On the live episode of American Idol on ABC on April 27, the show made a major announcement. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 inductees were announced, and it appears there is a legitimate shift to the concept of rock & roll. All those who were voted in are highly deserving, incredibly decorated musicians. However, for the second year in a row, multiple hip-hop or rap artists were inducted into the hall.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 Inductees Span Generations
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 voting committee has made its decisions on its 2025 inductees. The voters consist of 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals who each have equal input. The selection criteria, according to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, include “an artist’s impact on other musicians, the scope and longevity of their career and body of work, as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique.”
To be eligible to be nominated, it must have been at least 25 years since a musician released their first commercial recording. An artist may still be actively performing and producing new music and still earn a nomination and vote. According to NPR:
Inductees are awarded through four categories: performers whose music and cultural impact has changed the course of rock and roll, influential musicians whose innovative styles have propelled cultural change, a “musical excellence” award designated for writers, producers and session musicians who’ve played a key role behind the scenes of some of rock’s most important songs and the Ahmet Ertegun award honoring industry professionals who are not performers but have made a sizeable impact on the business of music.
This year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 committee put forth 14 nominations in the performer category, of which seven artists received the necessary votes. Eight of the nominees that appeared this year were on the ballot for the first time. John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, said in a press release, “Each of these inductees created their own sound and attitude that had a profound impact on culture and helped to change the course of Rock & Roll forever. Their music gave a voice to generations and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 inductees included first-time nominees Chubby Checker, Bad Company, and Joe Crocker. In a highly diverse induction, pop star Cyndi Lauper and Hip-Hop group Outkast also made the cut in the performance category. Soundgarden and The White Stripes rounded out the performer list. A band that missed making it in this year was Phish, despite getting by far the most fan votes at over 350,000. The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Maná, and Oasis are the other artists that will be waiting a little bit longer for their turn.
Salt-N-Pepa will also be joining the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 class, as one of the two Musical Influence award winners. The duo truly changed the landscape of rap, and specifically female rap. They were the first female group to receive both Gold and Platinum status, and shaped what success for female rappers could look like. The other Musical Influence award winner was Warren Zevon, a singer and songwriter who will receive the honor posthumously.
The class is very strong, but many bands and artists have a right to feel snubbed. Bands should not give up hope, though, as each year is a new opportunity. For years, Chubby Checker was seen as a huge snub by the committee, yet this year was their first year on the ballot, and they were voted in. There are so many truly impactful and influential musical acts, it is hard to cover every deserving member. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 has done its best to try to cover a wide range of styles and eras, representing the best that music and rock have to offer.
For a full list of the inductees, see below.
Full List of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 Inductees
Performer Category:
- Bad Company
- Chubby Checker
- Joe Cocker
- Cyndi Lauper
- Outkast
- Soundgarden
- The White Stripes
Musical Influence Award:
- Salt-N-Pepa
- Warren Zevon
Musical Excellence Award:
- Thom Bell
- Nicky Hopkins
- Carol Kaye
Ahmet Ertegun Award:
- Lenny Waronker
