Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees Announced Including Nine Inch Nails, NWA And The Smiths

(Pictured above: influential English rock band Deep Purple in the mid-1970s.)

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced the nominees that are eligible for induction as a part of the Hall’s Class of 2016.

This year’s nominees are: The Cars, Chic, Chicago, Cheap Trick, Deep Purple, Janet Jackson, The J.B.s, Chaka Khan, Los Lobos, Steve Miller, Nine Inch Nails, N.W.A., The Smiths, The Spinners, and Yes.

Chic, N.W.A, Nine Inch Nails, The Smiths, and The Spinners were previously nominated for the Class of 2015, last year, but failed to reach the top five; however, they’re getting a chance to try again for 2016.

Nine Inch Nails and The Smiths are only in their second year of eligibility, but they have each have been nominated both years. Contrastingly, groovy soul-infused disco band Chic have been nominated for a total of ten times, which Consequence of Sound states is a “record” number.

Joining Chic, Nine Inch Nails, and The Smiths as newcomers to the ballot are: The Cars, Janet Jackson, and Cheap Trick, all three of whom are just in their first year of eligibility to be inducted.

So, how does an artist or band become nominated?

Well, for this year’s crop of contenders, in order to be even considered in the nomination process, the artist or band must have released their first single or album in prior to – or in the year of – 1990, according to Rolling Stone.

Following the nominations, ballots will be sent to an international voting body that is comprised of more than seven hundred artists, historians, and other influential and knowledgeable members of the music industry. But, the voting does not end there; the fans also get to have a voice in this process.

Until December 9th, 2015, fans can cast their vote online for which band or artist is most deserving of induction in 2016. There are two websites – RollingStone.com, and RockHall.com, respectively – that are currently open and accepting fan votes.

The top five artists that are selected with the votes from fans will comprise a ballot that will be counted along with the 600+ others, according to Consequence of Sound, to determine which bands and artists will be inducted. So, if you are a huge fan of one of these groups, go vote, and let your voice be heard!

Sometime after December 9th, the five inductees will be announced, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held in April 2016, in New York. According to press release, the induction will be filmed, and HBO will “broadcast the ceremony later in 2016.”