My personal theory on the Musical Influence inductees this year is that they're going to be filling the hole of some underrepresented genre on the nominee ballot this year so the Hall can better diversify the nominees and to prevent some worst case scenario where the overall inductee ballot is overwhelmingly 70s-80s rockers or R&B acts or a similar too-much-of-one-thing ballot.
Looking at the nominees this year, I think there's definitely an opening for any pre-80s act, alternative (JD/NO and Oasis are the only acts representing it this year), and rap (Wu-Tang and Lauryn are the only rappers on the ballot this year). I definitely think they're going to throw in a 60s/70s act in Influence to better pad out the overall ballot (Maybe The Monkees, Big Star, King Crimson?). Maybe it's also a good sign for Devo or Eric B & Rakim.
Julia G wrote: