The 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees have been announced, naming a number of extraordinary musical acts, while also leaving others on the outside. Let's take a look at the nominees, address some of those that were left out, explain the Rock Hall process, and make predictions (because everyone loves predictions).
2021 Rock Hall of Fame Nominees
I have provided a sample of the artist's music as well as a snapshot of some individual achievements. It is important to note that individual achievement is not the only reason for a person or group's induction.
Carole King
- Previously inducted to Rock Hall in 1990 with Gerry Goffin for achievements in songwriting
- Nominated for 8 Grammys
- Won 4 Grammys
- Best Album: Tapestry (1971)
- Record of the Year: It's Too Late (1971)
- Song of the Year: You've Got a Friend (1971)
- Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: Tapestry (1971)
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)
- 4 Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hits
- "It's Too Late/I Feel The Earth Move" peaked at #1
Chaka Khan
- Chaka Khan and Rufus were nominated (not inducted) in 2020
- Nominated for 21 Grammys
- Won 8 Grammys
- "I Feel For You" peaked at #3 on Billboard Hot 100
Devo
- Nominated for 1 Grammy
- Best Video Album: We're All Devo (1984)
- 3 Songs on Billboard Hot 100
- "Whip It" peaked at #14
- "Working In The Coal Mine" peaked at #43
- "Theme From Doctor Detroit" peaked at #59
Dionne Warwick
- Nominated for 14 Grammys
- Won 5 Grammys
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019
- 12 Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Hits
- "That's What Friends Are For" peaked at #1
- "Then Came You" peaked at #1
Fela Kuti
- Critically acclaimed Nigerian musician
- 4 Top 10 World Albums on Billboard charts
Foo Fighters
- Dave Grohl (lead singer/guitar) previously inducted as drummer for Nirvana
- Nominated for 27 Grammys
- Won 11 Grammys
- 10 Songs on Billboard Hot 100 list
- "Best of You" peaks at #18
The Go - Go's
- Nominated for Best New Artist in 1981
- "Our Lips are Sealed" peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100
- "We Got the Beat" peaked at #2
- First (and only as of 2016) girl group to top charts by playing and writing their own music
Iron Maiden
- 4 Grammy Nominations
- Won Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 2010
- 28 Albums on Billboard Top 200 Chart
- 3 Albums peaked in the top 10
Jay-Z
- Nominated for 80 Grammys
- Won 22 Grammys
- Solo or featured artist on 100 Billboard Hot 100 songs
- 21 Top 10
- 4 #1 hits
- 14 #1 Albums on Billboard Top 200
- 16 Top 10
Kate Bush
- Nominated for 3 Grammys
- 4 songs on Billboard Hot 100
LL Cool J
- Nominated for 9 Grammys
- Won 2 Grammys
- 6 Top 10 hits on Billboard Hot 100
Mary J. Blige
- Nominated 31 times for a Grammy
- Won 9 Grammys
- 6 Top 10 hits on Billboard Hot 100
- "Family Affair" peaked at #1 in 2001
New York Dolls
- 4 Albums on Billboard Top 200
Rage Against The Machine
- Nominated for 7 Grammys
- Won 2 Grammys
- "Guerilla Radio" peaked at #69 on Billboard Hot 100 in 1999
- 5 Albums on Billboard Top 200
- Evil Empire and The Battle of Los Angeles both peaked at #1
Tina Turner
- Inducted to the Rock Hall in 1991 with Ike Turner
- Nominated for 23 Grammys
- Won 7 Grammys
- 6 Top 10 hits on Billboard Hot 100
- "What's Love Got To Do With It" peaked at #1 in 1984
Todd Rundgren
- "Hello It's Me" peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973
- 8 other songs charted on Billboard Hot 100
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has a somewhat secretive process for nominating and inducting artists. There is a nominating committee that is comprised of artists and industry professionals who each get to select two artists for nominating consideration. The committee then meets and deliberates to determine 16 or so nominees. The nominees are announced publicly and ballots are sent out to over 1,000 industry professionals who vote to induct.
Seems straightforward, right? The issue that most people have is that the nomination & induction process is not transparent. Outside of the basic eligibility rule (must be 25 years since artist's first single or album), there is very little structure. This means that nominees fluctuate wildly from year to year.
For example, Pat Benatar and Dave Matthews Band were popular bets to be inducted in 2020, but both missed the cut. Neither of whom are even on the nominee list this year. Chaka Khan was nominated with her band Rufus last year, but she is nominated as a solo artist this year.
These inconsistencies lead many to question the integrity of the Rock Hall voting process, wishing that more transparency was given. It would be wonderful to see vote breakdowns and percentages given (like in the MLB HOF voting model). This way we can see how close some artists came to induction, and possibly guaranteeing them a spot in next year's nominee pool.
While no one can argue the talent and musical importance of this year's nomination class, it just doesn't sit well with many that acts like Benatar are sitting this year out. Dave Matthews Band was the first artist to win the fan vote (overwhelmingly!) to not be inducted, and they too are sitting this year out.
It is worth noting that many have acknowledged this year's class of nominees as the most diverse ever in the Rock Hall's history. They have been criticized in the past for not inducting many women, but this year's class is full of deserving female leads.
Quibbles about nominees aside, it is time for predictions.
ROCK HALL OF FAME INDUCTION PREDICTIONS
I'll present two lists below: Those I think deserve to be inducted this year and who I think the Rock Hall will actually induct. Since 6 acts were inducted in 2020, I'll be picking that same number.
My Picks
- Foo Fighters
- Jay-Z
- Tina Turner
- The Go Go's
- Iron Maiden
- Dionne Warwick
To me, this would be a near perfect class for the Rock Hall. You'd you have traditional rock music (Foo Fighters), rap/hip hop with ties to rock music (Jay-Z), a legend in the music world earning her 2nd induction (Tina Turner), the first all-female group (The Go Go's), a heavy metal band (Iron Maiden), and a legendary songstress (Dionne Warwick). This class would hit many different aspects of Rock music while incorporating more women and acknowledging an often ostracized metal genre.
Rock Hall's Likely Inductees
- Foo Fighters
- Jay-Z
- New York Dolls
- Fela Kuti
- Tina Turner
- Chaka Khan
Obviously, I believe Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, and Tina Turner to be virtual locks. They hit everything the Rock Hall seems to be about, but I also thought that way about Pat Benatar last year. New York Dolls seem to be that classic band the Rock Hall loves: not necessarily mega popular, but an ode to a bygone era of rock. In the case of Chaka Khan, I think the noticeable absence of the band Rufus signals that voters wanted her in as a solo artist. Fela Kuti is most likely the artist that people know the least about, and for this reason I think the nominating committee intends on pushing for his induction.
Let me know what you think about all of the nominees and feel free to give your own predictions! I've linked another Rock Hall related blog of mine below, please give it a look.
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