The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2025 inductee class might feel like both a nod to the past and a litmus test for where music is headed. This year’s lineup features a stacked mix of boundary-pushers: Atlanta rap icons OutKast, pop-rock powerhouse Cyndi Lauper, garage rock revivalists The White Stripes, and grunge band Soundgarden.
The selection process — always part ceremony and part popularity contest —, depends on the Hall’s voting body and the broader music community. “Each of these inductees created their own sound and attitude that had a profound impact on culture and helped to change the course of rock & roll forever,” said John Sykes, chairman of the Hall of Fame. “Their music gave a voice to generations and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”
Still, the list isn’t without its share of backlash. Fans lit up social media with frustration over the snubbing of American pop titan Mariah Carey, Britpop legends Oasis, and English post-punk artists Joy Division and Billy Idol, all of whom failed to secure enough votes.
The Hall’s legacy includes near-unimpeachable names like The Beatles, Nirvana, The Velvet Underground, and The Rolling Stones, but its boundaries have continued to stretch. In recent years, non-rock acts like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys have reminded fans that rock is less a genre than a spirit.
The 2025 induction ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on November 8, and streamed live on Disney+.
