Today (March 8) is International Women’s Day and what better way to celebrate than by honoring the influential women that have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as performers and early influences…
…Oh, and to serve up the reminder that women accounting for just under eight percent of Rock Hall inductees is simply inexcusable. (For a further breakdown of this, check out Evelyn McDonnell’s exceptional piece “The Manhandling of Rock ‘N’ Roll History.”)
John Sykes, the Rock Hall’s new chairman after Rolling Stone/Rock Hall founder Jann Wenner stepped down, has said in countless interviews since taking on this new role how the Rock Hall needs to evolve and diversify. So far, it seems as though he’s keeping to his word. In February, he added five new people to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation’s Board of Directors. Among them were three women: Executive Vice President of Universal Music Group Michele Anthony; Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Publishing Jody Gerson; and President of ViacomCBS Consumer Products Pam Kaufman.
Since Sykes became the Rock Hall chairman as of January 1, 2020, it’s not really fair to hold his feet to the fire about how only three women (Pat Benatar, Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan as part of Rufus) were featured in the pool of 2020 nominees, which was comprised of primarily bands/men. However, 2021 will be a different story. Media and fans alike will certainly be taking notes and will not hesitate to press Sykes if women continue to be ignored.
Until then, however, scroll through the gallery below featuring the remarkable women who have defied the odds to be recognized by the Rock Hall and consider taking some time this International Women’s Day to revisit their music.