Surround Music Awards Nominees Named

The 2005 Surround Music Awards nominees, chosen from more than 100 submissions and judged by a panel of surround-sound producers and journalists, were announced yesterday. (No, I wasn't asked so I can say anything I want about the list of nominees, and you can't stop me...)

In addition to the judged awards, the SMA Steering Committee gets to bestow several awards, and one award is chosen by the public. (Hey, that's you!) This year the SMA Steering Committee will award Phil Ramone with the "Surround Pioneer Award", and Jackson Browne will be presented with the "Surround Artist of the Year Award". According to a statement released by the Committee, the latter is being recognized for promoting the emerging surround sound music format, in particular for his work on the multichannel re-issue of his classic album Running On Empty. Mixed in surround by Greg Ladanyi, the album was released earlier this year by Rhino Records. Browne is best known for hits such as "Running On Empty, "Doctor My Eyes," "The Pretender," "Somebody's Baby," "Tender is the Night," and "The Load-Out."

"I believe that Jackson Browne and Greg Ladanyi have produced one of the best 5.1 mixes to date; and this is a release that will raise the bar in the surround world," says Robin Hurley, Sr. VP of A&R, Rhino Entertainment. "The original album was recorded in a variety of locations (including venues, tour buses, and hotel rooms), and this mix has used the 5.1 format to superb effect."

This year's list of categories and nominees includes:

BEST MADE-FOR-SURROUND TITLE

  • Crossing; David Elias [Sketti Sandwich Productions]
  • Deadwing; Porcupine Tree [DTS Entertainment]
  • Guero; Beck [IGA/Interscope]
  • With Teeth; Nine Inch Nails [IGA]
  • Poncho at Montreux; Poncho Sanchez [Silverline Records]
  • BEST MIX: NON-ORCHESTRAL

  • Crossing; David Elias [Sketti Sandwich Productions]
  • Genius Loves Company; Ray Charles [Concord Records/Hear Music]
  • Girl in the Other Room; Diana Krall [Verve]
  • Running on Empty; Jackson Browne [Rhino Entertainment]
  • Talking Heads DualDisc Box Set; Talking Heads [Rhino Entertainment]
  • BEST MIX: ORCHESTRAL

  • Reich at the Roxy; Alarm Will Sound [Sweetspot Music]
  • Rosza: Ben-Hur Suite, Cincinnati Pops [Telarc]
  • Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, London Symphony Orchestra [DTS Entertainment]
  • The Making of a Performance: Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony; The San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas [SFS Media]
  • BEST MULTICHANNEL REISSUE

  • 461 Ocean Blvd.; Eric Clapton [Polydor/Chronicles]
  • Captain Fantastic; Elton John [UME/Chronicles]
  • Singles 1969-1981; The Carpenters [A&M/Chronicles/UME]
  • Tumbleweed Connection; Elton John [UME/Chronicles]
  • Willy Porter; Willy Porter [Six Degrees Records]
  • BEST STANDARD RESOLUTION TITLE

  • Deadwing; Porcupine Tree [DTS Entertainment]
  • In Search OfŠ; N.E.R.D. [Virgin Records/DTS]
  • One Soul; E3 [Sweet Spot Music Group/3 Bone Audio, Inc.]
  • Play; Peter Gabriel [Rhino Entertainment]
  • Talking Heads DualDisc Box Set; Talking Heads [Rhino Entertainment]
  • HORIZON AWARD [BEST NEWCOMER TO SURROUND]

  • Be My Love; Kip Wilborn [sam n rose, inc.]
  • Bold and Terrible; Pentamental [Subternal]
  • Feels Like Family; Lauren Ellis [Silverline Records]
  • Poncho at Montreux; Poncho Sanchez [Silverline Records]
  • The Downward Spiral; Nine Inch Nails [IGA]
  • The Making of a Performance: Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony; The San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas [SFS Media]
  • MOST ADVENTUROUS MIX

  • Coltrane's A Love Supreme Live in Amsterdam; Branford Marsalis [Marsalis Music]
  • Guero; Beck [IGA/Interscope]
  • In Search OfŠ; N.E.R.D. [Virgin Records/DTS]
  • Talking Heads DualDisc Box Set; Talking Heads [Rhino Entertainment]
  • With Teeth; Nine Inch Nails [IGA]
  • BEST CONCERT VIDEO

  • Coltrane's A Love Supreme Live in Amsterdam; Branford Marsalis [Marsalis Music]
  • Grateful Dead Movie; Grateful Dead [Monterey Home Video]
  • Live at the Apollo; Ben Harper & the Blind Boys of Alabama [5.1 Production Services]
  • Poncho at Montreux; Poncho Sanchez [Concord Picante/5.1 Production Services]
  • The Making of a Performance: Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony; The San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas [SFS Media]
  • BEST DUALDISC RELEASE

  • Feels Like Family; Lauren Ellis [Silverline Records]
  • Never Gone; Backstreet Boys [Jive]
  • Talking Heads DualDisc Box Set; Talking Heads [Rhino Entertainment]
  • The Downward Spiral; Nine Inch Nails [IGA]
  • With Teeth; Nine Inch Nails [IGA]
  • LISTENER'S CHOICE AWARD

  • Brothers in Arms; Dire Straits [Warner Bros.]
  • Crossing; David Elias [Sketti Sandwich Productions]
  • Master of Disaster; John Hiatt [New West]
  • Music for Organ, Brass & Timpani; Anthony Newman & the Graham Ashton Ensemble [Sonoma]
  • Brick; Talking Heads [Rhino]
  • Something to Be; Rob Thomas [Atlantic Records]
  • The Surround Music Awards are part of the Surround 2005 Conference and Showcase, which takes place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 15-16, 2005. You can find out more information on the Surround Music Awards and the Surround 2005 Conference and Showcase by visiting the Surround 2005 Conference and Expo's website.

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