The 2020 Rock & Roll Hall Fame inductee list announced Wednesday included the likes of pop/R&B icon Whitney Houston and hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G., which was proverbial music to the ears of urban music fans. However, the announcement hit a sour note with rock fans who felt potential 2020 inductees − Pat Benatar and the Dave Matthews Band − were snubbed.
»MORE: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 inductees include Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, Notorious B.I.G.
Electronic rock, industrial rock, American and English rock were all represented on this year’s Hall of Fame induction roster, with Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, T-Rex and The Doobie Brothers. Still, the Benatar fans were livid about the seminal rock vocalist making it only to nominations rather than the final induction list. The “We Belong” rock singer was one of the most successful artists of the 1980s, and fans said they hoped she could have filled a vacancy of female Rock & Roll Hall of Famers.
Others disputed the rock artists who made the cut.
Most of the chatter Wednesday was about the presence of pop music, with Houston, and rap music, with B.I.G.
The disappointment and calls for protest also surrounded the Dave Matthews Band. The Grammy-winning rock group received 1 million votes for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Still, there were some who celebrated the diversity and breadth of music styles represented on the induction list. Houston and Biggie’s inductions posthumously particularly drew jubilation, including from Biggie collaborator and mentor Diddy.
The 35th annual induction ceremony is scheduled May 2 at Public Auditorium in Cleveland. For the first time, the ceremony will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. on HBO. The SiriusXM Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Radio channel will also air the ceremony May 2 with exclusive interviews. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 27 via www.ticketmaster.com.
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