First Annual Surround Awards

With the advent of Dolby Digital, DTS, DVD-Audio, and SACD, multichannel audio and its enthusiasts are not lacking for playback formats. What has been lacking, however, is recognition for outstanding achievements in the fledgeling surround music business. But not anymore.

The first annual Surround Music Awards (SMAs) took place earlier this month at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. The ceremony, hosted by Grammy Award winners Al Schmitt and Ed Cherney, recognized winners in 15 categories, including the first ever Surround Pioneer Award, to engineer Elliot Scheiner. Scheiner was honored for his early support and ongoing contributions in helping to grow the surround industry, including his work on the 5.1 versions of The Eagles' Hotel California and Hell Freezes Over, and Queen's A Night at the Opera.

The awards show also included a live performance by Surround Artist of the Year winner Graham Nash, who was joined on stage by longtime musical partner David Crosby. Nash received his award for his DTS Entertainment DVD-Audio disc Songs for Survivors, which was released in 5.1 surround prior to its stereo release.

AIX's Nitty Gritty Surround and A Night at the Opera shared top honors, with Nitty Gritty Surround taking home the awards for Best of Show and Best Additional Features, while A Night at the Opera won the Listener's Choice Award and Most Adventurous Mix (which it shared with Herbie Hancock's Headhunters).

An optimistic show supporter, Martin Porter, commented, "The SMAs recognize the fact that great musicians, producers and engineers have now been given a liberating new technological palette on which to create—and have embraced it with great artistry. In the future, when all music is 5.1, they'll look at the first SMAs as a landmark event in the acceptance of this new musical format."

Complete List of 2002 SMA Winners:
Best Of Show: Nitty Gritty Surround; John McEuen and Jimmy Ibbotson with Jennifer Warnes (AIX Records)
Best Mix: Non-Orchestral: Ziroq; Ziroq (Silverline Records/5.1 Entertainment)
Best Mix: Orchestral: Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14; Paavo Jarvi/Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (Telarc)
Most Adventurous Mix; Tie: A Night At The Opera; Queen (DTS Entertainment) & Headhunters; Herbie Hancock (Sony Legacy)
Best Made For Surround Title: Latin; Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (Telarc)
Best Hi-Res Stereo-Only Program: Trio; Monty Alexander, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis (Hi Res Music)
Best Standard Resolution Title: Music From Lifehouse; Pete Townshend (Eel Pie Productions/Image Entertainment)
Best Menu Design: Awaken; Various Electromatrix (5.1 Entertainment)
Best Additional Features: Nitty Gritty Surround; John McEuen and Jimmy Ibbotson with Jennifer Warnes (AIX Records)
Best Concert Video: Live At Royal Albert Hall; The Who & Special Guests (Image Entertainment)
Best Multichannel Reissue; Tie: JT; James Taylor (Sony/Columbia) & American Beauty; Grateful Dead (Warner Bros.)
Listener's Choice Award: A Night At The Opera; Queen (DTS Entertainment)
Top Surround Artist Of The Year: Songs For Survivors; Graham Nash (DTS Entertainment)
Surround Pioneer: Elliot Scheiner

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