousand Pardons – You're Dead!" Morton Stevens CBS The Bill Cosby Show Quincy Jones NBC Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar Franklyn Marks 1971(23rd) Bonanza "The Love Child" David Rose NBC Adam-12 "Elegy for a Pig" Frank Comstock NBC Love, American Style Charles Fox ABC The Name of the Game "LA 2017" Billy Goldenberg and Robert Prince NBC 1972(24th) The Bold Ones: The Lawyers "In Defense of Ellen McKay" Pete Rugolo NBC Columbo "Lady in Waiting" Billy Goldenberg NBC Love, American Style Charles Fox ABC 1973(25th) Love, American Style Charles Fox ABC Ironside Marty Paich NBC Medical Center "Cycle of Peril" Alexander Courage CBS 1974(26th) Hawaii Five-O "Hookman" Morton Stevens CBSHawaii Five-O "The $100,000 Nickel" Bruce Broughton CBS "Nightmare in Blue" Don B. Ray 1975(27th) Benjamin Franklin "The Rebel" Billy Goldenberg CBSThe Streets of San Francisco "One Last Shot" Patrick Williams ABC 1976(28th) Rich Man, Poor Man Alex North ABC Bronk "Next of Kin" Jack Urbont CBS Kojak "A Question of Answers" John Cacavas Little House on the Prairie "Remember Me" David Rose NBC 1977(29th) Roots "Part 1" Quincy Jones and Gerald Fried ABC Bronk "The Vigilante" Jack Urbont CBS Captains and the Kings "Chapter 8" Elmer Bernstein NBC Police Story "Monster Manor" Dick DeBenedictis Roots "Part 8" Gerald Fried ABC 1978(30th) King Billy Goldenberg NBC The Awakening Land Fred Karlin NBC Columbo "Try and Catch Me" Patrick Williams Holocaust Morton Gould Wheels Morton Stevens 1979(31st) Little House on the Prairie "The Craftsman" David Rose NBC Dear Detective Dick DeBenedictis and Dean DeBenedictis CBS Lou Grant "Prisoner" Patrick Williams The Paper Chase "A Day in the Life" Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel
1980s Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network 1980(32nd) Lou Grant "Hollywood" Patrick Williams CBS Dallas "The Lost Child" Bruce Broughton CBS Eischied "Only the Pretty Girls Die, Part 2" John Cacavas NBC Paris "Decisions" Fred Karlin CBS Skag "Pilot" Billy Goldenberg NBC 1981(33rd) Buck Rogers in the 25th Century "The Satyr" Bruce Broughton NBC The Gangster Chronicles "Chapter 1" Billy Goldenberg NBC Hill Street Blues "Hill Street Station" Mike Post Little House on the Prairie "The Lost Ones, Part 1" David Rose Lou Grant "Stroke" Patrick Williams CBS 1982(34th) Little House on the Prairie "He Was Only Twelve, Part 2" David Rose NBC Dallas "The Search" Bruce Broughton CBS The Incredible Hulk "The Triangle" Joe Harnell Lou Grant "Hometown" Patrick Williams 1983(35th) Dallas "The Ewing Blues" Bruce Broughton CBS The Devlin Connection "Ring of Kings, Ring of Thieves" Nan Schwartz NBC Fame "Not in Kansas Anymore" William Goldstein Father Murphy "Sweet Sixteen" David Rose Knots Landing "Loss of Innocence" Jerrold Immel CBS 1984(36th) Dallas "The Letter" Bruce Broughton CBS Emerald Point N.A.S. "The Homecoming" Angela Morley CBS Mr. Smith "Mr. Smith Falls in Love" Patrick Williams NBC St. Elsewhere "In Sickness and in Health" J. A. C. Redford Trapper John, M.D. "Send in the Clowns" John Parker CBS 1985(37th) Murder, She Wrote "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes" John Addison CBS Cagney & Lacey "Organized Crime" Nan Schwartz CBS Dynasty "Triangles" Angela Morley ABC Highway to Heaven "Thoroughbreds" David Rose NBC Miami Vice "Evan" Jan Hammer St. Elsewhere "Fade to White" J. A. C. Redford 1986(38th) Scarecrow and Mrs. King "We're Off to See the Wizard" Arthur B. Rubinstein CBS Dynasty "The Subpoenas" Angela Morley ABC Miami Vice "Bushido" Jan Hammer NBC Moonlighting "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice" Alf Clausen ABC 1987(39th) Knots Landing "Cement the Relationship" Joel Rosenbaum CBS Dallas "A Death in the Family" Angela Morley CBS The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd "Here's Why You Should Never Wear High Heels to the Bank" Patrick Williams NBC Jack and Mike "Come Together" Nan Schwartz ABC Matlock "The Chef" Dick DeBenedictis NBC Moonlighting "Atomic Shakespeare" Alf Clausen ABC 1988(40th) Beauty and the Beast "Pilot" Lee Holdridge CBS Beauty and the Beast "To Reign in Hell" Don Davis CBS Dallas "Hustling" Angela Morley The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd "Here's Why You Shouldn't Get Too Attached to Your Cat" Patrick Williams NBC Moonlighting "Here's Living with You, Kid" Alf Clausen ABC 1989(41st) Falcon Crest "Dust to Dust" Joel Rosenbaum CBS Blue Skies "The White Horse" Angela Morley CBS Columbo "Murder, Smoke and Shadows" Patrick Williams ABC Moonlighting "A Womb with a View" Alf Clausen Star Trek: The Next Generation "The Child" Dennis McCarthy Syndicated
1990s Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network 1990(42nd) Beauty and the Beast "A Time to Heal" Don Davis CBS Matlock "The Clown" Bruce Babcock NBC Star Trek: The Next Generation "Yesterday's Enterprise" Dennis McCarthy Syndicated Twin Peaks "Traces to Nowhere" Angelo Badalamenti ABC 1991(43rd) The Young Riders "Kansas" John Debney ABC Father Dowling Mysteries "The Consulting Detective Mystery" Bruce Babcock ABC Jake and the Fatman "God Bless the Child" Joel Rosenbaum CBS My Life and Times "The Collapse of '98" Don Davis ABC Star Trek: The Next Generation "Half a Life" Dennis McCarthy Syndicated 1992(44th) Matlock "The Strangler" Bruce Babcock NBC In the Heat of the Night "Family Reunion" Nan Schwartz NBC Star Trek: The Next Generation "Unification I" Dennis McCarthy Syndicated The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror II" Alf Clausen Fox 1993(45th) The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles "Young Indiana Jones and the Scandal of 1920" Joel McNeely ABC Murder, She Wrote "Wind Around the Tower" Bruce Babcock CBS Quantum Leap "Lee Harvey Oswald, Part 1" Velton Ray Bunch NBC The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror III" Alf Clausen Fox The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles "Vienna, 1908" Laurence Rosenthal ABC 1994(46th) The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles "Ireland, 1916" Laurence Rosenthal ABC Christy "Pilot" Ron Ramin CBS SeaQuest DSV "Whale Song" Don Davis NBC Star Trek: The Next Generation "All Good Things..." Dennis McCarthy Syndicated The Simpsons "Cape Feare" Alf Clausen Fox 1995(47th) SeaQuest DSV "Daggers" Don Davis NBC Murder, She Wrote "Murder in High C" Bruce Babcock CBSStar Trek: Voyager "Caretaker, Part I" Jay Chattaway UPN "Heroes and Demons" Dennis McCarthy The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror V" Alf Clausen Fox 1996(48th) Picture Windows "Language of the Heart" Hummie Mann Showtime Diagnosis: Murder "Mind Over Murder" Dick DeBenedictis CBS SeaQuest DSV "Brave New World" Russ Landau NBC Space: Above and Beyond "The River of Stars" Shirley Walker Fox Star Trek: Deep Space Nine "Our Man Bashir" Jay Chattaway Syndicated 1997(49th) The Cape "Pilot" John Debney and Louis Febre Syndicated Early Edition "The Choice" W.G. Snuffy Walden CBS Orleans "Pilot" David Hamilton The X-Files "Paper Hearts" Mark Snow Fox Xena: Warrior Princess "Destiny" Joseph LoDuca Syndicated 1998(50th) Buffy the Vampire Slayer "Becoming, Part 1" Christophe Beck The WB Roar "Pilot" Jon Ehrlich Fox Stargate SG-1 "The Nox" Joel Goldsmith Showtime The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror VIII" Alf Clausen Fox The X-Files "The Post-Modern Prometheus" Mark Snow 1999(51st) Invasion America "Final Mission" Carl Johnson The WB Fantasy Island "Pilot" John Ottman ABC The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror IX" Alf Clausen Fox The X-Files "S.R. 819" Mark Snow Xena: Warrior Princess "Devi" Joseph LoDuca Syndicated
2000s Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network 2000(52nd) Xena: Warrior Princess "Fallen Angel" Joseph LoDuca Syndicated Falcone "Lealta" Jay Gruska CBS Felicity "Help for the Lovelorn" Danny Pelfrey and W. G. Snuffy Walden The WB Star Trek: Voyager "Spirit Folk" Jay Chattaway UPN The X-Files "Theef" Mark Snow Fox 2001(53rd) Star Trek: Voyager "Endgame" Jay Chattaway UPN The Simpsons "Simpson Safari" Alf Clausen Fox Star Trek: Voyager "Workforce, Part I" Dennis McCarthy UPN The West Wing "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen" W. G. Snuffy Walden NBC Xena: Warrior Princess "The Rheingold" Joseph LoDuca Syndicated 2002(54th) The Blue Planet "Seas of Life: Ocean World" George Fenton Discovery JAG "Adrift, Part 2" Steven Bramson CBS 24 "7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m." Sean Callery Fox The X-Files "The Truth" Mark Snow Xena: Warrior Princess "A Friend in Need, Part 2" Joseph LoDuca Syndicated 2003(55th) 24 "10:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m." Sean Callery Fox The Agency "The Great Game" Jason Derlatka and Jon Ehrlich CBS Enterprise "The Expanse" Dennis McCarthy UPN JAG "Need to Know" Steven Bramson CBS Odyssey 5 "Pilot" Laura Karpman Showtime 2004(56th) Enterprise "Similitude" Velton Ray Bunch UPN Dead Like Me "Pilot" Stewart Copeland Showtime Line of Fire "Eminence Front" Larry Groupé ABC Pandemic: Facing AIDS "Uganda/Thailand" Philip Glass HBO The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror XIV" Alf Clausen Fox 24 "6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m." Sean Callery 2005(57th) Lost "Pilot" Michael Giacchino ABC Carnivàle "Lincoln Highway" Jeff Beal HBO House "Pilot" Christopher Hoag Fox The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror XV" Alf Clausen 24 "2:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m." Sean Callery 2006(58th) 24 "6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m." Sean Callery Fox Masters of Horror "Dreams in the Witch House" Richard Band Showtime Rome "Triumph" Jeff Beal HBO Stargate Atlantis "Grace Under Pressure" Joel Goldsmith Sci Fi Supernatural "Pilot" Christopher Lennertz The WB 2007(59th) Planet Earth "Pole to Pole" George Fenton Discovery CSI: Crime Scene Investigation "Law of Gravity" John Keane CBS Ghost Whisperer "Love Never Dies" Mark Snow Kidnapped "Pilot" W. G. Snuffy Walden NBC Rome "Philippi" Jeff Beal HBO 24 "6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m." Sean Callery Fox 2008(60th) Pushing Daisies "Pigeon" Jim Dooley ABC Family Guy "Lois Kills Stewie" Ron Jones Fox House "Guardian Angels" Jon Ehrlich and Jason Derlatka Little People, Big World "Roloff Road Trip: Grand Canyon" Joey Newman TLC Lost "The Constant" Michael Giacchino ABC The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror XVIII" Alf Clausen Fox 2009(61st) Legend of the Seeker "Prophecy" Joseph LoDuca Syndicated Castle "Flowers from Your Grave" Robert Duncan ABC Ghost Whisperer "Leap of Faith" Mark Snow CBS The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency "Pilot" Gabriel Yared HBO The Simpsons "Gone Maggie Gone" Alf Clausen Fox 24 "7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m." Sean Callery
2010s