Rock Hall 2024 Inductees Announced

Through all categories, sixteen artists are being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, making 2024 one of its biggest classes. Many long-waiting, deserving artists are finally getting in in some capacity this year.

Performers

After long waits, A Tribe Called Quest, Cher, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool and the Gang, and Ozzy Osbourne (solo) are all heading into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Joining them are hip-hop legend Mary J. Blige and the long-popular Dave Matthews Band.

Artists are eligible for the Rock Hall as performers 25 years from their first commercial release. Previously, they were only eligible “after” 25 years (or in their 26th year) because music can be released at any time throughout a given year. This ensured a full 25 years from the first release for all eligible artists for a given year. However, as of last year, the Hall is now going by the 25th year, as reported by Billboard.

The only other criterion for induction “include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.”  Voters (music journalists and historians, industry professionals) look at popularity, longevity, influence, style, technicality, innovation and progression, and more when making their decisions to cast a vote. The artists receiving the most votes are inducted, as long as they were marked off on at least 50% of the returned ballots, which range from 500 to 800 each year.

Award for Musical Excellence

Easy-listening king Jimmy Buffett; punk pioneers MC5; legendary singer Dionne Warwick; and noted producer and songwriter Norman Whitfield will be inducted in the Award for Musical Excellence Category. The Award for Musical Excellence enshrines artists in the Rock Hall for having “dedicated their lives” to progressing music and who have “achieved a level of timeless distinction.” These artists have not been inducted in the performers category. It is unclear if they could still be inducted in that category. It is also unclear if this award is more prestigious than being inducted as a performer.

Ahmet Ertegun Award

One of the first female leading executives in music (for Motown and Passe Entertainment), Suzanne De Passe, will be inducted in the Ahmet Ertegun Award category. The Ahmet Ertegun Award is given to people who have had a “major influence” on rock music, and is usually given to industry leaders (executives, producers, songwriters, etc.), journalists, and other non-performers.

Early Influencers

After an incredibly long wait, Big Mama Thornton, a legendary blues singer and an influence for Elvis and Janis Joplin, among others, finally gets into the Hall as an early influence. Joining her are British blues pioneers Alexis Korner and John Mayall.

To learn more about the people and artists to be inducted on October 19, 2024, read their synopses on the Rock Hall website (scroll down).

The artists on the ballot this year who were not inducted are (in alphabetical order) Mariah Carey, Eric B. & Rakim, Jane’s Addiction, Lenny Kravitz, Oasis, Sinéad O’Connor, and Sade.