LOS ANGELES — The Madrigals may not “talk about Bruno,” but the rest of the world certainly is.
What You Need To Know
- Disney’s “Encanto” won a Billboard Music Award for the Best Soundtrack category
- Tom MacDougall, president of Disney Music, said it was an honor to be a part of such an authentic cultural experience in curating the sound of the film
- MacDougall traveled with Lin-Manuel Miranda to Colombia to ensure the creation of the music was as authentic as possible, from instrument choice to vocal expression
- The “Encanto” soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 chart for nine weeks
Disney’s acclaimed feature animation “Encanto” was celebrated at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, as the film took home the victory for the best soundtrack category.
Tom MacDougall, co-producer of the album and president of Disney Music, attended the awards show in Las Vegas and said he’s proud to be a part of such an authentic creative experience.
“We are extremely proud to be a part of this,” he said. “You know when we make these movies, our intention is just to entertain audiences, but every now and then you get the rare opportunity to celebrate culture.”
The authentic sound of Colombian culture, reaching families all over the world. MacDougall traveled with co-producer Lin-Manuel Miranda to Colombia to ensure the creation of the soundtrack was as authentic as possible. He said receiving a Billboard recognition speaks volumes for the film’s musical impact.
“The Billboard one is special because it’s not about opinion. It’s about really trying to calculate which soundtrack resonated with the most people. And to know that it was ‘Encanto’ this year, it was an honor to be acknowledged with that group, but also to win is fun too, so we are happy to be a part of it,” MacDougall said.
The soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 chart for nine weeks and charted all of its original songs on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Reeni Tib, a Southern California resident who visited Las Vegas for the awards show, said she is a huge fan of the soundtrack.
“My nieces and nephews have memorized every song, lyric for lyric, and we just love the melodies and dancing to the songs, and mostly, the message.”
And perhaps that’s what makes the film’s music stand out: It is a universally relatable expression of the love, layers and nuances of family dynamics.
“I have a family, and my kids grew up with these movies and with the experience of being a part of the Walt Disney company, and we take that responsibility really seriously. And you know, inclusion is a big part of that,” MacDougall said.