Predicting the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 2025 Class
Who do I think will receive music's highest honors this year?
It’s that time of the year again where I try to predict who I believe will receive induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I won’t go too deep with my thoughts on the ballot. If you haven’t already, check out my podcast’s reaction to the 2025 ballot episode from two months ago. I invited several friends and regular guests who dissected the ballot. We’ll record shortly after the 2025 class is revealed. Rumor has it, the announcement will happen on American Idol again (sigh).
Here are this year’s nominees:
Bad Company
The Black Crowes
Mariah Carey
Chubby Checker
Joe Cocker
Billy Idol
Joy Division/New Order
Cyndi Lauper
Maná
Oasis
Outkast
Phish
Soundgarden
The White Stripes
This is an interesting ballot to say the least. Only 14 nominees, 8 of which are new to the ballot. Besides maybe one or two names, the field is wide open. Most of these nominees have a plausible chance for induction this year and it will be interesting to see who makes the final cut. I believe there will be a surprise or two in store that most aren’t expecting.
The number of inductees in the performers category fluctuates each year, largely depending on the number of nominees on the final ballot. Given that voters can now vote for up to 7 artists on a ballot, I believe there will be at least 7 selected for induction. Given the relatively low number of total nominees, I don’t know if they’ll select 8 (like they did last year) unless someone is super close. To play it safe, I’ll go with 8.
Well, here goes nothing…these are the artists I feel will be selected for induction this year:
1. Bad Company: On the heels of Foreigner’s induction last year, Bad Company is poised to be the next classic rock band honored. Paul Rodgers is widely considered one of the greatest vocalists in rock history and he’s got friends and supporters from all over the music industry. In a video on social media last month, Rodgers confidently said, “we’ll see you in November.” They know they are getting in.
2. Mariah Carey: I kept going back-and-forth on whether they will induct Mariah Carey this year. I almost chickened out but there’s something important that changed my mind…to her favor. She received the iHeartRadio Icon Award earlier this year, the same award 2024 class inductee Cher received last year. There are just too many things happening in Carey’s favor that are impossible to ignore. The committee cleared many lanes for Carey on the ballot, so it will be interesting to see how things play out if she missed with voters yet again.
3. Chubby Checker: Yes, it’s very bizarre to see Chubby Checker’s name on the performers ballot in the year 2025 but, hey, it’s never too late to honor someone. He is still alive and wants to be inducted so badly. I have a strong suspicion most voters will look at his name and say to themselves, “wait, he’s not in?” and swiftly receive induction. It’s kind of cruel that he’s been eligible throughout the entirety of the Rock Hall’s existence and is only finally being considered. Given the age demographics of voters, Checker has the potential to receive the most votes.
4. Joe Cocker: Much of what I said about both Bad Company and Chubby Checker applies to Joe Cocker. The only thing I’ll add is that Paul McCartney’s open letter supporting Cocker’s candidacy makes the former’s chances for induction a done deal. When a former Beatle speaks, you listen! There is a chance Cocker gets snubbed for induction, akin to Warren Zevon. Someone who seems so obvious and appealing to voters yet somehow misses. I doubt that happens to Cocker, but you never know.
5. Billy Idol: He hugely benefited from showing up at last year’s ceremony and gave a reminder to everyone at the Rock Hall that he can still rock. An early MTV icon with a truckload of hits and a recognizable look, Idol’s done all the things to keep his name in the conversation. This will be a busy year for Idol with a new album and a tour with Rock Hall inductee Joan Jett. I would be stunned if he is passed over by voters this year.
6. Cyndi Lauper: I am still quite surprised she was passed over by voters two years ago and on a much less competitive ballot (or so I thought). With the dearth of representation for women on this year’s ballot, Lauper’s name stands out and voters won’t make the same mistake twice. She’s had a busy year with a farewell tour and a documentary, so the timing feels right.
7. Outkast: They benefit from being the sole representative of hip hop on the ballot. "Regardless of genre, they are one of the biggest omissions from the Rock Hall; they should have no problems resonating with voters. Their nomination would be historic: they would be the first hip hop act to receive induction from their first nomination after first-year eligibility.
8. Soundgarden: Nominated two earlier times in the last five years, Soundgarden is playing in a different field now that voters can vote for up to 7 artists on their ballots. They are probably the biggest omission from the 90s alternative rock world, and they need to clear the lane for others to get a chance. I hope this is their year
The rest…
I do think Oasis has a decent chance for induction this year. While I’m not predicting them, the committee knew that Oasis’ pending world tour was going to happen at around the same time the 2025 induction ceremony takes place. That tells me two things: either the committee wants to avoid any drama with Gallaghers, or they want to get them “over with” (akin to Radiohead). Despite the buzz surrounding them in the news, they are not doing spectacular on the fan vote. Maybe something’s lost in translation, I dunno. I wouldn’t count them out just yet.
The White Stripes and Joy Division/New Order also stand decent chances for different reasons. Jack White has kept up with media appearances and live performances, so maybe his former band will finally connect with voters. Although they might still have the stigma of feeling “too soon” by some (I think that’s BS, but whatever). Joy Division/New Order are sort of in their own lane, but they might be too niche or a critical favorite to connect with American-centric voters. They are worthy and all, but this might not be the right ballot for them to stand out more. If they get in, it will be interesting to see how New Order, who actively tours, deals with their estranged bandmate Peter Hook.
I don’t see The Black Crowes, Maná, or Phish happening this year.
I think many folks are underestimating the Black Crowes’ chances as they released an album that was Grammy-nominated, participated in the Fire Aid benefit concert, and worked/toured with several Hall of Famers. With other classic rock-oriented acts on the ballot, the Black Crowes don’t stand out nearly as much. Their middle-of-the-road demeanor could help them sneak in, who knows. If not this year, expect them to be back in the fold in the coming years.
Maná might be the most surprising nominee in Rock Hall history, literally no one had them on their radar. It’s wonderful that the committee is considering non-English language artists and exploring the world of Rock en español. But with that said, Maná doesn’t stand much of a chance with the fierce competition.
What is the Rock Hall going to do if Phish doesn’t get inducted this year? This will be a PR nightmare, with memories of Dave Matthews Band back in 2020, that will force them to explain the purpose of the fan vote. A Phish induction ensures the Rock Hall will have a sold out ceremony, but they are likely too gimmicky and niche for many voters. I do think, like the Black Crowes, they likely have more industry support than we’re all thinking and could sneak in.
For those wondering, if I was a Rock Hall voter, I’d vote for Mariah Carey, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, Oasis, Outkast, and Soundgarden.
Side Category Predictions
It’s almost impossible to predict what the subcommittees will do here. My initial thought is that they will “correct” the “mistakes” and “oversights” of the performers category. They will use these categories, in large part, to highlight the accomplishments and legacies of women and people of color. For the most part, these inductees will be highlighted through short videos with no introductory speech or performance.
Musical Influence
Memphis Minnie: Her status as the “Queen of the Country Blues” should not be overlooked. She was one of the earliest guitarists to embrace a more electric style. “When the Levee Breaks” was popularized by Led Zeppelin.
Johnny Ace: One of the first black performers to crossover to white audiences, Johnny Ace was a pivotal figure in 1950s R&B. His 1954 death might’ve overshadowed his musical output, but his influence remains impactful. Paul Simon, who wrote a song dedicated to Ace, would likely induct him.
Odetta: A fierce folk singer and civil rights activist who influenced so many current Hall of Famers (including Janis Joplin, Mavis Staples, and Bob Dylan). She dabbled in other genres and styles that made her an eclectic, one-of-a-kind performer.
Ravi Shankar: The great Indian musician who popularized the sitar in western music. His association with the Beatles, George Harrison in particular, is stuff of legends, and puts him in strong contention. His daughter, the great Norah Jones, would likely induct her dad. She might be a future inductee herself someday.
Musical Excellence
Ashford & Simpson: You all know how I feel about them. It’s borderline criminal they aren’t in already and Valerie Simpson is still with us. Please make this happen ASAP.
Bernard Purdie: A highly influential drummer who played on rock, R&B, and funk records. He’s so good he developed his own signature style known as the “Purdie Shuffle.” He collaborated with legends such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Steely Dan. He’s still alive and there’s a strong likelihood Questlove would induct him.
Carol Kaye: Her exclusion from the Rock Hall might be the most egregious. She’s still alive, so why hasn’t it happened yet?
New York Dolls: The passing of David Johansen is a cruel reminder of the games the Rock Hall plays sometimes. They could’ve inducted the New York Dolls anytime in the last two decades yet didn’t do so. Like the MC5, all the members of the band are now dead; that just feels wrong. It sucks things turned out this way.
Ahmet Ertegun Award (Non-Performers)
Albert Grossman: The recent success of A Complete Unknown might inspire some of the side categories this year. If that happens, I would bet on Bob Dylan’s former manager Albert Grossman getting honored. He also worked with Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, and Gordon Lightfoot (among others).
Bob Geldof: The 40th anniversary of Live Aid occurs later this year and that was one of the defining moments in rock history. Geldof’s done other things, of course, but organizing a benefit concert seen by over a billion people is a feat very few could’ve achieved. He’s already received a lot of awards and honors, so a Rock Hall induction seems plausible.
Sylvia Rhone: She was the first black woman to be both the chairman and CEO of a major record label (Elektra). She worked for other major labels (Epic, Motown) and launched the careers of several notable artists (Missy Elliott, Tracy Chapman among others). She served on the Rock Hall’s nomination committee for nearly a decade and, to the best of my knowledge, still serves as a member of their board of directors.
Wolfman Jack: One of rock music’s earliest, most distinctive, and greatest radio personalities. He helped bring black music to a wider audience and was forever immortalized in the classic (and hugely nostalgic) rock classic American Graffiti (1973).
And those are my predictions for who I believe will get music’s highest honor this year. Like I mentioned earlier, there will be a reaction to the class episode on Rock in Retrospect that comes out not too long after the class is revealed.