The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its newest inductees, which include a diverse group of artists who have made significant contributions to the music industry. Among the inductees are Mary J. Blige, Cher, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band, and Peter Frampton.
In addition to the main inductees, several artists received special awards. Alexis Korner, John Mayall, and Big Mama Thornton earned the Musical Influence Award, while the late Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick, and Norman Whitfield will receive the Musical Excellence Award. Suzanne de Passe, a pioneering music executive, won the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, emphasized the importance of the inductees, stating that each of them broke down musical barriers and influenced countless artists who followed in their footsteps.
The induction ceremony will take place on Oct. 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. It will be streamed live on Disney+ and aired on ABC at a later date, with availability on Hulu the following day.
Several notable artists were nominated but did not make the cut this year, including Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, the late Sinéad O’Connor, Sade, Oasis, Eric B. & Rakim, and Jane’s Addiction.
There was a significant push to get Foreigner inducted, with support from various celebrities such as Mark Ronson, Jack Black, Slash, Dave Grohl, and Paul McCartney. Ronson’s stepfather, Mick Jones, is a founding member, songwriter, and lead guitarist of Foreigner.
Four of the eight nominees – Cher, Foreigner, Frampton, and Kool & the Gang – were on the ballot for the first time.
To be eligible for induction, artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the nomination.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.