The biggest night in Hollywood happens this Sunday. The 80th Annual Academy Awards will feature the brightest stars in filmmaking in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

Of course, it's not only what's seen on screen that is recognized but what is heard within the films themselves. Based on the nominees and the rulings of the minds behind Oscar, non-classical musicians are getting no recognition from the golden boy in 2008.

Just take a look at the nominees. Three of the five nominees for the Best Original Song category come from the Disney half-animated/half live action musical "Enchanted." Another nominee is the song "Raise It Up," from the movie "August Rush." This is alright, except when you look at the rest of the soundtrack, it features two amazing compositions by guitar virtuoso Kaki King and a great piano ballad by soul crooner John Legend.

The only song that was nominated that deserves the award (and probably won't get it) is "Falling Slowly" from the indie Irish musical "Once." The song was written by Glen Hansard (lead singer of the Irish indie rock group The Frames) and Marketa Irglova, who collaborated on a previous project called The Swell Season. You will never hear a song more gorgeous, ache-filled and chill-inducing in a movie this year, or probably this decade. But considering the film's modest stature and limited exposure, it's hard-pressed to win anything.

These aren't the main crimes in Oscar's music categories to speak of.

When Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder goes solo and contributes an album's worth of material for the rich-kid-turned-journeyman picture "Into the Wild," a soundtrack of pure exhilaration that perfectly accompanies the young man's spiritual journey, not one song gets nominated.

On top of that, you only have to look at the nominations Best Original Score to see a great injustice.

Vedder may have created an album, but Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood wrote the score for the oil epic "There Will Be Blood." It happens to be one of the most groundbreaking and unique music scores in recent memory -- and it happens not to be nominated.

Why?

The Academy has a rule that you are not allowed to use any pre-existing music to qualify for a nomination. Bits of compositions by Arvo Pärt, Johannes Brahms (which has been declared public domain) and a previous Greenwood piece "Superhet Popcorn Receiver" were used in addition to Greenwood's original score, making it ineligible for a nod.

One could argue rules are rules, but when those rules disqualy what would have been the frontrunner for the category, something needs to change. Once again, a non-classical performer doesn't get a chance to take home the iconic statuette.

This is not to say that Oscar hasn't been good in the past. They have given awards to artists other than Randy Newman.

Since 1997, nominations have been given to late singer/songwriter Elliot Smith, former Beatle Paul McCartney, chanteuse Aimee Mann, quirky Icelander Bjork and U2. Bruce Springstein, Melissa Etheridge and Bob Dylan have an Oscar, but most surprisingly, so do rappers Eminem and Three Six Mafia. Let's face it, when Three Six Mafia was on stage at the Academy Awards performing "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp," you know the Academy is starting to open up their ears and their minds.

But this year, Oscar definitely took a step backwards. Hopefully, in 2009, rules will be changed, tastes will be expanded and the neutered golden boy may actually grow a pair and nominate more music that matters.