I'm pretty sure the Grammy for Immersive Audio Album is only awarded to albums being released for the first time in the preceding year, i.e. albums consisting of new recordings, just like the "of the Year" categories (Album, Record, Song, etc.). If I'm right, that would exclude seven of the ten albums in this poll, as they are remixes of classic albums.
I'm not sure about that. Previous nominees have included 5.1 remixes of
Avalon, Honky Chateau, and
The Division Bell; previous winners have included reissues of
Brothers In Arms, Layla, and
Eye In the Sky. True,
updated rules this year for some of the
main categories exclude "
updated, revised, or expanded versions of previously submitted albums," but for Immersive it's still any "
original immersive mix — not electronically re-purposed — of four or more channels."
Here's this year's full rulebook:
https://naras.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/67_Rulebook_06.26
And some relevant excerpts:
P. 9: "Recordings that are not newly recorded are only eligible in Best Historical Album, Best Compilation Soundtrack Album, Best Immersive Audio Album (if the multichannel mix is new)...."
P. 19: For Best Immersive Audio Album[:] Nominations are selected by a committee of Voting Members. To be eligible to serve on this committee, one must be a Voting Member of the Academy, in good dues standing, and must meet certain qualifications in the Engineering or Producing Fields and be approved by the Trustees. The committee consists of 20–25 members. They review all Immersive Audio Album entries in their meeting and vote individually for the final five nominees in the Category.
P. 47 (Eligible Engineer Credits): Immersive Audio Engineer: Same as engineer, but for a recording created in an immersive audio format; or, in the case of a new immersive audio mix of previously recorded material, the engineer who creates the new immersive audio mix(es).
P. 72: BEST IMMERSIVE AUDIO ALBUM FOR ALBUMS - VOCAL OR INSTRUMENTAL ALL GENRES SCREENING CRITERIA This Category recognizes excellence in multichannel immersive audio recordings. Eligible recordings must be commercially released for sale or streaming on a consumer format/configuration (DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, Blu-ray, Atmos, Auro-3D, immersive download, etc.) that provides an original immersive mix (not electronically repurposed) of four or more channels. On releases that include multiple distinct mixes, entrants will be prompted to choose which immersive mix they are entering for GRAMMY consideration. Only one mix per album will be eligible.
Of course to be nominated, you've gotta enter. And not all artists, agents, or labels, bother (or manage) to enter their eligible titles by the submission deadline.
