Odds on Who Will Get Inducted in the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – Jay-Z, Foo Fighters Among Inductees

• Sixteen artists are up for nomination for this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony
• Fans can vote from the list for their favorite artists through April 30. Inductees will be announced in May
• See below for a roundup of the five most speculated about nominees and best bets

This year’s list of nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is as colorful as ever. From soul icon Tina Turner to wacky ’70s new wave outfit Devo, the eclectic list of artists shows the true expansive nature of popular music.

Of the nominees, five artists, in particular, seem to have gathered more public attention as probable inductees, though. Fan voting continues on the Rock Hall website until the end of April. Those votes will eventually be combined with selections submitted by an industry panel, determining the eventual winners.

Odds for 2021 Inductees of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Odds as of February 18

Of the five artists whose names appear in the odds, there is a balanced genre representation within popular music: R&B (Mary J. Blige), metal (Iron Maiden), pop (The Go-Go’s), hip-hop (Jay-Z), and rock (Foo Fighters).

The artists representing each category are all beloved and well known, spanning generations of fans. But who actually holds the best chance to be inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

Household Names

The five artists listed are well known, each bringing an undeniable impact to the recording industry. This is the first nomination ever for each of the five nominees in the odds list.

For Jay-Z and Foo Fighters this is quite a feat as this year is the first eligible year of nomination for both artists. After all, artists can only be considered for the Hall of Fame at least 25 years after the release of their first album.

Mary J. Blige holds equal yes and no odds. Blige, who has previously inducted other artists such as Nina Simone into the Hall of Fame in prior years, is a beloved performer in her own right.

#RockHall2021 Nominee @maryjblige's music echoes our experiences with love & life. She helps us move on, move out, & move up. She’s the soundtrack to our heartache, vulnerability, & courage to refuse to accept any less than we deserve. Vote at https://t.co/keewGnGnnD. pic.twitter.com/9efz86Rc6G

— Rock Hall (@rockhall) February 18, 2021

Out of the 16 nominees, an indeterminate number will actually be inducted. Keep in mind other long-standing musical favorites are also nominated such as singer-songwriter Carole King and rock outfit New York Dolls.

But there are reasons odds are only available for the five listed, as these artists seem most likely to actually be inducted. Jay-Z’s odds of being inducted at -1200 make complete sense. The rap god is one of the most legendary hip-hop performers of all time.

#RockHall2021 Nominee @S_C_ has maintained authenticity with hip-hop purists while still achieving incomparable commercial and business success. Many have tried, but no one has come close to knocking him off his throne. Submit your Fan Vote now at https://t.co/keewGnXYfb. pic.twitter.com/Y7Q7v28XYp

— Rock Hall (@rockhall) February 13, 2021

Putting the Rock in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Similarly, Foo Fighters stand a great chance of being inducted this year. The fan-favorite rock group, if inducted, would be vocalist Dave Grohl’s second time in the Hall of Fame. As a founding member of Nirvana, he has been a member of the Hall of Fame since 2014.

Arguably, Foo Fighters haven’t had the same cultural impact as Nirvana, but the best-selling Foos are still an enduring force in the music industry. They’re broken records and won plenty of awards. They make sense as a nominee and deserve the honor.

But if only one rock-based act gets inducted this year, Iron Maiden is more worthy. The UK-based metal group has been rocking since 1975. This may be their first nomination, but they deserve to sit amongst other legendary artists in the Cleveland Hall.

The Less-Likely Choice

While The Go-Go’s have good odds at -250 of being inducted. But do they deserve it?

Certainly, the group were a groundbreaking force for women in rock when they debuted. But as great as their tunes are, the Go-Go’s have a minimal amount of records in their wake. With only four discs in their catalog, their most recent album was released over 20 years ago.

Considered the most successful all-female rock band of all time, #RockHall2021 Nominees @officialgogos catchy, well-crafted songs formed a bridge between the brash urgency of L.A. punk and the dark melodies of new wave pop. Cast your Fan Vote now at https://t.co/keewGnXYfb! pic.twitter.com/Jy2CUquCSt

— Rock Hall (@rockhall) February 12, 2021

Out of the pop artists in this year’s nominees, Kate Bush or Dionne Warwick may have a better chance to be inducted as longer-standing forces in the music industry.

Ultimately, all five artists with odds may end up being inducted. Of them, Jay-Z is an easy bet. But for those looking to get a bit creative with their bets, Iron Maiden are sitting pretty at -150 odds as both a likely and deserving nominee.

Pick: Iron Maiden (-150)