Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Announces 2015 Nominees

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced 15 acts for induction into the hall in 2015. The nominees include punk rockers Green Day, Nine Inch Nails, rappers N.W.A. Other nominees are Lou Reed, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sting, The Smiths, Chic, The Spinners, Kraftwerk, The Marvelettes, Bill Withers, War, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Eligibility for nomination requires the act to have released its first recording 25 years (in this case 1989) or earlier. Both Nine Inch Nails and Green Day released their first recordings in 1989, making them nominees in their first year of eligibility. According to Billboard, Sting was previously inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame as a member of Police but is now up for induction as a solo artist.“We are pleased to present this group of nominees, as they represent the myriad places where rock and roll converges with blues, electronic, dance, Motown, R&B, funk and other genres,” said Joel Peresman, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “Rock and roll incorporates the styles of so many different kinds of music and that’s what makes this group of nominees – and this art form – so powerful and unique.” Ballots will be sent to an international voting body of more than 700 artists, historians and members of the music industry. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will again offer fans the opportunity to officially participate in the induction selection process. Beginning October 9, 2014, and continuing through December 9, 2014, fans can visit www.rockhall.com to cast votes for who they believe to be most deserving of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2015 inductees. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2015 inductees will be announced in December. All inductees are ultimately represented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, the nonprofit organization that tells the story of rock and roll’s global impact via special exhibits, educational programs and its Library and Archives. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2015 Induction Ceremony will be held on April 18, 2015, in Cleveland. Public ticket sale information will be announced at a later date. The 2014 Rock Hall class included Cat Stevens, Nirvana, KISS, Hall & Oates, Linda Ronstadt and Peter Gabriel.

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