Industrial band Nine Inch Nails, R&B performer Whitney Houston, New York City rapper Notorious B.I.G, influential UK electronic band Depeche Mode, American rock band the Doobie Brothers and UK psychedelic band T. Rex will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year. The nominees were announced last October, while the ceremony will take place in Cleveland, Ohio on May 2.

Several prominent rock and metal acts such as Pat Benatar, Dave Matthews Band, Motörhead, Judas Priest and Thin Lizzy did not make the cut this year for this year’s ceremony. Other prominent artists such as the electronic pioneers Kraftwerk and prominent funk/soul outfit Rufus featuring Chaka Khan were not inducted either after several nominations in the past.

This will be the first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony since its former chairman Jann Wenner’s retirement last year. Wenner cofounded the ceremony, and is also the co-founder and publisher of Rolling Stone Magazine. He will be replaced by John Sykes, a former executive at MTV and the current president of entertainment enterprises for the radio conglomerate iHeartMedia.

Nine Inch Nails have released numerous records since the 1990s, which revolutionized the sound of industrial music by blending in more experimental and metal elements. The band are set to record a new album and tour this year, according to several statements made by the group’s frontman Trent Reznor.

Depeche Mode are still active after nearly 40 years together as a group. They are known for mixing in elements of new wave, dance rock and goth into their brand of electronic music, and landed numerous hits throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat