Catherine Cox ’29
Staff Writer
Every year, I find myself very interested in the new inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The induction ceremony takes place on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, but it doesn’t air on ABC until Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026, and a day later on Hulu and Disney+. After hosting the Vinyl Night event for the month of November with the theme honoring the inductees of Oasis and Sade, I have been thinking more about this year’s inductee class, and how I interpret their inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I have decided to provide commentary on the artists whom I know well and enjoy the music of.
Oasis: I was disappointed in the last induction cycle that Oasis was nominated but did not get into the class. I am glad to see that they are being recognized now with their induction in this year’s class. I do think, for marketing reasons, their induction would have been a bigger deal in 2025 due to their Live ‘25 tour that ended the band’s sixteen-year hiatus. That aside, I love the work of Oasis and their influence on the rock music scene, as well as the music industry overall, confirms their spot in this year’s class of inductees.
Sade: When I saw that Sade was getting inducted this year, I was beyond excited. Sade’s music and influence on the modern jazz, soul, and R&B scenes is something that is often overlooked, as some of her tracks have just become TikTok audios to the younger generations. Sade’s unique voice and musical style set her apart from the other artists of her time, as her songs transport the listener to another world with their well-composed instrumentation and intellectual lyricism. I have been very into Sade’s music recently, as well, which further contributes to my excitement for her induction.
Billy Idol: Billy Idol’s influence in the 1980s rock scene is no doubt still present within the modern music industry today. With his collaboration on a track from Miley Cyrus’ 2020 album, Plastic Hearts, as well as sharing the stage with the modern music acts of Yungblud and Sombr, Idol’s influence and presence are still seen within the modern music industry.
Joy Division / New Order: I was quite surprised when I saw that Joy Division / New Order was being inducted this year, but I do agree with the choice to do so. Both of the bands have had such a strong influence on the New Wave and electronic subgenres of rock music over the years; their influence still continues today, as I see their songs being used on social media quite often.
Luther Vandross: Luther Vandross is one of the most important and influential musicians of the soul and R&B genres, as he made eleven platinum albums from 1981 to 1996. I have been a fan of Vandross for a long time, with my knowledge of his artistry beginning when I was very into David Bowie’s Young Americans (1975) album, which Vandross had a huge part in making with Bowie. Vandross’ timeless voice and songs well deserve their place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I encourage all to learn more about his influence and impact on the music industry.
Fela Kuti: I first learned of Fela Kuti during the Nigeria unit of my AP Comparative Government course that I took during my senior year of high school. As I am very interested in the social cultures of punk music and the music that comes with subculture movements, I was interested to learn more about how Fela Kuti used his music and influence to speak out against the social issues of Nigeria during the era in which he was releasing his music. Through his tracks about the variety of social issues within the African political, social, and economic states, Fela Kuti became a voice of protest for the African populations that were facing these issues. His persistence in his musical revolution discography demonstrates a continued demand for protest music and for using music as a platform for changing ideologies that still exists within the modern music industry today.
Wu-Tang Clan: I love that Wu-Tang Clan is being inducted this year. So many modern hip hop artists that many enjoy today have been inspired by Wu-Tang, and their influence is no doubt one of the most important to note within the history of the genre of hip hop. Not only is their music influential, but their influence on pop culture and having an artist brand can be recognized by many, further demonstrating why they should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
I look forward to watching the taping of the induction ceremony in the coming months, but until then, I will continue to listen to these artists and think about their importance within the genre of rock and the music industry overall.
Copy edited by Claire Flynn ‘29
Featured image courtesy of abc7ny
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