Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has one massive issue – and its the fans’ fault

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The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced an excellent class of 2026 inductees, finally recognizing bands like Iron Maiden and Joy Division + New Order. The only real criticism of the selection process is that fans didn’t have a vote.

For the second year in a row, and the third time since 2020, the artist chosen by fans in the voting didn’t make it into the Hall of Fame. Although the Dave Matthews Band, who won the fan vote in 2020, was eventually inducted in 2024 – and deservedly so – the artists chosen by fans last year (Phish) and this year (New Edition) likely won’t be.

Let me be clear: Phish and New Edition have both created enjoyable music. However, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, like any hall of fame, is reserved for the absolute greatest artists in rock music, and they haven’t quite reached that level.

The only thing wrong with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame vote is the fans, sadly

This museum isn’t for R&B or country music. Putting a band like U2 in the country music hall of fame would be a mistake, just like it would be wrong to see someone like Ozzy Osbourne inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame.

Rock music’s strength – its ability to absorb and include so many different influences – could also be seen as a weakness. Similar to how the English language evolved by blending Latin, Germanic, and other languages, rock incorporates diverse styles to create its unique sound. Just as Steely Dan drew inspiration from artists like Miles Davis, rock thrives by building upon existing musical ideas.

Miles Davis, a Rock Hall inductee in 2006, was a foundational figure in the early days of rock music and inspired many artists who followed. Unlike Davis, the bands New Edition and Phish built upon the work of earlier groups – New Edition drawing influence from the Temptations, and Phish from the Grateful Dead.

Despite clear imperfections, fans continue to vote for flawed bands to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. New Edition and Phish haven’t released truly bad music, but the same could be said for the Smiths, who are still excluded.

Online voting is easily manipulated, which is why major elections aren’t typically conducted that way. For example, a recent fan vote for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame showed that if the 2024 presidential election used the same system, a lesser-known candidate, Chase Oliver, could have won.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame should continue to include fan voting because it lets people feel involved and is genuinely enjoyable. Luckily, the final decisions aren’t just based on fan votes – respected figures like musicians, industry experts, and historians also weigh in, and they made excellent selections for the class of 2026.

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2026-04-15 23:00