Vote for the 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees
Chaka Khan
A lot of music fans complain about which artists and bands get selected each year to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But did you know you can do something about it? Fans can go to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website and vote for their favorites. The five artists with the highest fan votes form one ballot.
Nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees were announced in late October and voting takes place during the whole month of November. Over 600 Rock Hall voting members (including all past inductees, music historians, artists and members of the music industry) receive ballots in the mail. But fans’ voices can be heard by voting online. Simply visit https://www.rockhall.com/vote to see the list of nominees and read their bios. The top five vote getters form the 2017 induction class.
This year’s nominees include: Bad Brains, Chaka Khan, Chic, Depeche Mode, Electric Light Orchestra, The J. Geils Band, Jane’s Addiction, Janet Jackson, Joan Baez, Joe Tex, Journey, Kraftwerk, MC5, Pearl Jam, Steppenwolf, the Cars, the Zombies, Tupac Shakur and Yes.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Voting Process
Each year the Rock Hall Nominating Committee decides who will be nominated. According to their site, “Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.”
While many fans debate the definition of the term “rock and roll” (which might explain why a band like Chic has been nominated 11 times but still has not been voted in) the spectrum for who is inducted is wide. From early rock and rockabilly, to blues and soul, to disco and hip hop, the interpretation of rock is quite loose.
Artists can be selected within four main categories — Performer, Early Influence, Non-Performer and Side-Men. And while certainly hit records and fan popularity are factors in determining a musicians’ influence, the committee looks deeper into the impact they had on the industry at large.
But if you want to influence the vote towards who you think is most deserving, check out the ballot on the Rock Hall site and make your voice heard.
MediaMine’s Archives Contain Rock Hall Nominees
The MediaMine collection includes footage from famed photographer/videographer Norman Seeff’s interview with 2107 nominee Chaka Khan who has been nominated twice before. Maybe the third time will be a charm. The Seeff collection also includes previous inductees: Aerosmith, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac, Ike and Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, Patti Smith, Ray Charles, the Rolling Stones and Van Morrison.
In addition, the MediaMine library also includes the official Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremonies for 2017 nominees Janet Jackson and Journey. And it includes previous inductees the Beatles, the Bee Gees, Smokey Robinson, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, Quincy Jones, Queen, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson. Johnny Cash, The Jackson Five, James Brown, Heart, Hall and Oates. Elvis Presley and Billie Holiday.