Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2016

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has finally unveiled their class of 2016. On Thursday (Dec. 17), the iconic museum revealed those artists who will be inducted next spring. Chicago, Deep Purple, NWA, Cheap Trick, and Steve Miller have been chose to receive the honor.

Back in October, it was revealed that acts like Nine Inch Nails, The Smiths, Janet Jackson, The Cars, Chic, and Yes were some of the artists who had made it onto the ballot of nominees. But with the revelations, it appears they will have to wait another year to be put back on the ballot. The official induction ceremony will take place on April 8, 2016 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Like previous years, the induction ceremony will be broadcast on HBO later on in the spring.

In a sad twist, it looks like Chic, once again, has been snubbed for induction. this year marks the tenth year that the group has been passed over for a slot at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In order to be eligible for the Hall of Fame, a nominee’s first recording (or debut album) must have been released at least 25 years ago. This year, fans were offered an opportunity to vote, and a collective “fan ballot” was added to the over 800 ballots from artists, historians, and music industry members.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Nominees Announced

It feels like it was just yesterday that we were announcing the nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2015 and now, the class of 2016 nominees have been unveiled. On Thursday (Oct. 8), the official list of nominees which includes 15 potential inductees was released. Making it onto this year’s list are Nine Inch Nails, The Smiths, The Cars, Cheap Trick, N.W.A., Janet Jackson, and more.

Other potential inductees include Chic, Deep Purple, Chicago, Steve Miller, Yes, Los Lobos, The Spinners, The J.B.’s, and season 21 Dancing with the Stars contestant Chaka Khan.

This year’s list marks the second year both Nine Inch Nails and The Smiths are eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame while it’s the first year Janet Jackson, The Cars, and Cheap Trick can rightfully be nominated. In a twist, this year marks the tenth time that Chic has been nominated for this honor. (Can we just give it to them already?)

N.W.A.’s nomination comes on the heels of the success of their biography-based film, Straight Outta Compton, while Jackson released her new album, Unbreakable, earlier this month and is currently in the middle of touring in support of the new record.

In order for an artist to be eligible to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, their first recording must have been released at least 25 years ago. But, being nominated is just half the battle for this honor. From now until Dec. 9, a group of artists, historians, and music industry members will get to decide who gets entry to the museum in April 2016.

Recently, fans have been given the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists by using the “fan’s ballot.” The “fan’s ballot” will count as one of the more than 600 ballots used to determine who gets inducted next spring. Currently, fans can head on over to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s official website to cast their votes. The polls will officially close on Dec. 9 with the top five artists being announced later that month.

Last year,  Green Day, Lou Reed (posthumously), Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bill Withers, and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band were inducted into the iconic Cleveland museum.