Rock Hall Announces 2016 Nominees: Cheap Trick, N.W.A., Chaka Khan and More

In an announcement from Joel Peresman, CEO and president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the 2016 nominees have been revealed. Among the contenders for the Rock Hall title are Cheap Trick, Chaka Khan and N.W.A.

Eight of this year's nominees have landed on the list for the first time, including Chicago, The Cars, Janet Jackson and Steve Miller. Other groups like Chic and The Smiths have appeared on the bill before.

Peresman said of the list, "It's a wide range. I always find that's how it comes together, but it's representative of different people's definitions of rock."

"It's not necessarily how many records you've sold, it's about what your influence in the arts is," he continued.

For those not familiar with the process, inductees are determined by a counsel of over 800 artists, historians and music-industry professionals. Artists are eligible for consideration 25 years after releasing their first single or album (1990, for the latest spectrum of nominees).

For what it's worth, the variety of nominees represent "the splintering of genres that increasingly began to characterize popular music since the '90s," according to Anthony DeCurtis over at Rolling Stone.

Indeed, the Rock Hall is certainly eclectic.

Check out who's up for the title below and be sure to preview some of the legends in the meantime.

The nominees are:

Chicago
Cheap Trick
Deep Purple
The Cars
Chaka Khan
Chic
The J.B.'s.
Janet Jackson
Los Lobos
Steve Miller
N.W.A.
Nine Inch Nails
The Smiths
The Spinners
Yes

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