You wanted your MTV. Decades later, will widespread exposure on that video channel lead to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
A dominant influential force in popular music in the 1980s and ’90s, MTV heavily impacted the new slate of nominees for the Rock Hall of Fame that was announced Wednesday morning.
Pat Benatar, Devo, Duran Duran, Beck, Eminem, Eurythmics, Kate Bush, Lionel Richie and A Tribe Called Quest all prospered via MTV, and they appear on the Hall of Fame ballot, along with first-time nominees Carly Simon and Dolly Parton.
Eminem is the only name making the ballot in their first year of eligibility. An artist is eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record.
Returning nominees include Dionne Warwick, Judas Priest, Rage Against the Machine, Fela Kuti, New York Dolls and MC5.
The candidates represent a cross-section of genres, including punk, metal, pop, New Wave, hip-hop, country, alt-rock, Afrobeat and singer-songwriter.
Like 2021’s ballot, this year’s has more women than has typically been the case with the male-dominated Rock Hall. Six of the 17 nominees are women; last year it was seven out of 16. Of the more than 900 members inducted (more than 350 acts), only 8 percent have been women. Last year, Carole King, Tina Turner and the Go-Go’s joined the club, King and Turner each for a second time.
More than 1,000 people — including musicians, industry executives, scholars and critics — are invited to vote for up to five nominees. There are no write-ins. There is a public online vote that has limited impact.
Inductees will be announced in May, with a ceremony in the fall.
Here is this voter’s first-blush assessment, categorizing the nominees by “belongs,” “borderline” or “meh.”
Beck (first nomination). An ambitious, unpredictable, genre-blending, relentlessly innovative visionary. The “Loser” hit-maker is a winner so why not induct him? Belongs
Pat Benatar (second). Remarkable classically trained rock pipes with a few key hits. Meh
Kate Bush (third). Entrancing, literate, atmospheric music-maker whose influence can be heard in Bjork, Prince and others. Borderline
Devo (third). Known for a couple of hits and quirky videos, Devo crafted catchy new wave electronica, equal parts comical and futuristic. Like the Velvet Underground, more influential than immediately impactful. Belongs
Duran Duran (first). Video made these synth-loving glam Brits rock stars. Meh
Eminem (first). This hip-hop titan has the flow, the fire and the courage to take on controversial topics. His “Lose Yourself” is in my all-time Top 10. Belongs
Eurythmics (second). “Sweet Dreams” and “Here Comes the Rain Again” are undisputed classics, Annie Lennox is a world-class singer and Dave Stewart a top-notch producer. Borderline
Judas Priest (third). These British headbangers are indeed heavy, and Rob Halford is a colorful, dynamic frontman with a near-operatic voice. Borderline
Fela Kuti (second). Mixing traditional African rhythms with American funk and jazz, this Nigerian bandleader pioneered Afrobeat. Belongs
MC5 (sixth). These Detroit dudes kicked out the jams by putting politics into garage rock, impacting future musicians more than listeners. Meh
New York Dolls (third). They were punk before punk was cool, and glam before Paul Westerberg discovered mascara. With songs like “Personality Crisis,” their influence resonated. Belongs
Dolly Parton (first). All-time great songwriter, all-time great performer and all-time great personality and person. Yes, she’s country — with a rock ‘n’ roll attitude. Belongs
Rage Against the Machine (fourth). One of the most ferocious live bands ever, this L.A. ensemble blends punk, funk, hip-hop and social justice into an essential full metal racket. Belongs
Lionel Richie (first). He co-wrote “We Are the World,” and brings an engaging liveliness to the concert stage and “American Idol.” His music is too easy, though. Meh
Carly Simon (first). The brilliant “You’re So Vain” does not a Hall of Fame career make. Meh
A Tribe Called Quest (first). Pioneers of alternative hip-hop in the ‘90s, this Queens crew was jazzy, artful and intelligent. One of hip-hop’s most widely respected groups. Belongs
Dionne Warwick (second). An underrated singer with jazzy pop-soul instincts and a bigger collection of hits than people realize, well beyond the 1960s. Plus, she became an appealing personality via TV’s “Solid Gold,” infomercials for psychics, and, most recently, as the newly minted queen of Twitter. Belongs
