Rock Hall of Fame 2020 Forecast: Who’s Newly Eligible, Who Gets In
Now that Def Leppard, Stevie Nicks and others have taken their place alongside rock's elite as members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2019, it's time to try and figure out what's going to happen next year.
So here's a look at five of the biggest artists who are newly eligible for induction in 2020, as well as 10 beloved artists who've been waiting for that phone call from the Rock Hall for years, if not decades.
Selecting inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can be a daunting task. Each year, the nominating committee is pressed with finding the most deserving candidates from an ever-growing list of names. Inevitably, some worthy musicians slip through the cracks.
An artist become Hall of Fame eligible 25 years after their first album was released. In explaining the criteria for induction, the Hall of Fame states that “besides demonstrating unquestionable musical excellence and talent, inductees will have had a significant impact on the development, evolution and preservation of rock 'n' roll.”
But that makes no indication as to which criteria carry more weight. Is commercial success worth more than one's influence on other artists? Does a band's longevity play a role in HOF credentials? These are the questions we on the outside ask ourselves every year.