American Hostage is an eight-part MGM+ thriller series created by Shawn Ryan and Eileen Myers. Jon Hamm stars as Indianapolis radio reporter Fred Heckman, opposite Giovanni Ribisi as hostage-taker Tony Kiritsis.
The story follows the real 1977 standoff, in which Kiritsis demanded a live radio interview. The cast also includes Kristoffer Polaha, Mireille Enos, William Jackson Harper, Jonathan Tucker, and Kat Cunning.
The music comes from Robert Duncan, a longtime Shawn Ryan collaborator. Madison Gate Records released his score album on September 20, 2026, the same day the series premiered.
Alongside the score, the show uses period songs from artists like Kansas, Elvis Presley, and Manfred Mann. You can browse similar shows in our TV soundtrack section.
American Hostage Soundtrack Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | American Hostage |
| Created by | Shawn Ryan and Eileen Myers |
| Directors | Adam Arkin and Nina Lopez Corrado |
| Studio | Sony Pictures Television |
| Platform | MGM+ |
| Series Premiere | September 20, 2026 (two-episode premiere) |
| Season Finale | November 1, 2026 |
| Episodes | 8 |
| Composer | Robert Duncan |
| Label | Madison Gate Records |
| Album Release Date | September 20, 2026 |
| Total Tracks | 15 |
| Album Runtime | 18 minutes 44 seconds |
| UPC | 043396644311 |
American Hostage Soundtrack Overview
The official album is titled American Hostage (Original Series Soundtrack). It was released digitally on September 20, 2026, and collects 15 selections from the show’s original score.
The tracklist opens with the main title and closes with the end title. In between, many cue names point to story moments, such as “Tony Takes Calls” and “Newscast.”
The album covers original score only. Licensed songs heard in the episodes are not part of it.
Who Composed American Hostage Soundtrack?
Robert Duncan composed the score. He is an Emmy-nominated composer known for The Night Agent, Castle, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lie to Me, Missing, and The Equalizer.
He has worked with Shawn Ryan on The Unit, Last Resort, Terriers, Mad Dogs, The Chicago Code, Timeless, S.W.A.T., and The Night Agent.
Duncan was announced as the composer on August 10, 2026. He also continues to score the final season of The Night Agent.
American Hostage Official Tracklist
Here is the full tracklist of American Hostage (Original Series Soundtrack), with all tracks composed by Robert Duncan.
- American Hostage Main Title (1:11)
- Surveillance Van (1:04)
- I Haven’t Done Anything (1:36)
- Leveling With Tony (1:56)
- Newscast (1:02)
- Tony Takes Calls (0:42)
- Find My Location (0:39)
- Tony Leaves (1:34)
- Full Immunity (0:56)
- Ruckelshaus Splits (1:23)
- Fred Gets Serious (2:09)
- The Story (0:47)
- Representing Himself (1:23)
- Make a Fuss (1:34)
- American Hostage End Title (0:48)
Total runtime: 18 minutes 44 seconds
American Hostage Score Highlights
American Hostage Main Title and American Hostage End Title were the two tracks shared in advance of the album’s release. They bookend the album at 1:11 and 0:48.
Fred Gets Serious is the longest cue at 2:09. Its title suggests a turning point for the lead character, though the album does not tie it to a specific scene.
Leveling With Tony runs 1:56 and is the second-longest track. The title likely refers to a conversation between Fred and Tony, but that link is our own reading.
Tony Takes Calls and Find My Location are the shortest cues, at 0:42 and 0:39. Both titles fit the show’s radio and phone-negotiation setting.
American Hostage Licensed Songs & Needle Drops
The series pairs Duncan’s score with licensed songs. Here are the confirmed songs from the first four episodes. New episodes arrive on Sundays through November 1, and this list is updated as they air.
Episode 1: “My Town Indy” (September 20, 2026)
- “Holy War” by Toxic Vegan plays as Ben completes his check-in before Fred’s segment, and Helen gives an eyewitness lead on Meridian Mortgage.
Episode 2: “McMahon, Martinis & Madness” (September 20, 2026)
- “Night Blues Rock” by Ronald Stein plays in a transition from Tony holding Dick hostage to a flashback of Dick’s first date with Ibby.
- “Major-General’s Song” (from The Pirates of Penzance) by London Stage & Orchestra Stars plays near the end of the episode.
Episode 3: “Magic Ticket Sweepstakes” (September 27, 2026)
- “Button Man” by A4PM plays in the car as McNally profiles Fred as Tony’s go-between.
- “If You Think I Don’t Need You” by Elvis Presley is sung by Tony to Dick after they discuss the film Viva Las Vegas.
- “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas plays over the end credits.
Episode 4: “A Taste of Indianapolis” (October 4, 2026)
- “A Thing for Your Heart” by Pierre Terrasse plays as Tony watches a TV news report on his hostage march through downtown.
- “Mighty Quinn” by Manfred Mann plays over the end credits.
Trailer Music
- “There’s a Hole in My Pocket” by Velvet Opera was used in the official trailer. It is not confirmed as in-episode music.
Robert Duncan Filmography
| Title | Type | Shawn Ryan Collaboration |
|---|---|---|
| The Night Agent | TV Series | Yes |
| S.W.A.T. | TV Series | Yes |
| Timeless | TV Series | Yes |
| The Chicago Code | TV Series | Yes |
| Mad Dogs | TV Series | Yes |
| Last Resort | TV Series | Yes |
| Terriers | TV Series | Yes |
| The Unit | TV Series | Yes |
| Castle | TV Series | No |
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer | TV Series | No |
| Lie to Me | TV Series | No |
| Missing | TV Series | No |
| The Equalizer | TV Series | No |
| American Hostage | TV Series | Yes |
Where to Listen American Hostage Soundtrack?
You can stream the score album on Apple Music and Spotify, as well as Amazon Music and other major services. The series streams exclusively on MGM+, with new episodes every Sunday. In the UK, it is available through the MGM+ Prime Video Channel, and in Canada through Crave.
FAQs
Who composed the American Hostage soundtrack?
Robert Duncan composed the score. He has worked with creator Shawn Ryan on several earlier series, including The Night Agent.
How many tracks are on the American Hostage soundtrack album?
The album has 15 tracks with a total runtime of 18 minutes and 44 seconds.
When was the American Hostage soundtrack released?
Madison Gate Records released it digitally on September 20, 2026, the same day as the series premiere.
Which songs are in American Hostage?
Confirmed songs so far include “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas, “Mighty Quinn” by Manfred Mann, and “If You Think I Don’t Need You” by Elvis Presley. See the full episode list above.
Where can I stream the American Hostage soundtrack?
The album is on Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. The series streams on MGM+.
Is American Hostage based on a true story?
Yes. It is based on the 1977 hostage crisis involving Tony Kiritsis in Indianapolis, and on the scripted podcast of the same name.
How many episodes does American Hostage have?
The first season has 8 episodes. It premiered on September 20, 2026, and the finale airs on November 1, 2026.
Related reading: For more real-crime drama scores, see our Facing El Chapo soundtrack and Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey soundtrack, or browse our full streaming guide hub for where to watch and listen across platforms.