WKSU News: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame releases a diverse ballot for 2016

Thursday, October 8, 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame releases a diverse ballot for 2016 Many long-eligible acts make their first appearances by WKSU's KABIR BHATIA	Reporter Kabir Bhatia

Trent Reznor moved to Cleveland to start his music career in the late 1980s. His band, Nine Inch Nails, is on the Rock Hall ballot for the second time.

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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has released its list of 15 nominees for the Class of 2016. WKSU's Kabir Bhatia reports.

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Chicago has been eligible for the Rock Hall since 1994, but they make their debut on the ballot this year. Joining them are many other long-eligible acts such as Deep Purple, Yes, Steve Miller, Cheap Trick, The Spinners, Chaka Khan and The Cars. Rock Hall CEO Greg Harris says it points to the diversity in rock.

“I think anybody can find a couple on this list that they’re passionate about. And they can also find a couple on this list that they’re not fans of. It’s kind of the challenge that you always think about, ‘Who would you vote for that you personally have never owned a record by, but you think are impactful and influential?’”

Harris says the single biggest voting block is past inductees, but for the fourth year in a row there will also be voting online.

“When all the ballots go out, fans can actually vote. If they go to rockhall.com their vote counts. They get aggregated, much like Heisman trophy voting. And they count toward the full tally.”

Rush and Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble have been inducted in recent years with strong online fan support.

Rounding out the ballot are Janet Jackson, Los Lobos, rappers N.W.A.. The Smiths, fronted by Morrissey, and disco act Chic, nominated 10 times.

Also on this year’s ballot are Nine Inch Nails, who got their start in Cleveland, and James Brown's backing group, The J.B.'s, anchored by Cincinnati brothers Bootsy and Catfish Collins.

The final inductees will be announced in December, and the ceremony takes place next April in New York City.