Grammy Award for Best Immersive Audio Album

Grammy Award for Best Immersive Audio Album
Awarded for	quality albums recorded and/or mixed in surround sound (classical and non-classical)
Country	United States
Presented by	National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awarded	2005
Currently held by	The Diary of Alicia Keys (2024)
Website	Grammy.com

The Grammy Award for Best Immersive Audio Album (until 2018: Best Surround Sound Album) was first awarded in 2005, as the first category in a new "Surround Sound" field.

This field currently holds the Best Immersive Audio Album award as its sole category.

It is one of a few categories which are open to both classical and non-classical recordings, new or re-issued. To qualify for this category, the recording must be in surround quality (with a minimum of four channels). The recordings must be commercially available on either DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, Blu-ray, SACD, surround download or a streaming-only version. The award goes to the engineer, mastering engineer (if any) and producer. These used to be called Surround Engineer, Surround Mastering Engineer and Surround Sound Producer, respectively, but as of 2023 the descriptions are Immersive Mix Engineer, Immersive Mastering Engineer and Immersive Producer, respectively. Performing artists do not receive the award, except if they are also credited with one or more of the three roles mentioned above.

The category was renamed Best Immersive Audio Album for the 2019 Grammy season.^[1] According to NARAS, "driven by the technological side of music evolution, the Best Surround Sound Album category [was] renamed Best Immersive Audio Album. The same goes for the Field to which it belongs. The change reflects evolving technology, new formats, and current industry trends, practices, and language."

On November 24, 2020, during the announcement of the nominations for the 63rd Grammy Awards, to be presented on January 31, 2021, the Recording Academy said there would be no winner or nominees in this category that year. "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Best Immersive Audio Album Craft Committee was unable to meet. The judging of the entries in this category has been postponed until such time that we are able to meet in a way that is appropriate to judge the many formats and configurations of the entries and is safe for the committee members. The nominations for the 63rd Grammy's will be announced next year [2021] in addition to (and separately from) the 64th Grammy nominations in the category", the Academy stated.^[2] On November 23, 2021, at the presentation of the nominations for the 64th Grammy Awards, the nominations for the previous year were finally announced. The winning recording was announced on the 64th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony.

Winners and nominees

2023Legend:
* = Surround Mix Engineer (from 2020: Immersive Audio Engineer; from 2023: Immersive Mix Engineer)
^† = Surround Mastering Engineer (from 2020: Immersive Audio Mastering Engineer; from 2023: Immersive Mastering Engineer)
^‡ = Surround Producer (from 2020: Immersive Audio Producer; from 2023: Immersive Producer)

Year	Recipients(s)	Work	Performing artist(s)	Nominees Performers are in parentheses	Ref.
2005	Al Schmitt*, Robert Hadley & Doug Sax^†, John Burk, Phil Ramone & Herbert Waltl^‡	Genius Loves Company	Ray Charles & Various Artists	Bob Clearmountain*, Bob Ludwig^†, Rhett Davies^‡ for Avalon (Roxy Music) Markus Heiland*^†, Andreas Neubronner^‡ for Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (Michael Tilson Thomas) Ed Cherney*, James Guthrie & Doug Sax^† for Nick of Time (Bonnie Raitt) Martin Walters*^‡, Paul Blakemore^† for Raise Your Spirit Higher (Ladysmith Black Mambazo)	[3]
2006	Chuck Ainlay*, Bob Ludwig^†, Chuck Ainlay & Mark Knopfler^‡	Brothers In Arms - 20th Anniversary Edition	Dire Straits	Al Schmitt*^‡, Doug Sax^† for The Girl In The Other Room (Diana Krall) Greg Penny*^†‡ for Honky Château (Elton John) Elliot Scheiner*, Bob Ludwig^†, Nick Rasculinecz^‡ for In Your Honor (Foo Fighters) Phil Rowlands*^†, Nick Parker & Phil Rowlands^‡ for Mussorgsky/Stokowski: Pictures At An Exhibition - Boris Godunov - Night on Bare Mountain (José Serebrier)	[4]
2007	Elliot Scheiner*, Darcy Proper^†, Donald Fagen^‡	Morph the Cat	Donald Fagen	Morten Lindberg & Hans Peter l'Orange*, Morten Lindberg^†‡ for Immortal Nystedt (Ensemble 96) Martin Walters*^†‡ for Long Walk To Freedom (Ladysmith Black Mambazo) Tony Papa*, Bernie Grundman^†, Al Yankovic^‡ for Straight Outta Lynwood ("Weird Al" Yankovic) P.J. Olsson & Alan Parsons*, Bob Michaels^†, Alan Parsons^‡ for A Valid Path (Alan Parsons)	[5]
2008	Paul Hicks*, Tim Young^†, George Martin & Giles Martin^‡	Love	The Beatles	The Flaming Lips & Dave Fridmann*^†‡ for At War with the Mystics 5.1 (The Flaming Lips) Steven Wilson*, Darcy Proper^†, Porcupine Tree^‡ for Fear of a Blank Planet (Porcupine Tree) John Newton*, Jonathan Cooper^†, Blanton Alspaugh^‡ for Grechaninov: Passion Week (Charles Bruffy) Michael Bishop*^†, Elaine Martone^‡ for Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5; Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis; Serenade to Music (Robert Spano)	[6]
2009	Michael Bishop*^†, Robert Woods^‡	Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition; Night On Bald Mountain; Prelude To Khovanshchina	Paavo Järvi & Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra	Morten Lindberg & Hans Peter l'Orange*, Morten Lindberg^†‡ for Divertimenti (Øyvind Gimse & TrondheimSolistene) John Newton*, Jonathan Cooper & Mark Donahue^†, Blanton Alspaugh^‡ for Rheinberger: Sacred Choral Works (Charles Bruffy) Bruce Sugar*, Chris Bellman^†, Bill Crowley, Ringo Starr & Bruce Sugar^‡ for Ringo 5.1: The Surround Sound Collection (Ringo Starr) Tohru Takayama*, Keigo Oyamada^‡ for Sensurround + B Sides (Cornelius)	[7]
2010	Michael Bishop*^†, Elaine Martone^‡	Transmigration	Robert Spano & The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Choruses	David Miles Huber*^†‡ for Colabs (David Miles Huber, Allen Hart, DJ Muad'Deep, Seren Wen, Musetta, Henta, Marcell Marias & Gail Pettis) Morten Lindberg & Hans Peter l'Orange*, Morten Lindberg^†‡ for Flute Mystery (Emily Beynon, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Fred Jonny Berg, Catherine Beynon & The Philharmonia Orchestra) Morten Lindberg & Hans Peter l'Orange*, Morten Lindberg^†‡ for Kleiberg: Treble & Bass (Daniel Reuss, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Marianne Thorsen, & Göran Sjölin) Nick Davis*^‡, Tony Cousins^† for Genesis 1970-1975 (Genesis)	[8]
2011	Keith O. Johnson*^†, David Frost^‡	Britten's Orchestra	Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony	Steven Wilson*^‡, Darcy Proper^† for The Incident (Porcupine Tree) David Miles Huber*^†‡ for Parallax Eden (David Miles Huber) Don Murray*, Sangwook Nam & Doug Sax^†, John Burk, Noel Lee & Marcus Miller^‡ for Songs and Stories (Monster Music Version) (George Benson) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Trondheimsolistene - In Folk Style (Trondheimsolistene)	[9]
2012	Elliot Scheiner*, Bob Ludwig^†, Bill Levenson & Elliot Scheiner^‡	Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (Super Deluxe Edition)	Derek & The Dominos	Frank Filipetti & Eric Schilling*, Frank Filipetti^†, Phil Ramone^‡ for An Evening with Dave Grusin (Various Artists) Steven Wilson*^‡, Paschal Byrne^† for Grace For Drowning (Steven Wilson) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Kind (Kjetil Almenning, Ensemble 96 & Nidaros String Quartet) Andreas Speer*^‡, Robin Schmidt & Andreas Speer^† for Spohr: String Sextet In C Major, Op. 140 & Nonet In F Major, Op. 31 (Camerata Freden)	[10]
2013	Jim Anderson*, Darcy Proper^†, Michael Friedman^‡	Modern Cool	Patricia Barber	David Miles Huber*^†‡ for Chamberland (David Miles Huber) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Quiet Winter Night (The Hoff Ensemble) Daniel Shores*^†, Marina Ledin & Victor Ledin^‡ for Rupa-Khanda (The Los Angeles Percussion Quartet) Steven Wilson*^†‡ for Storm Corrosion (Storm Corrosion)	[11]
2014	Al Schmitt* & Tommy LiPuma^‡	Live Kisses	Paul McCartney	Les Claypool & Jason Mills*, Stephen Marcussen^†, Les Claypool & Jeff Fura^‡ for Sailing The Seas of Cheese (Deluxe Edition) (Primus) Leslie Ann Jones*, Michael Romanowski^†, Herbert Walti^‡ for Signature Sound Opus One (Various Artists) Jim Anderson*, Darcy Proper^†, Jim Anderson & Jane Ira Bloom^‡ for Sixteen Sunsets (Jane Ira Bloom) Daniel Shores*^†, Dan Merceruio^‡ for Sprung Rhythm (Richard Scerbo & Inscape)	[12]
2015	Elliot Scheiner(*), Tom Coyne(^†), Beyoncé Knowles(^‡)	Beyoncé	Beyoncé	Morten Lindberg(*^†‡) for Beppe: Remote Galaxy (Vladimir Ashkenazy & The Philharmonia Orchestra) David Miles Huber(*^†‡) for Chamberland: The Berlin Remixes (David Miles Huber) Damon Iddins & Andy Jackson (*^‡) for The Division Bell (20th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set) (Pink Floyd) Hans-Jörg Maucksch (*^‡), Günter Pauler(^†) for Epics of Love (Song Zuying, Yu Long & The China Philharmonic Orchestra) Michael Bishop(*^‡), Elaine Martone(^†) for Mahler: Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection' (Benjamin Zander & The Philharmonia Orchestra)	[13]
2016	James Guthrie (*^†‡) & Joel Plante (^†)	Amused To Death	Roger Waters	Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Amdahl: Astrognosia & Aesop (Ingar Heine Bergby & Norwegian Radio Orchestra) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Magnificat (Øyvind Gimse, Anita Brevik, Nidarosdomens Jentekor & Trondheimsolistene) Erdo Groot*^†, Philip Traugott^‡ for Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 (Paavo Järvi & Russian National Orchestra) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Spes (Tove Ramlo-Ystad & Cantus)	[14]
2017	Alexander Lipay*, Dmitriy Lipay*^†‡	Dutilleux: Sur le Même Accord; Les Citations; Mystères de l'Instant & Timbres, Espace, Mouvement	Ludovic Morlot & the Seattle Symphony	Brad Michel*^† & Robina G. Young^‡ for Johnson: Considering Matthew Shepard (Craig Hella Johnson & Conspirare Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Maja Ratkje: And Sing... (Maja Ratkje, Cikada & the Oslo Sinfonietta) Les Claypool*^‡ & Stephen Marcussen^† for Primus & The Chocolate Factory (5.1 Surround Sound Edition) (Primus) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Reflections (Oyvind Gimse, Geir Inge Lotsberg & the TrondheimSolistene	[15]
2018	Jim Anderson*Darcy Proper^†/Jim Anderson & Jane Ira Bloom^‡	Early Americans	Jane Ira Bloom	Morten Lindberg*^†‡* for Kleiberg: Mass for Modern Man (Eivind Gullberg Jensen & Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Trondheim Vokalensemble) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for So Is My Love (Nina T. Karlsen & Ensemble 96) Fritz Hilpert*^‡, Tom Ammermann^† for 3-D The Catalogue (Kraftwerk) Jesse Brayman*^†, Blanton Alspaugh^‡ for Tyberg: Masses (Brian A. Schmidt, Christopher Jacobson & the South Dakota Chorale)	[16]
2019	Alan Parsons*^†‡, Dave Donnelly^†, P.J. Olsson^†	Eye in the Sky - 35th Anniversary Edition	Alan Parsons Project	Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Folketoner (Anne Karin Sundal-Ask & det Norske Jentekor) Daniel Shores*^†, Dan Merceruio^‡ for Seven Words From The Cross (Matthew Guard & Skylark) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Sommerro: Ujamaa & the Iceberg (Ingar Heine Bergby & the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Choir) Prashant Mistry*^‡, Ronald Prent*^‡, Darcy Proper ^† for Symbol (Engine-Earz Experiment)	[17]
2020	Morten Lindberg*^†‡	Lux	Anita Brevik, the Trondheimsolistene & the Nidarosdomens Jentekor	Luke Argilla*; Jurgen Scharpf^†; Jona Bechtolt, Claire L. Evans & Rob Kieswetter^‡ for Chain Tripping (Yacht) Jim Anderson*, Bob Ludwig^†, Ulrike Schwarz^‡ for Kverndokk: Symphonic Dances (Ken-David Masur & the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra) Keith O. Johnson*^†; Marina A. Ledin & Victor Ledin^‡ for The Orchestral Organ (Jan Kraybill) Bob Clearmountain*; Bob Ludwig^†; Michael Marquart & Dave Way^‡ for The Savior (A Bad Think)	[18]
2021	Leslie Ann Jones*, Michael Romanowski^†, Dan Merceruio^‡	Soundtrack of the American Soldier	Jim R. Keene & the United States Army Field Band	Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Bolstad: Tomba Sonora (Stemmeklang) Fritz Hilpert*, Jason Banks, Fritz Hilpert & David Ziegler^†, Tom Ammerman, Arno Kammermeier & Walter Merziger^‡ for Dear Future Self (Dolby Atmos Mixes) (Booka Shade) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Fryd (Tove Ramlo-Ystad & Cantus) Elliot Scheiner*, Darcy Proper^†, Alain Mallet & Elliot Scheiner^‡ for Mutt Slang II- A Wake of Sorrows Engulfed in Rage (Alain Mallet)	[19]
2022	George Massenburg & Eric Schilling*, Michael Romanowski^†, Ann Mincieli^‡	Alicia	Alicia Keys	Jim Anderson & Ulrike Schwarz*, Bob Ludwig^†, Jim Anderson^‡ for Clique (Patricia Barber) Greg Penny*^†‡ for Fine Line (Harry Styles) Jake Fields & Steven Wilson*, Bob Ludwig^†, Steven Wilson^‡ for The Future Bites (Steven Wilson) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Stille Grender (Anne Karin Sundal-Ask & Det Norske Jentekor)	[19]
2023	Eric Schilling*; Stewart Copeland, Ricky Kej & Herbert Waltl^‡	Divine Tides	Stewart Copeland & Ricky Kej	Jaycen Joshua*/^† & Mike Seaberg*/^† for Aguilera (Christina Aguilera) Mike Placentini*/^†; Adam Alpert, Alex Pall, Jordan Stilwell & Andrew Taggart^‡ for Memories...Do Not Open (The Chainsmokers) Jim Anderson*; Morten Lindberg & Ulrike Schwartz^†; Jane Ira Bloom & Ulrike Schwartz^‡ for Picturing the Invisible - Focus 1 (Jane Ira Bloom) Morten Lindberg*/^†/^‡ for Tuvayhun — Beatitudes for A Wounded World (Nidarosdomens Jentekor & Trondheimsolistene)	[20]
2024	George Massenburg & Eric Schilling^*; Michael Romanowski^†; Alicia Keys & Ann Mincieli^‡	The Diary of Alicia Keys	Alicia Keys	Ryan Ulyate */^‡ ; Michael Romanowski^† for Act 3 (Immersive Edition) (Ryan Ulyate) Chuck Ainlay^*/‡; Michael Romanowski^† for Blue Clear Sky (George Strait) Eric Schilling^*; Michael Romanowski^†; Kellog Boynton, Peter Scaturro & Herbert Waltl^‡ for God War of Ragnarök (Original Soundtrack) (Bear McCreary) Aaron Short^‡ for Silence Between Songs (Madison Beer)
2025	Winner TBA on 2 February 2025			Bob Clearmountain*; Rhett Davies & Bryan Ferry^‡ for Avalon (Roxy Music) Michael Romanowski, Eric Schilling & Herbert Waltl*; Michael Romanowski ^†; John Burk^‡ for Genius Loves Company (Ray Charles & Various Artists) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Henning Sommerro: Borders (Trondheim Symphony Orchestra) Hans-Martin Buff*; Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel & Richard Russell^‡ for i/o (In-Side Mix) (Peter Gabriel) Morten Lindberg*^†‡ for Pax (Ensemble 96 & Current Saxophone Quartet)	[21]

Legend:
* = Surround Mix Engineer (from 2020: Immersive Audio Engineer, from 2023: Immersive Mix Engineer)
^† = Surround Mastering Engineer (from 2020: Immersive Audio Mastering Engineer, from 2023: Immersive Mastering Engineer)
^‡ = Surround Producer (from 2020: Immersive Audio Producer, from 2023: Immersive Producer)

References

1. "What's New For The 61st GRAMMY Awards?". GRAMMY.com. 26 June 2018.
2. "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners List". 24 November 2020.
3. "47th Annual Grammy Awards Winners". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
4. Sun, Baltimore. "Complete list of 2006 Grammy winners". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
5. "49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List". Retrieved April 28, 2017.
6. "List of Winners at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards". Fox News. February 10, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
7. "Complete List of Nominees for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards". E! Online. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
8. "Complete List of Nominees for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards". E! Online. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
9. "Grammy Awards 2011: Winners and nominees for 53rd Grammy Awards". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
10. "Grammy Awards 2012: Complete Winners And Nominees List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
11. "Grammys 2013: Complete list of nominees and winners". Los Angeles Times. February 10, 2013. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
12. "Grammys 2014: The complete list of nominees and winners". Los Angeles Times. January 26, 2014. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
13. "Complete List Of The 57th Annual Grammy Award Winners/Nominees". 8 February 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
14. Variety Staff (February 15, 2016). "Grammy Awards: Complete Winners List". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
15. "59th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
16. {Grammy.com, 28 November 2017
17. "61st Annual GRAMMY Awards". GRAMMY.com. 6 December 2018.
18. "2020 Grammy Awards nominations list". 20 November 2019.
19. "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominees List". 24 November 2020.
20. "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
21. "2025 GRAMMYs: See The OFFICIAL Full Nominations List | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.