Kylie Minogue should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Netflix documentary series “Kylie” provides compelling evidence that Australian pop music superstar Kylie Minogue needs to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The fact that she has never been nominated is a disgrace. The longevity of her career, her reinventions, her chart-topping hits and sold-out concerts to this day are all factors in her favor. The three-part Netflix series also shows the personal and professional challenges she has faced and overcome.
Australia has been a noticeable blind spot for the Rock Hall. The only Aussie acts in the hall are AC/DC and the Bee Gees.
Aussie snubs include Minogue, INXS (nominated for the first time this year), Midnight Oil, Crowded House and Nick Cave.
Next year would be a perfect time to induct Minogue as she reportedly will be on another world tour.
Kylie is an icon who deserves to be in the Rock Hall before a raft of other female solo artists.
The 2026 Netflix docuseries “Kylie” and concert film from her Tension tour “Kylie: Tension Tour Live” hopefully will give Minogue an exposure lift to hall voters.
Put her name on the nomination ballot and she will lead the fan poll. I’m sure of it.

Related articles:

Kylie Minogue and the Art of Staying a Mega-Famous Pop Star Forever (Rolling Stone; June 5, 2026)

Kylie Minogue Confirms 40th Anniversary Tour Plans: ‘I’m Probably Not Meant to Say This, But Yes’ (Billboard; May 17, 2026)

Photos: “Kylie” docuseries poster and photos from the premiere. (Netflix)

Joy Division/New Order finally recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2026 class of inductees on April 13 and I’m generally pleased with the outcome. I’m thrilled the hall’s voters selected my top pick: Joy Division/New Order.
They’re my all-time favorite band and got me into the EDM scene, starting with “Blue Monday” (1983).
Four of my seven picks from the fan ballot made it into the hall this year. The others are Phil Collins, Billy Idol and Iron Maiden.
The 2026 class of performer inductees also includes Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
Plus, the hall added 10 more individuals through side categories like early influence and musical excellence. Notables in that group include Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Gram Parsons.
All told, the 2026 class includes approximately 46 individuals thanks to large groups like Wu-Tang Clan and Iron Maiden. The final number depends on how many members past and present the hall plans to officially induct at its ceremony on Nov. 14 in Los Angeles.
The 2026 class is notable for having 18 induction slots (the most since 1987). I guess this is a catch-up year, designed to put a dent in the hall’s sizable backlog of worthy performers who have yet to make the cut. That includes Australian rock band INXS, who I pushed for this year.
While the 1987 class holds the record for the most “induction acts” with 22 distinct slots, the 2012 class is the winner by total headcount, with a staggering 63 individuals inducted. That year, the hall inducted a roster of “backing groups” alongside their previously inducted frontmen to correct historical omissions.

Related articles:

John Sykes on 2026 Rock Hall Inductions, Why Voters Embraced So Many Acts From the 1980s & Their Curious Snub of Mariah Carey (Billboard; April 16, 2026)

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2026 Inductees: Oasis, Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Sade, Billy Idol, Wu-Tang Clan and More (Variety; April 13, 2026)

Will New Edition join Phish and Dave Matthews Band in this distinction?

New Edition currently leads the fan vote for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by a comfortable margin, having surpassed early No. 1 Phil Collins. Does that make the group a lock for induction into the music hall this year? Not necessarily.
Since the Rock Hall introduced the fan vote, the winner of the top spot has failed to be inducted in the same year only two times.
Dave Matthews Band topped the fan vote in 2020 but was not inducted that year. They topped the fan vote again in 2024 and got in that year.
Phish was No. 1 in the fan vote in 2025 but was snubbed by the hall.
However, 11 of the 13 artists who have won the fan vote were inducted in their respective years. The other inductees include Rush (2013), KISS (2014), Stevie Ray Vaughan (2015), Chicago (2016), Journey (2017), Bon Jovi (2018), Def Leppard (2019), Tina Turner (2021), Duran Duran (2022) and George Michael (2023).
Frankly I’m surprised by the fan support for New Edition. I guess they’re a nostalgia favorite for the younger crowd.

Photo: Fan vote leaderboard for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as of a.m. March 28, 2026.

My 2026 picks for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation on Feb. 25 announced a list of 17 performer nominees to be considered for 2026 induction into the Rock Hall. And fan voting is now open.
Fans can choose up to seven artists for the eventual fan ballot. And like Chicago politics, people should vote early and vote often. But a warning: the voting website was down when I tried it today.
The inductees will be announced in late April.
Here are my seven picks for induction this year:

• Phil Collins
• INXS
• Joy Division + New Order
• Billy Idol
• Mariah Carey
• Melissa Etheridge
• Iron Maiden

Some thoughts on my picks:
Phil Collins is currently leading the fan voting by a wide margin and for good reason. The beloved music icon has a fantastic solo catalog and deserves to be a double inductee like his Genesis bandmate Peter Gabriel. Shockingly, he's a first-time nominee this year. In fact, 10 of the 17 nominees are first-timers.
In my Jan. 27 blog post, I urged the Rock Hall to get back to basics and choose some true rockers this year. In that spirit, I am backing rockers Billy Idol, INXS, Iron Maiden and Melissa Etheridge.
I also hope this finally will be the year New Order (and its predecessor Joy Division) gets in. They're an amazingly influential electronic band with great music.
And finally, there's Mariah Carey. She's an extraordinarily successful pop singer and a legendary diva. She needs to get in the Rock Hall before fellow nominees and female singers Pink, Sade, Shakira and Lauryn Hill.

Note to Rock Hall: Get back to basics

With the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame preparing nominations for this year’s induction ceremony, it is important that the body pick an exciting, back-to-basics slate of candidates.
I won’t quarrel with the hall’s recent choices, but I wish they rocked a little harder.
Next year will mark the 75th anniversary of what’s considered the first major rock concert, the Moondog Coronation Ball. It was held in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 21, 1952.
So, the voters should keep that milestone event in mind when picking acts from their embarrassingly large backlog of artists.
Rockers who have been previously nominated but not inducted include Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Steppenwolf and Thin Lizzy.
Some other rockers I’d like to see nominated include INXS, No Doubt, Phil Collins, Scorpions and Smashing Pumpkins.
Other people have suggested Boston, Mötley Crüe, Melissa Etheridge, Styx and REO Speedwagon.
Come on, Rock Hall, focus more on rock music this year.

Photo: No Doubt promotional art for their residency at the Las Vegas Sphere.

Rock Hall too concerned with checking boxes

There’s no shortage of criticism about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Much of that criticism comes from people who like the hall but want to see it change how it chooses artists for induction. I’m in that camp.
Looking at this year’s induction class, I can only think that the voting committee was overly concerned with checking boxes. And in an effort to please everyone, they pleased practically no one.
The performer and musical influence inductees for 2025 include Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa, Soundgarden, The White Stripes and Warren Zevon.
The hall also is inducting musicians Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins and Carol Kaye in the musical excellence category and music industry executive Lenny Waronker in the Ahmet Ertegun Award category.
As I’ve said before, by having one all-encompassing induction ceremony, the hall limits the size of its annual induction class. I’d love to see a two-night blowout with double the number of inductees, just to put a dent in the massive backlog of worthy artists. They could have ceremonies in two locations: Los Angeles and New York City (or maybe Las Vegas and Cleveland).
It would be interesting to be in the papal conclave where the artists are inducted, just to see the process. But based on this year’s induction class, it looks like the voting body is overly focused on balance. Heaven forbid the class is too rock focused or pop focused. And they have to consider diversity in this day and age.
As they’re horse-trading, the voters are checking boxes: classic rock act (Bad Company), more recent rockers (Soundgarden and The White Stripes), outrageous snubs rectified (Chubby Checker. Joe Cocker and Warren Zevon), MTV-era acts (Cyndi Lauper and Salt-N-Pepa) and well-regarded modern act (Outkast).
Unfortunately, to me, nobody stands out as a headliner for this year’s induction class. It might make a great awards ceremony, thanks to guest performers. But overlooked nominees such as Mariah Carey, Billy Idol and Joy Division/New Order would have made for a better show.
That’s my two cents.

Related articles:

Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Bad Company, Cyndi Lauper and Outkast get into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (AP; April 27, 2025)

Rock Hall of Fame Inductees Unveiled: Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, White Stripes, Chubby Checker, Warren Zevon and More to Join Class of 2025 (Variety; April 27, 2025)

The 10 Worst Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs (Ultimate Classic Rock; May 2, 2025)

How hip-hop came to dominate the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Axios Cleveland; May 12, 2025)

Virtual halls of fame for storm chasing, podcasting and craft beer making

Name a passion, pursuit or profession and there’s going to be a hall of fame for it. In the internet age, these halls of fame can be virtual.
What follows is the latest bunch of virtual halls of fame that I’ve come across.

Storm Chaser Hall of Fame

The National Storm Chasing Hall of Fame (NSCHoF) is a program designed to honor individuals whose work has had a positive and lasting impact on storm chasing.
An inductee to the NSCHoF should have a minimum of 20 years of field experience “unless extenuating circumstances (injury or death) prevail,” the website says.
The inaugural class of the Storm Chaser Hall of Fame was honored during the National Storm Chaser Summit on Feb. 15 in Overland Park, Kansas.

Podcast Hall of Fame

The Podcast Hall of Fame celebrates podcasters who have had mainstream popularity and/or are considered a great podcaster or contributor to the industry by their peers.
Inductees include Adam Carolla, Adam Curry, Marc Maron and more. The first class of inductees was honored in 2015.

American Craft Beer Hall of Fame

The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame inducted its inaugural class on Feb. 15. The inductees came from several facets of the industry – brewery owners, brewers, writers and educators – each having contributed greatly to the growth and development of craft beer.
(See article by Craft Brewing Business.)

Swine Hall of Fame

The Swine Hall of Fame is an annual tradition to celebrate and recognize distinguished leaders in the pork production industry. The inaugural class was inducted in 2023.

Wisconsin Meat Industry Hall of Fame

The Wisconsin Meat Industry Hall of Fame was established to recognize the contributions of individuals who have had a significant impact on the meat industry of Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Meat Industry Hall of Fame resides at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Meat Science Laboratory.

Government Hall of Fame

Government Executive magazine and website created the Government Hall of Fame to honor individuals who have profoundly shaped the federal government for the betterment of the American people.
Government Executive has been inducting individuals into the Government Hall of Fame since 2019, the publication said.

Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) honors persons in its industry with its Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame.
The NGA is currently reviewing nominations for its 2025 GEOINT Hall of Fame class, according to a news release.

American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame

The American Baseball Coaches Association has been inducting coaches into its ABCA Hall of Fame since 1966. Since then, more than 350 individuals have been inducted.

U.S. Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was founded in 1956 to serve the interests of journalists who cover college basketball. The USBWA Hall of Fame honors members who have made outstanding contributions.
The 2025 class of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame honored seven reporters and columnists who have covered men’s and women’s basketball, according to a news release.

Country Radio Hall of Fame

Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB), an organization that stages the annual Country Radio Seminar educational event, has been inducting individuals into its Country Radio Hall of Fame since 1975.
It announced its 2025 class of inductees on Feb. 19.

People’s Music Hall of Fame

The Sound Support Foundation and Adam Reader – aka the Professor of Rock, who has built a rock and pop music history channel on YouTube with over 1.2 million subscribers – launched the People’s Music Hall of Fame in February.
The People’s Music Hall of Fame honors musicians who have shaped music throughout the generations and haven’t been recognized yet by the likes of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The first inductee was Huey Lewis.
(See articles by the Park Record and KSL News Radio.)

WWE Hall of Fame

Professional wrestling entertainment company WWE has been inducting industry greats into the WWE Hall of Fame since 1993.
The 2025 class will be inducted in a ceremony on April 18, 2025, in Las Vegas.

The 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations ballot is ridiculous

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame issued its annual slate of nominees on Feb. 12. This year’s ballot includes 14 artists, which I find ridiculous. To me, this seems like a reasonable number for an induction class.
Last year’s ballot included 15 artists. And the hall ended up inducting 16 people and groups, when including special categories. However, one of those was a music industry executive.
I get that the Rock Hall is stingy about inductions because it also has to think about producing an induction ceremony. But the hall also has an epic backlog of worthy artists to induct.
The recent Grammy Awards handed out prizes in 94 categories. The broadcast lasted for three-and-a-half hours, though most awards were presented off camera.
Everyone on the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot arguably deserves to be enshrined in the hall. The nominees include: Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Maná, Oasis, Outkast, Phish, Soundgarden and The White Stripes.
Fans are able to provide their input by voting online and can choose up to seven artists. I chose Bad Company, Mariah Carey, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden and The White Stripes.
Those are my choices for the “performer” category of inductees. I think Chubby Checker should get in as a “musical influence” inductee and Joe Cocker is a cinch for the “musical excellence” category.
I think future Rock Hall ballots should have a minimum of 20 artists to consider. Let’s get some more names in the conversation.
Consider that the Baseball Hall of Fame nominee list this year included 28 players under consideration. (But only three got enough votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America to be inducted.)

Kylie Minogue needs to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

As the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame expanded beyond the roots of rock and roll music to celebrating the soundtracks of youth culture, it has compounded its backlog of worthy candidates. It also exposed some blind spots.
One of those blind spots is dance music and another is international artists (beyond the U.S. and U.K.).
Kylie Minogue falls into both of those categories and would be a great addition to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Australian dance music diva has been a chart-topping artist since her debut album “Kylie” in 1988. She has won two Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards and eighteen ARIA Music Awards.
Often called the “Princess of Pop,” she is also a major style icon in the fashion world. Mattel even made a Barbie doll featuring her likeness last year. (See press release.)
She is a bigger artist in her native Australia and the U.K., as well as the rest of Europe, than she is in the U.S. But America has finally come around, especially after the release of her smash-hit song “Padam Padam” in 2023.
Minogue will kick off the North American leg of her international Tension Tour on March 29 in Toronto. The tour starts in Australia on Feb. 15.
Meanwhile, the Rock Hall is due to release its nominations for this year’s class of inductees in early February.
I doubt Kylie will be on the list as she has never been nominated and there’s a ridiculous backlog of great artists. But the hall should consider putting her into the hall through a side category like “musical excellence.”
After all, the hall could use some exciting current artists.

Related articles:

These music acts should be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025 (Nov. 9, 2024)

Rock Hall adds more fossils to its collection, needs more ‘modern era’ acts (Nov. 3, 2024)

These music acts should be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025

I don’t do predictions for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I’ll leave that to the experts. Rather, I write about who I think should be included in the hall.
With the 2024 class installed last month, it’s time to focus on next year’s class.
Many of these names I’ve suggested before, but I’ll keep saying them until they’re in.
Newly eligible acts in 2025 include Pink and Linkin Park, according to Future Rock Legends. Neither are proper candidates for first-year induction, though I think both deserve to get in eventually.
Every year needs at least one rock goddess or diva superstar. But with the untenable backlog at the hall of fame, there are several that need to get in pronto. They are Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper and Sade. (All but Estefan have been previously nominated.)
Carey even joked that her attorney got into the hall before she did.
And Lauper is now on a “farewell tour.” So the timing is right.
I’ve suggested all of those women before. Now I’ll add two more: Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Both have been eligible since 2023.
Spears recently made headlines with her best-selling memoir “The Woman in Me.”
I would love to see an all-divas induction ceremony. That would be incredible. I suggested recently that the rock hall hold two ceremonies – one for “modern era” acts and another for the “classic era.”
For the “classic era” induction ceremony, I’d like to see these acts get the nod: Billy Idol, INXS, Joy Division/New Order and Phil Collins.

Related articles:

Rock Hall adds more fossils to its collection (Nov. 3, 2024)

Rock Hall adds more fossils to its collection, needs more 'modern era' acts

The paleontologists at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame recently added several more fossils to their museum.
On Oct. 19, the Rock Hall added a bunch of ancient acts to its inductee list. Key members of some acts are deceased and others were too old to perform at the induction ceremony.
The Rock Hall has a tendency to choose older acts over newly eligible acts. The thinking is that you can’t induct so-and-so before some older act is enshrined.
I think the hall should have two inductions per year: one for the “modern era” and another for a “classic era.” This would be similar to how the Country Music Hall of Fame chooses inductees with its “modern era” and “veterans era” selections. The Baseball Hall of Fame has “contemporary” and “classic” eras for inductees.
This year, the Rock Hall inductees were Mary J Blige, Jimmy Buffett, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Alexis Korner, John Mayall, MC5, Ozzy Osbourne, Suzanne de Passe, Big Momma Thornton, A Tribe Called Quest, Dionne Warwick and Norman Whitfield.
Of those, only Mary J Blige and Dave Matthews Band could be considered “modern era” acts.
The rest would be considered “classic era” acts or early influences.
Of the 11 individual inductees, five are deceased. Of the groups, many had lost key members over the years or were simply too frail to perform at the ceremony.

Consider this: The R&R HOF snubbed @ForeignerMusic for so long that Mick couldn’t be there, the founding member. @jimmybuffett snubbed so long that he’s passed. @peterframpton so long that he had to sit and play. @OzzyOsbourne solo so long that he had to sit & couldn’t sing. And…

— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) October 21, 2024

So the induction ceremony consisted largely of tribute performances by “modern era” performers such as Kenny Chesney, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Dua Lipa, Jelly Roll and Keith Urban.
The ceremony itself was a five-and-a-half hour-marathon. Vulture writer Devon Ivie called it “a really long ceremony with really long speeches.”
The solution for such a long show: break it up. One show for “classic era” and early influencer acts and a second show for “modern era” acts.
Once the Rock Hall deals with its ridiculously long backlog of eligible artists. It can go back to one show.

Photo: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum plaza. (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame).

Rock Hall voters stick it to the music snobs

The 2024 inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced on April 21 and there were the usual complaints about the selections.
This year’s honorees include performers Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, and A Tribe Called Quest. The hall also added eight additional honorees in musical excellence and other categories, including Jimmy Buffett and Dionne Warwick.
Music pundits groused that some inductees weren’t good enough for the honor or weren’t “rock and roll.”
Much of the vitriol was directed at Foreigner, a group popular with the masses but not music critics.
AudioPhix writer Lee Vowell said the 2024 Rock Hall inductees were “marred by one undeserving band.” He called Foreigner a commercial sellout.
Author and pop music critic Robert Hilburn said, “I’m comfortable (in) saying this year’s (list of inductees) must be the weakest ever.”
Past inductees have received similar criticisms to those for Foreigner. To name a few: Bon Jovi, Journey, Rush and Kiss.
The Rock Hall voters likely vote with their heart as much as their brain. That makes them more populist than the elitist music critics. For some critics, commercial success is a negative for music acts.
The eight Rock Hall performer inductees were selected by hall voters from 15 nominees. When you include the special categories, the hall is inducting 16 persons or groups this year.
Radio and TV personality Eddie Trunk carped that the special categories allow the hall to “circumvent voting” and induct anyone they want. But I have no major problem with that. It lets the hall honor influential and important acts that don’t get the respect they deserve from voters.
Trunk added, “It’s reduced the voting to almost being irrelevant since they can basically back door in any one they want in that doesn’t earn the votes.”
The honorees will be officially enshrined on Oct. 19 during a ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio, which is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Related articles:

Rock Hall’s 2024 Hits, and Misses (Populism; April 24, 2024)

Crowning the Idols: Thoughts on the RRHOF Class of 2024 (Iconic Rock Talk Show; April 24, 2024)

Crash into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2024 (So It Goes; April 22, 2024)

Rock Fans Share Vocal Reactions to 2024 Rock Hall Snubs (Loudwire; April 22, 2024)

My picks for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction this year

While I’m not a member of the voting body for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I’m a music fan who cares about who gets inducted into the hall.
Like other fans I vote in the online poll to participate in the fan ballot. But I realize that doesn’t have much influence over who actually gets enshrined in the hall. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to vote each year.
This year, my seven selections are Mariah Carey, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Ozzy Osbourne, Sinéad O’Connor, Sade and Kool & the Gang. They are among the 15 nominees announced on Feb. 10.
I think my choices offer a good mix of rockers and pop music stars. My selections also lean more heavily on older acts in hopes of clearing out some of the backlog of worthy artists.
Three of my selections were on my list of “Who should be inducted next into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?” that I posted last November. They are: Mariah Carey, Foreigner and Sade.
This year’s inductees will be announced in late April. They will be officially enshrined at a ceremony in Cleveland this fall.

Related articles:

2024 Nominees Announced (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; Feb. 10, 2024)

Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Cher, Sade, Oasis and Ozzy Osbourne among Rock Hall nominees for ’24 (Associated Press; Feb. 10, 2024)

Cher, Mariah Carey, Sinéad O’Connor, and Lenny Kravitz lead Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations (Entertainment Weekly; Feb. 10, 2024)

2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees: Induction Odds From Least to Most Likely (Billboard; Feb. 10, 2024)

Which Foreigner Members Are Nominated for the Rock Hall? (Ultimate Classic Rock; Feb. 11, 2024)

Oh, By the Way, Here Are Our Nominees: The 2024 Rock Hall Ballot (Iconic Rock Talk Show; Feb. 12, 2024)

Quick Thoughts on the 2024 Rock Hall Ballot (Future Rock Legends; Feb. 13, 2024)

What is rock ’n’ roll? Hall of fame ballot fuels debate (Axios Cleveland; Feb. 21, 2024)

Let’s rank the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees (Axios Cleveland; Feb. 26, 2024)

Liam Gallagher Slams Fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees as He Claims He’s ‘Done More’ for the Genre (People; Feb. 27, 2024)

Who should be inducted next into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

After the Nov. 3 induction ceremony for the 2023 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, attention has now turned to which artists will be or should be nominated for the 2024 class.
The 2023 class featured 13 artists and music industry professionals. Of those, seven were in the performer category. However, the 2023 class included 10 headlining acts in total. They were Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, The Spinners, Chaka Khan, DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray.
Those inductees put just a small dent in the Rock Hall’s ridiculously long backlog of deserving artists waiting to be enshrined. (Check out Future Rock Legends for the full list.)
This year’s nominees were revealed on Feb. 1 and the inductees were announced on May 3.
Here are my personal picks of artists that I’d like to see get nominated next year:

• Joy Division/New Order
• Phil Collins
• Billy Idol
• INXS
• The Pointer Sisters
• Sade
• Cyndi Lauper
• Mariah Carey
• The Smiths
• Thin Lizzy
• Scorpions
• Smashing Pumpkins
• Siouxsie & the Banshees
• Foreigner
• Gloria Estefan

Photos: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio (Credit: Tony Fischer via Creative Commons); and Rock Hall 2023 inductees (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

Virtual halls of fame for metal rock music, Texas songwriters, sports technology and more

For every physical hall of fame in the United States, there are multiple virtual halls of fame for every conceivable passion and pursuit. I’ve spotlighted many over the years at Tech-media-tainment.
What follows are a few more.

Metal Hall of Fame

As the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame continues to snub heavy metal rock, fans of the genre need their own hall to honor the greats. Enter the Metal Hall of Fame. It has been inducting bands, musicians and executives since 2017. Twisted Sister headlined the 2023 class.
The Metal Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization dedicated to enshrining the iconic bands, industry executives and musicians who are responsible for making hard rock and metal music what it is today. The Metal Hall of Fame also is part of the non-profit organization DAD (Drums and Disabilities), which helps children and adults fight disabilities on a global basis.
The Metal Hall holds its Annual Hall of Heavy Metal History Awards Gala every January in Anaheim, Calif.
The Metal Hall of Fame is not to be confused with the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame, which currently exists only as a Facebook page.
There’s also the Decibel Hall of Fame, which honors “extreme music’s most important albums.” Decibel Magazine, “the world’s foremost heavy metal authority,” chooses the albums.

Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame

The Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame is a project of the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association. The group is dedicated to honoring and celebrating Texas songwriters who have played an important role in defining and interpreting Texas’ distinctive culture.
The group produces a Homecoming Weekend celebration, including the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards Show, in Austin, Texas.

Sports Technology Hall of Fame

The Sports Technology Awards celebrate tech-led innovations in sports. This year, the body added the Sports Technology Hall of Fame to the honors it bestows. Among the first eight inductees were the NBA, NFL and Ticketmaster.

Aspen Hall of Fame

The Aspen Hall of Fame was established in 1986-87 “to recognize and honor those individuals who have had a significant and lasting impact on the Aspen/Snowmass communities – economically, physically, spiritually, ethically or intellectually.” The group holds an annual banquet to celebrate the inductees.

Tire Industry Hall of Fame

The Tire Industry Association created its TIA Hall of Fame to “honor, preserve and perpetuate the names and outstanding accomplishments of personalities who have brought lasting fame to the tire, rubber and transportation industries.” The group started inducting honorees in 1985.

Convenience Store Hall of Fame

Convenience Store News honors the industry’s most influential retail and supplier executives with the Convenience Store News Hall of Fame. The publication holds an annual gala to recognize the honorees for their contributions to the convenience store industry.

Piano Teachers Hall of Fame

Piano maker Steinway & Sons honors music instructors with its Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame. The award recognizes piano teachers in North America for their commitment and passion for piano education.

Related articles:

Halls of fame for sports media pros, political consultants, jewelry retailers (June 20, 2022)

Country Music Hall of Fame museum puts the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum to shame

I recently toured the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. Although my music sensibilities tend more to rock and pop, I thought the Country Music Hall was an excellent experience.
The museum is well organized and does a great job of educating visitors about the history of the genre, its influences and evolution. It also does a superb job of funneling visitors through the facility in an orderly fashion.
The same cannot be said about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. That museum is a disorganized facility with a poor visitor flow. It has great exhibits, mostly on the lower level, but visitors get no sense of the history of the genre, where it started and where it is today. It’s a mess.
I hope that with the planned expansion of the Rock Hall museum that management will do a better job with how it is organized and with the information it provides.

Photo: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. (Country Music Hall of Fame)

Awesome visit today to the Country Music Hall of Fame. It puts the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to shame. pic.twitter.com/n0O6oFH41t

— Patrick Seitz (@PatrickSeitz) May 13, 2023

Taylor Swift is well represented at the Country Music Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/qxf7jtapQG

— Patrick Seitz (@PatrickSeitz) May 13, 2023

Rock Hall induction looking more like Kennedy Center Honors

No offense to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees for 2023, but this class seems more fitting for a stodgy Kennedy Center Honors show.
This year’s Rock Hall class includes such perfectly pleasant performers as Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, Chaka Khan, George Michael, The Spinners and Willie Nelson. Rage Against the Machine seems like the only inductee likely to bring some visceral excitement to the induction ceremony on Nov. 3 in New York.
The 2023 inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are all worthy individuals but there’s not a lot of edge there. When many people think of rock and roll, they think of the rebels, the bad seeds and the troublemakers – artists that parents don’t approve of. I don’t sense that with this year’s class. They all seem safe to me.

Surprises from the Rock Hall’s 2023 nominations

Given the huge backlog of worthy artists for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it’s no surprise that individual predictions for the 2023 nominations differed so much from the actual list, released today.
Last week, I wrote that four artists were consensus picks of music experts for nomination this year. Of those, only one made the cut: Kate Bush.
The others remain on the list of biggest snubs: Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan and Outkast.
A pleasant surprise was the number of artists nominated for the first time. Eight of the 14 nominees were newbies. They include my wish-list favorite, Joy Division/New Order.
Others on the ballot for the first time include Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Warren Zevon, Missy Elliott and The White Stripes.
Of those, The White Stripes was the biggest surprise since none of the pundits I follow suggested the group as a possible nominee.
Of the remaining six acts, Rage Against the Machine has had the most nominations to date, with five nods, according to Future Rock Legends.
Kate Bush and The Spinners each have been nominated four times. And A Tribe Called Quest, Iron Maiden and Soundgarden now have two nominations apiece.
The 14 nominees on this year’s ballot are the fewest since 2010, according to Axios.
My biggest miscalculation was thinking girl group Destiny’s Child would be nominated in its first year of eligibility. The nominating committee likely considered Destiny’s Child a problematic pick, considering bad blood with two early members of the group.
If the nominating committee waits two years, it can induct just the final lineup of the group: Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. That would greatly increase the chances of them showing up and performing at the induction ceremony. A big plus.
A voting pool of more than 1,000 music historians, journalists and previous inductees will select the final inductees, usually five to seven performers.
Inductees will be revealed in May, and will be honored at a ceremony in a location yet to be announced.
Early fan voting shows Cyndi Lauper in the lead, followed by Willie Nelson and George Michael.

Photos: The 2023 nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Four music acts lead predictions for Rock Hall nominations

Among music experts, a consensus is shaping up about who will appear on this year’s ballot for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The nominations are expected to be announced in early February.
Based on a small sample of 10 hall watchers who have announced their predictions and hopes for this year’s nominations, four artists tied for the most votes, with four votes each. They are Kate Bush, Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan and Outkast.
Of those artists, Kate Bush has been nominated three times and Chaka Khan has been nominated four times, with and without Rufus. Mariah Carey and Outkast have never been nominated, despite being eligible for eight years and five years, respectively.
A second tier of music acts received three votes each. They are Destiny’s Child, Dionne Warwick, Jethro Tull and Smashing Pumpkins.
Destiny’s Child is eligible for the first time this year. By contrast, Dionne Warwick has been eligible since 1988 and has been nominated twice. Jethro Tull and Smashing Pumpkins have never been nominated.
And 17 music acts received two votes each.

Update (Jan. 27, 2023): More votes for the top four from Hall watcher Darren Hines.

Related article:

My wish list for the 2023 Rock Hall: Joy Division/New Order and more (Jan. 21, 2023)

Photo: Cover art for Kate Bush single “Running Up That Hill.”

My wish list for the 2023 Rock Hall: Joy Division/New Order and more

Many music experts have chimed in with their predictions and hopes for the 2023 nominations to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So, I thought I’d join the party.
I’ll make one prediction, followed by a list of artists I’d like to see get recognized this year.
First, a prediction.

Destiny’s Child is ‘a lock’ for nomination and induction

The only prediction I would call a lock is first-year eligible Destiny’s Child.
The Rock Hall isn’t going to pass up on the chance to have Beyonce grace its stage for the induction ceremony and reunite with group members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. The only holdup might be whether to include previous members of the vocal group, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, and whether Williams is eligible yet.
But Destiny Child is going to be in the Rock Hall eventually, so why not now? The act will add more badly needed diversity to the hall. And trust me, if Destiny’s Child is on the ballot, they’re getting inducted.
Certainly, there will be a chorus of “what about so-and-so”? For instance, a name likely to come up is The Pointer Sisters. They certainly deserve to be inducted, but the hall dragged its feet for so long none of the original members are still alive. However, Ruth Pointer who joined the group for its prime years is still with us.
TLC is another top girl group worthy of induction into the hall and has been eligible since 2018.

More rock, no country

I’ve said previously that the Rock Hall nominating committee needs to course correct this year. Last year’s inductee class was too heavy with country and easy listening acts.
With the massive backlog of worthy acts, the Rock Hall shouldn’t be inducting country acts, especially since they have their own music hall of fame in Nashville. I’ve seen pundits suggest Willie Nelson and Glen Campbell for the rock hall this year. Nothing against those talented artists, but there are just too many rock and pop music acts to recognize.
Rock acts I’d like to see inducted include Thin Lizzy, Scorpions, INXS and Smashing Pumpkins. Others have suggested Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe and Rage Against the Machine.

My top pick: Joy Division/New Order

With Pat Benatar finally inducted into the Rock Hall after years of being snubbed, I need a new top pick for induction. That’s easy -- I want to see Joy Division/New Order finally get a nomination and take their place in the hall.
New Order’s mix of post-punk, electronic and dance music made it one of the most acclaimed and influential bands of the 1980s. The group sprung directly out of Joy Division, which disbanded after the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis.
Next, how about some love for solo artist Phil Collins? He’s already in the Rock Hall with rock band Genesis, but he had a standout solo career. I know some critics dislike his work, but the public disagrees.
Case in point, Collins topped a recent Gold Derby poll for overlooked male artists who should be inducted into the Rock Hall. Again, if he’s on the ballot, he’s getting in.
I’ve also advocated for Australian rock band INXS and English rock band Siouxsie & the Banshees. Both deserve enshrinement in the hall.

Back-door inductees

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame doesn’t have a veterans committee like the Baseball Hall of Fame. But it does have special categories that allow the hall to bypass the voting body and induct lesser known acts that are highly respected by critics and industry professionals.
Those categories include “early influences” and “musical excellence.” I hope the nominating committee doesn’t renominate acts that previously didn’t get much public support but should be in the hall. I’m talking about Kate Bush, Chaka Khan, Fela Kuti and MC5. They should get in through those back-door categories.

Make a second ceremony for Ahmet Ertegun Award winners

On another note, no one outside of the hall gives a rat’s ass about non-performers being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The agents, lawyers, producers, and industry executives should get their own separate ceremony for the Ahmet Ertegun Award like the Oscars does with its Scientific and Technical Awards.

Photo: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. (Mitchell Shapiro Photography via Creative Commons)