Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige and Tina Turner are among 16 nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
The foundation announced the nominees for its newest class of inductees last week ranging from rap to rock including Kate Bush, Devo, Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden, Chaka Khan, Fela Kuti, LL Cool J, New York Dolls, Rage Against the Machine, Todd Rundgren and Dionne Warwick.
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.
Seven out of 16 of the nominees are on the ballot for the first time, including Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, Iron Maiden, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Fela Kuti and Dionne Warwick.
Chaka Khan was previously nominated both as a solo artist and part of the band Rufus. If elected, Carole King and Tina Turner will become the second and third female artists inducted twice, following Stevie Nicks’ 2019 election.
If Foo Fighters are inducted, Dave Grohl will also become a twice-inducted performer.
“This remarkable ballot reflects the diversity and depth of the artists and music the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrates,” said John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “These nominees have left an indelible impact on the sonic landscape of the world and influenced countless artists that have followed them.”
Nominee ballots are sent to an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historians, and members of the music industry.
Factors such as an artist’s musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration, according to the foundation.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame offers fans the opportunity to participate in the Induction selection process with the fan vote. Now through April 30, fans can vote every day at rockhall.com, or in person 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 select the 2021 Inductees.
Inductees will be announced in May. The 36th Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2021 induction ceremony will take place in Cleveland this fall.