Music has some new royalty after the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its new class of inductees Wednesday, including four first-time nominees like Whitney Houston and Notorious B.I.G.

John Goehrke, the Hall of Fame’s Director of Fan Engagement, told Cheddar this class of inductees “celebrates the diversity of Rock and Roll.” In addition to Houston and Biggie, the Doobie Brothers, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails and T. Rex join the prestigious club.

“I think it's a very diverse class of inductees, which, to us, is awesome because rock and roll has never been one thing. It’s always been more about the spirit and an attitude than about the music sounds, the way an artist looks,” said Goehrke.

Artists become eligible for admission 25 years after the release of their first records. Ballots are sent to more than 1,000 artists, scholars, current living Inductees, and members of the music industry. An artist’s influence on other artists, the length of their career, and their musical impact are all factors taken into consideration when voting for a new class of inductees.

This year, the Hall of Fame also received more than 8.2 million votes from the official Fan Vote, an increase from the 3.3 million votes it got in 2018. Despite the outpouring (especially for Dave Matthews Band fans), the top five Fan Vote-getters comprise a single “fans’ ballot” which get counted along with the thousand others.

There were 16 nominees this year, and for those fans whose idols didn’t land on top, Goehrke noted there is no expiration date. “If you feel a little disappointed today, that’s okay. Hopefully, next year, or the year after, will be your year,” Goehrke said.

This year’s induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 2 in Cleveland. For those not lucky enough to get a ticket, it will also be available to watch on HBO.

Share:
More In Culture
Making Financial Inclusion a Reality
Briana Marbury, Executive Director of the Interledger Foundation, joins ChedHER to discuss how she's creating pathways to financial access, and advice for pursuing a career in philanthropy.
Paving the Way For Women in Leadership
Sharon Marcil, North America Regional Chair of Boston Consulting Group, joins ChedHER to discuss how she's paving the way for women in leadership positions, and advice for career advancement.
Creating a Community Space for Business Owners; Creating Pathways to Financial Access
On this episode of ChedHER: North America Regional Chair of Boston Consulting Group breaks down how she's closing retention gaps in business, and advice for advancing in your career; Executive Director of the Interledger Foundation explains how she's working to create pathways to financial access; A look at how JPMorgan Chase is helping business owners in the Harlem community.
Stoke Space Technologies Raises $65 Million to Develop Reusable Rockets
Reusable rocket developer Stoke Space Technologies raised $65 million in a Series A round led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a firm founded by Bill Gates. Stoke says its reusable rockets provide the satellite industry with low-cost, on-demand access to and from orbit. As companies like SpacX and Blue Origin are also making commitments to rocket reusability, Stoke says it is taking a different approach with a system designed to be 100% reusable, comprised of rockets designed to fly daily, like an airplane. Stoke co-founder and CEO Andy Lapsa joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
NASA's Artemis Program to Return Mankind to the Moon, Pave Way for Exploration of Mars
Humans are set to return to a place we have not been in nearly 50 years: the moon. NASA's Artemis program is expected to have astronauts back on the lunar surface by 2025. NASA says it will use what it learns on the moon to take the next giant leap - sending the first astronauts to Mars. The Artemis program also includes contributions from private companies like SpaceX, as well as academic research institutions like Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech professor of practice and former NASA astronaut Sandra Magnus joins Future of Space: Humankind's Leap Forward to discuss.
Load More