Blog Response: Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

The New York Times article "From Wrinkles to Rap: a Rock Award's Shifting Cast" by Ian Lovett is about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's recent induction of artists of different genres being included into the Hall of Fame. I think that it's important that they are recognizing rappers as being worthy of this honor. By including different genres, the Hall of Fame, and the artist, will benefit from the shift. 

Even though rock was supposed to 'never die,' the number of rock groups and musicians are diminishing, and other genres like rap, folk and pop are expanding. People are listening to these types of music a lot more than rock. I like all of these genres of music, but definitely like rap best right now.  In the top lists of spottily, the top 10 artists aren't rock, the genres are rap, folk, dance, and pop.

Rockers would say "long live rock' or 'rock will never die' in their songs. They aren't wrong. A genre of music never truly dies. More likely it mutates, changes, gets adapted. But rock is not the biggest genre in the industry. When rap first became popular people didn't think it would last, but it has for the last 25 years or more, which is why I think inducting rappers into the hall of fame makes so much sense.

I think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should consider changing their name to The Music Hall of Fame, or something along those lines, because of the different genres that are always developing. The Hall of Fame has inducted four rap groups and musicians including GrandMaster Flash and the Furious Five, Run DMC, and the Beastie Boys. Chuck D of Public Enemy predicts that LL Cool J, and Salt-n-Peppa should or will be inducted soon. Another artist inducted this year was Quincy Jones, the producer of Michael Jackson. Another change the organization should consider is changing their 25 year rule - where you can't be inducted unless you have been a published musician for 25 years or more.

        The NY times article shows the changes of the artists in the rock and roll hall of fame. The new artists will benefit the organization greatly.