Yes, Liam, Again
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ballot Is Here
Last week the Rock Hall began the annual process of bestowing “Music’s highest honor” by dropping its 2026 nominations – on a Wednesday at 6 a.m. EST. Sure, makes sense.
The ballot: The Black Crowes, Jeff Buckley, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, Billy Idol, INXS, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, New Edition, Oasis, P!NK, Sade, Shakira, Luther Vandross, Wu-Tang Clan
Seven returnees, 10 first-timers. Vulture music writer Devon Ivie called it “The strangest potpourri of names in the institution’s history.” And Liam Gallagher just said, “Oh, no. Not again.”
It’s thankfully more diverse in terms of gender, race, and LGBTQ+ representation than we’ve seen in a long time. They’ve clearly listened on that point, and it’s a wonderful thing.
It’s less diverse in terms of genre. Very pop-centric. No country, and no 70s-era classic rock – two threads that the Hall was actively pursuing as ballot lanes, but apparently like a child tired of a shiny toy, has tossed aside.
On the heels of the announcement, it was announced that the Hall has imposed term limits on the Nom Com for the first time. Going forward, one-third of the membership will cycle off each year (something that’s been long suggested and is common in the nonprofit sector), and Future Rock Legends estimates that 7-10 new members took their seats at the table this year.
It shows. This has the feel of an excited group of kids who’ve rushed into the classroom eager to be new and different. There’s something to be said for shaking stuff up and being different. But any attempt at telling the broader story is lost. Inductees have not always gone “in order,” but there are steps to these names and they’ve been skipped over.
And now, when people say the 60s, 70s, and to a large extent the 80s are done, it may finally really be true. But should that be? The committee clearly hasn’t fixed its blind spot towards 80s alternative (Replacements, Pixies, Husker Du, et al). There’s still some mainstream 80s (Tears for Fears, Culture Club) and that 70s-era rock to at least look at (Boston, Tull). I’ve never been a rockist, but there’s more rock out there.
This ballot seems aimed at the ceremony and at getting acts that will be on hand to perform, Collins excepted. Understood. But it leaves out artists that the Hall on its actual ballot charges voters to consider: Those with a lasting impact on music and culture. We seem to be firmly on the path towards what plays on iHeart and away from Fela Kuti. It’ll be interesting to see how the committees respond to this increasingly heavy burden.
I do have to say I’m happy to see Phil Collins here – sorry, anyone fixated on the anti-double-dipping argument – as well as INXS and Vandross.
I find myself in a weird position in relation to some of the nominees. I always thought Lenny Kravitz (who I half expected to see on this ballot) as a act that “performs” rock, but it was a shock to see that description leveled at Melissa Etheridge, someone who’s as important to me as Alanis Morissette is to the generation of women behind me.
Even weirder: I’m in my third year advocating for Mariah Carey. Her career is undeniable, full stop. But voters have been intent on denying it, and it’s looking ridiculous.
The extent to which voters dislike her genuinely shocked me, until I remembered: I don’t personally like her either. I checked out her cover of “Against All Odds” after the noms came out and like every one of her other covers, I found it to be a hatchet job. (The Christmas record on the other hand, I unabashedly love). I’m always dumbfounded by how people take the melisma and histrionics for emotion and soul. Maybe there’s a grain of truth to the idea that voters hold her responsible for a generation of overwrought singing.
But folks, she wrote or co-wrote all those hits. I stand by what I’ve said: She WILL go in this year; if only because the Hall recognizes how bad the optics are and wants to preserve industry relationships. Don’t be shocked if the slate is eight this year and Mariah headlines because the “votes were so close.”
Meanwhile, I love me some Shakira. True story: I was listening to a ballot reveal on the way in to work, and on hearing her name I shrieked in delight, pounded my steering wheel and whooped it up like a crazy person. Then I thought, no: She’s brilliant, but this should be Selena’s spot, or Gloria Estefan’s. I don’t think she’ll make it on this ballot. I wouldn’t be mad, but I don’t see it.
So who do I think will get in? Right now, in no particular order, Collins, INXS, Pink, Vandross, Oasis, Idol, Carey, and Wu-tang. Possibly Lauryn Hill if voters feel it’s too soon for Pink.
We’ll find out pretty soon, because in one of the best moves the Hall has made in recent years, the announcement will be made in early April, just about six weeks from now. We’ll see you April 3.