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(A full livestream of the ceremony premiered on Disney+ back in October.)
But one aspect of the Rock Hall has remained elusive since it was established.
If you go back to the original sound in the 50s, it was everything.
As Missy Elliot calls it, it was a gumbo.
It just became known as rock and roll.
Once they hear it that way, they understand.
I was so excited.
But he told me, Rock is dead.
It should be called the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.
And I said, Well, hip-hop is rock and roll.
He goes, No, it isnt.
And I said, Weve got to do a better job explaining it.
Little Richard, Otis Redding, Chuck Berry these artists were the cornerstones of rock and roll.
If you look at the sounds over the years, those artists ended up influencing hip-hop.
Jay-Z hemmed and hawed, but he showed up to the ceremony.
How long does the nominating committee meet to decide the annual shortlist?
Its not a beautifully organized or wonderful meeting.
It goes on for hours.
It all just depends when people decide to stop fighting for their artists they want to get in.
There are about 30 people.
The nominating committee is very passionate about who they want.
This is not something they just think about in the taxi ride over to the meeting.
They really come prepared with their artists and why they deserve it.
Its not about just record sales or the amount of hits.
The committee is artists, journalists, critics, and executives.
Sheryl Crow just joined as a member.
Dave Grohl, Tom Morello, and Questlove are there.
These are not people who give in easily.
I guess what Im saying is that this is a democratic process.
There are no backroom decisions.
People fight it out.
But the head of the nominating committee is responsible for keeping that committee relevant to the artists were inducting.
We need a committee that understands and represents those artists.
We need to ensure that were checking all aspects of gender, race, age, and everything else.
Theres not one set of rules, its just having people who understand the music.
A big move of that was a couple of years ago with hip-hop.
We needed people who understood hip-hop as a juggernaut moving through, affecting, and reinventing rock and roll.
You make a few artists happy and a lot upset every year because theres just not enough room.
But we always say to artists who get upset that its not over yet.
Theres always a chance they could get inducted in the future.
Its in no way disrespectful to them.
This year, we were so excited that Cher got in.
We put in her induction tape an interview she dida few years agoabout not getting in.
She said, Fuck the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
She had a good laugh about it.
A key narrative that emerged from the 2024 ceremony came from, of all artists, Foreigner.
For example, Dave Matthews Band was completely together and touring.
We didnt need anyone to play with Dave Matthews Band unless they wanted to bring someone up.
Harry Styles loved Fleetwood Mac, so he said, I want to go play.
In the case of Foreigner, there wasnt an original band being together.
Mick Jones, sadly, wasnt feeling well and couldnt attend.
The Foreigner thats currently touring consists of all new members.
Lou was there, but there wasnt a band.
So we had to put a performance together.
Lou got up and sang with them and killed it with his one song.
It was a specific case.
But we dont attempt to do one every year anymore because its got to be great every time.
There were many moments like that across the ceremony.
Weve found that within the actual show, all of a sudden, these jams just happen.
Next year, well do one if theres the right opportunity.
Believe me, there are times when weve asked in the past and couldnt get the artists.
We cant force anything.
John Mayall, wow, hes finally in there.
Everyone in there deserves it.
The one great thing about having this partnership with Disney is they dont care.
Theyre like, Lets keep the cameras rolling.
Whats your biggest ambition for the future of the organization?
Fans often dont even know who helped break these artists.
It could be record-company presidents,it could be lawyers, it could be agents.
We also want to look at specific songs that change culture.
That could be another category.
Would you mind indulging me with a few names?Its a Sonny ListonandMuhammad Ali knockout punch.
Ill write these down, by the way.
The B-52s.The B-52s have come up in the room.
There are two hurdles you have to get over as an artist.
Which, again, theyre not just people on the street corner.
Bono votes; Paul McCartney votes.
Its a pretty blue-ribbon panel of inductees.
Phil Collins as a solo artist.Hes come up in meetings so much.
Ill say right now thats no excuse for not putting Phil Collins in because hes a great artist.
There are 27 artists who are in twice.
Ozzy Osbourne, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Paul Simon, all the Beatles.
Im a voter, and I really believe Sting should be in as a solo artist.
Ive nominated him many times, and Im the chairman.
That shows how this isnt some backroom organization where decisions are made by a couple of people.
People vote on these things, and they fight like hell.
So I think Phil is deserving.
Weird Al Yankovic.Weird Al has come up in conversations.
The Pixies.Yes, the Pixies have been discussed.
Theres been a group of nominees whove been passionate about the Pixies.
The same thing with Warren Zevon, who actually did get on the ballot one year.
Im passionate about Warren, and hell get in, too.
But the Pixies have had a lot of support.
He hasnt been able to get through, and I think hes a deserving name.
Theres an amazing number of artists out there.
But to your point about people who say, Youre putting too many people in.
People also say, Youre not putting enough people in.
I love this job, but it can be thankless at times because you cant get everyone.
Look at the names of the 2024 class.
How do you not put these people in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
