2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
On November 7th, HBO aired the 35th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony for the 2020 inductees. Originally scheduled for May 2nd, the live ceremony was converted into a virtual event due to COVID-19.
Founded in 1983 and based in New York City, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation consists of the best and most influential artists.
This year’s inductees included Whitney Housten, The Notorious B.I.G., Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Nine Inch Nails, and T-Rex. The Ahmet Ertegun Award, honoring non-performing members who impacted the music industry, went to Jon Landau and Irving Azoff.
The virtual event consisted of career montages, interviews, and acceptance speeches from artists and industry members. The event showcased each inductee’s journey and how each inductee remained relevant and influential. Furthermore, the event illustrated the ways each inductee contributed to the current music world.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s nominating committee evaluated four categories: Performer, Early Influence, Non-Performer, and Side-Men. Artists could only be eligible for the Performer category 25 years after the release of their first record. The committee primarily considered the influence, relevance, and impact of the artist’s work. For non-performers and side-men, the committee evaluated the influence the inductee had on the music community and their respective artists.
Previous inductees in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame include The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Queen, and Nirvana. Joining this list is considered an honor, and the artists this year are said to go down in history.
The event is exclusively available to stream on HBO Max.