Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a museum in Cleveland founded in 1983 to preserve the history of rock 'n' roll and its many offshoots. The Hall of Fame honors performers, songwriters, producers, and industry professionals who contributed to the creation and evolution of the music. 

Performers are eligible for nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording. Every year, a committee of a few dozen musicians, critics, and music industry insiders creates a shortlist for a new Hall of Fame class. From there, approximately 800 eligible musicians, critics, and industry insiders vote for the inductees, usually narrowing the shortlist to fewer than 10 acts. In addition to the ballot-based induction process, other artists and non-performing professionals are added to the Hall of Fame for their contributions to the genre. 

Critics have argued that the Hall of Fame's secretive nomination process and its preference for acts from the 1960s and '70s have hampered its mission. Throughout the 21st century, though, the Hall has worked to broaden its definition of "rock 'n' roll" and diversify its voting base.