Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 nominees divide fans on definition of rock

Earlier today the nominees for the 2020 class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced, with some names on the ballot bringing forth mixed reactions from fans.

While acts like Soundgarden, Nine Inch NailsMotorheadJudas Priest and more are presented, artists such as Whitney Houston and Notorious B.I.G. are sparking controversy online.

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Rock Hall unveiled the nominees online earlier today, announcing that fan voting was now open.

Other artists nominated include MC5, T. Rex, Thin Lizzy, Pat Benatar and Dave Matthews Band. Depeche Mode, the Doobie Brothers, Kraftwerk, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan and Todd Rundgren are also nominated.

The announcement brought forth mixed reactions from fans with some believing artists such as Houston and Notorious B.I.G. should not be eligible due to “not being rock.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame responded to one tweet explaining their intentions to “honor sonically diverse” artists.

You can view some reactions below.

Read more: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees include Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails

As mentioned by Rock Hall, previous Hall of Fame inductees have included artists in genres such as R&B, pop and rap. You can view the full list of previous inductees here.

The Rock Hall also houses an exhibit called “Right Here, Right Now” which explores how rock has influenced today’s performers such as Sia, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and more.

Last year, Radiohead, the Cure, Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Roxy Music, Def Leppard and the Zombies were inducted.

To pick the winners, a group of more than 1,000 artists, journalists, music industry professionals and journalists will vote. Fans can also vote online here or at the museum.