Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025: Predicting who will be inducted
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Is this Cyndi Lauper's year? Photo: Courtesy of Ebet Roberts/Redferns
We're about two weeks away from finding out the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2025.
Why it matters: This year's ballot of 14 nominees features some of the most prominent artists of the 21st century as well as overlooked legends hoping for one more chance in the spotlight.
How it works: A pool of more than 1,200 journalists, music historians and current inductees vote for who should be inducted.
- The Rock Hall typically chooses to honor the top six to eight vote-getters.
Considering previous voting trends, I did my best to predict which eight artists will be honored during a ceremony this fall in Los Angeles.
Who I think gets in:
- Bad Company
- Billy Idol
- Cyndi Lauper
- Joe Cocker
- Mariah Carey
- Outkast
- Soundgarden
- Joy Division/New Order
State of play: The first six acts in that list feel like solid bets given the industry support they've received and how the ballot lines up.
- Carey and Lauper are the only women nominated and Outkast is the only hip-hop act, which bodes well for their chances.
Who I think's left out:
- Chubby Checker
- Maná
- Oasis
- Phish
- The White Stripes
- The Black Crowes
The other side: You can rule out The Black Crowes, Maná and Phish. Their nominations came as a surprise.
- Phish will win the Fan Vote, but the annual poll doesn't guarantee induction, as Dave Matthews Band supporters learned in 2020.
Friction point: The final two spots are closer to a coin flip. Oasis and The White Stripes could sneak in, but neither act seems to care much about induction.
- Voters could go for Chubby Checker. "The Twist" singer has waited longer than any other nominee, but he's also not the biggest name.
I ultimately went with Soundgarden, which rock purists will get behind on a ballot that features fewer hard rock acts each year.
- The ballot also stacks up well for Joy Division/New Order, with an influence and impact above the rest of the pack.
What's next: The Rock Hall will announce the class of 2025 and the induction ceremony date later this month.