Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020: Whitney Houston, Depeche Mode and more inducted

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, self-appointed definers of the pop music canon, have announced the artists being inducted for 2020.

A group of more than 500 music industry figures voted in Whitney Houston, Notorious BIG, Depeche Mode, T Rex, Nine Inch Nails and the Doobie Brothers. Unlike 2019’s new additions, where five out of seven artists were British, 2020’s selection includes two, in Marc Bolan’s T Rex and Depeche Mode.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails said he was “in shock. When I look back at how Nine Inch Nails are received, it always seems like we fall between the cracks. I don’t know if it’s a defence mechanism, but I just assumed we’d stay in that category, so I’m pleasantly surprised to see us acknowledged.”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, self-appointed definers of the pop music canon, have announced the artists being inducted for 2020.

A group of more than 500 music industry figures voted in Whitney Houston, Notorious BIG, Depeche Mode, T Rex, Nine Inch Nails and the Doobie Brothers. Unlike 2019’s new additions, where five out of seven artists were British, 2020’s selection includes two, in Marc Bolan’s T Rex and Depeche Mode.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails said he was “in shock. When I look back at how Nine Inch Nails are received, it always seems like we fall between the cracks. I don’t know if it’s a defence mechanism, but I just assumed we’d stay in that category, so I’m pleasantly surprised to see us acknowledged.”

Two non-performing music figures will also be honoured with Ahmet Ertegun awards for lifetime achievement: Irving Azoff, who managed banks including the Eagles and founded Global Music Rights; and Jon Landau, a music critic and longtime producer of Bruce Springsteen who is also on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s nominating committee.

Performers on the longlist who did not receive enough votes included artists who have been frequently denied in the past, including Kraftwerk, MC5, Motörhead and Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. Houston becomes only the 70th woman to be inducted, versus over 900 men.