Meet 2020’s 13 Most Likely (But Doomed) New Rock Hall Candidates
To be considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an act has to be 25 years removed from their first commercially available recording.
As we await the crop of nominees for the potential Class of 2020, we took a long look at who released their first works in 1994. And we have to admit it's slim pickings.
It's not that the artists in the below gallery haven't made some great music -- in fact, we like plenty of their work -- but they just don't seem to meet all the criteria required by the Rock Hall. According to the organization's website, in addition to "demonstrating unquestionable musical excellence and talent, inductees will have had a significant impact on the development, evolution and preservation of rock 'n' roll."
Just like last year, too many of the acts fall short of that mark for one reason or another. Some fizzled out commercially too quickly, while others work in genres, such as metal or electronic music,the Hall has been hesitant to recognize. And those who have maintained lengthy, productive careers over the past two-and-a-half decades haven't necessarily sold records in mass quantities. While sales figures aren't supposed to be a consideration, it's hardly a secret that the Rock Hall wants big names for the annual televised induction ceremony.
The one artist who has a good shot at getting on the ballot in his first year is rapper the Notorious B.I.G., who put out a pair of popular, influential and acclaimed albums during his short career, with the last arriving only two weeks after his 1997 death.
In other words, don't look too hard for any of these names on this year's ballot. Instead, there's a good chance the Rock Hall, like it's been doing recently, will correct some of the egregious snubs made over the years.