Congratulations to this year’s Class of 2026 for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

As it is every year, it’s an eclectic group that represents diverse musical styles and personalities:

How does the Rock Hall consider an artist for induction?

The criteria for induction is simple: an artist becomes eligible 25 years after their first recording. The Rock Hall selects nominees for the following four categories:

  • Performer: artists who have created music whose originality, impact, and influence has changed the course of rock and roll
  • Early Influence: artists whose music and performance style have directly influenced, inspired, and evolved rock and roll and music impacting culture
  • Musical Excellence: given to artists , musicians, songwriters, and producers whose originality and influence have had a dramatic impact on music
  • Ahmet Ertegun Award: named after the founder of the museum, the award is given to non-performing industry professionals who have had a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock and roll music that has impacted culture

As my guest this week once told me, over the years, rock and roll has never sounded the same and it has never looked the same. This year’s class certainly illustrates that point.

John Goehrke, Director of Fan Engagement and On Stage Experience at the Rock Hall in Cleveland joined me on Oldies Without Borders again this year to talk about the 18 Inductees that make up this year’s class.

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Copyright Peter J. Maurin, The Vinyl Professor. Published under Creative Commons License: Attribution/Non-Commercial Use.

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Oldies Without Borders

Oldies Without Borders with The Vinyl Professor has been on the air since May 2002.

It’s “Music History with a Twist, a weekly deep dive into pop music; the hits and forgotten 45’s that were released on vinyl from the early 1950’s to the 1980’s.

If it was released on vinyl, cassette, or 8-track, you’ll hear I’ll play it.

The show also features sit-downs with the people who made the music, just like the interviews posted here.

It currently airs on the following community radio stations in Ontario: INDI 101-5FM (Hamilton), Sunview 102 (Goderich), and Halton Hills Online Radio (Georgetown).

Click on LinkTree to listen live or to listen to past episodes on demand

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