The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced their 2015 nominees Thursday morning, with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Sting, Lou Reed, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Green Day, and Nine Inch Nails all making the list. N.W.A., The Smiths, Bill Withers, Chic, Kraftwerk, War and The Marvelettes are also up for the honors.
“We are pleased to present this group of nominees, as they represent the myriad of places where rock and roll converges with blues, electronic, dance, Motown, R&B, funk and other genres,” said RRHR Foundation President & CEO, Joel Peresman. ” 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.”
In order to be eligible for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an artist or band must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior. Green Day and Nine Inch Nails are both nominated in their first year of eligibility.
Ballots will be cast by more than 700 artists, historians and members of the music industry, and fans also have the opportunity to participate in the selection process by voting at rockhall.com. The top five artists selected by the publi will comprise a fans’ ballot that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2015 inductees.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place April 18, 2015 in Cleveland.
