Basically, after Adele, all major artists just become "bigger" or more "famous" version of Phish, all become big cult acts, big niche acts... If so, hard to use traditional popularity to judge them, just like Phish can perform in arenas easily, but are they major act? No different, all only make music just appeal to their fans, and not make music that common culture appreciates.
Rock hall should appreciate the monoculture everyone appreciates, otherwise can it be called "hall of Fame", it should be called "hall of niches" instead. I believe rock hall should comes to an end after celebrating al big names in 10s (the last time that universal monoculture still exists)
"Popularity" in the era of The Beatles and Michael Jackson is fundamentally different from "popularity" in the era of Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish.
Back then, popularity meant reaching a genuinely broad audience and becoming part of a shared cultural experience. Today, even the biggest stars tend to be "big niche acts" with massive but relatively self-contained fanbases.
Popularity still matters, but its importance will continue to decline as the media landscape becomes more fragmented.
Younger listeners increasingly exist in different communities, algorithms, and cultural bubbles. There is no longer a single mainstream that everyone participates in. Given that reality, the only sensible approach is to recognize the most respected and influential artists within their respective circles, rather than expecting anyone to achieve the kind of universal dominance once associated with The Beatles or Michael Jackson.
Of course Mariah Carey should be in, but still does not change that popularity is not that huge factor anymore.
We are in the era that way more younger listeners listening to Slowdive/Cocteau Twins than Styx...
Popularity is no longer as important in today's music landscape as it once was. Since Adele, virtually every major artist has become a big niche act—artists with massive fanbases whose appeal is largely confined to their own audiences.
No artist who emerged after Adele has achieved the kind of universal appeal that transcends demographics, generations, and musical preferences. Modern equivalents of Michael Jackson or The Beatles simply do not exist anymore.
Popularity still matters, but it will matter less and less as the media landscape becomes increasingly fragmented.
I believe the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was originally built to celebrate a monoculture—a time when a handful of artists could dominate the cultural conversation and unite people across different backgrounds.
But monoculture is no longer a reality. Audiences are divided into countless niches, communities, and algorithm-driven ecosystems. If the cultural foundation that Rock Hall was built upon no longer exists, then perhaps the institution itself has lost the basis for its original purpose.
GuestG has some great takes. However, the RRHOF still chooses to play God because Mariah Carey, among many others, is still on the outside looking in. I know a lot of people are more about influence and critical success over popularity, but the Beatles were part of the third class and although they were key to the British invasion, only then did a large chunk of fans begin to pay attention to the Hall. I don't understand how they try to ignore popular acts who transform the landscape. They embraced rap, much to rockists' chagrin, and Madonna/Prince/Michael Jackson have had varying degrees of resistance because they don't fit some archaic and narrow criteria, but for the last 15 years or so, it's been a bit of a jumble. And yes, there is a big run on connections, but almost anyone that's been inducted has a fair argument from a certain standpoint. That's the beauty of the hall.
