Dave Matthews Band at Blossom in 2018. Credit: Joe Kleon
Earlier today, the Rock Hall announced the list of acts eligible for induction at next year’s ceremony that takes place here in Cleveland. To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.

Nominees such as Dave Matthews Band, the Doobie Brothers, Motörhead, the Notorious B.I.G., Pat Benatar, Soundgarden, T.Rex, Thin Lizzy and Whitney Houston are on the ballot for the first time. The other 2020 nominees — Depeche Mode, Judas Priest, Kraftwerk, MC5, Nine Inch Nails, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan and Todd Rundgren — have been nominated in the past.

Inductees will be announced in January. The induction ceremony will take place on May 2 at Public Auditorium.

Fans have the opportunity to participate in the induction selection process. Beginning today and continuing through 11:59 p.m. EST on Jan. 10, they can go to Google and search “Rock Hall Fan Vote” or any nominee name plus “vote” to cast a ballot with Google, vote at rockhall.com or at the museum in Cleveland. The top five artists as selected by the public will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2020 inductees. 

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This article appears in Oct 9-15, 2019.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.

One reply on “Rock Hall Announces Nominees for the Class of 2020”

  1. Notorious B.I.G.? Really? And yet once again, Ronnie James Dio, now nine years after his death, AFTER having been active for 53 years …is STILL NOT even nominated. What a joke the HOF has become ..on several levels.

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