The Songwriters Hall of Fame has unveiled its nominees for the 2025 class.
Founded in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame is an annual event that inducts performers and non-performers alike.
It was started by songwriter Johnny Mercer alongside music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond to honor those whose achievements within songwriting deserve to be recognized as significant and impactful to the history of popular music.
2024 saw a total of 11 new inductees to the Hall of Fame, including honors for the four original members of REM, both Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan, Timbaland, and Prince, who were given posthumous recognition by the institution after his death in 2016.
The nominees for the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame reveal and include a range of iconic talent from diverse genres.
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Among the non-performing nominees, Eminem, Janet Jackson, rock legends Boy George, Bryan Adams, and Alanis Morissette are among the 26 shortlisted published names appearing on the list.
The non-performers category includes Tony Macaulay, a celebrated British composer who wrote songs such as ‘Baby Now That I’ve Found You’ and ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ for the Foundations, and Walter Afanasieff, who helped Mariah Carey with her smash All I Want for Christmas Is You.
Mike Chapman, who co-wrote Pat Benatar’s Love Is a Battlefield, Narada Michael Walden, the architect of Whitney Houston’s How Will I Know and Aretha Franklin’s Freeway of Love, as well as Australian songwriter Mike Chapman, who was best known for his work with artists such as The Sweet, Suzi Quattro, and Mud.
The Songwriter’s Hall of Fame has previously honored artists like Burt Bacharach, Hal David, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Carole King, among many other celebrated songwriters.
There are also special awards given out at the ceremony that celebrate the work of publishers and music executives whose outstanding services towards songwriting and the music industry deserve to be recognized.
Also, there’s a category dubbed The Hal David Starlight Award, which is presented to young songwriters who are making a significant impression early in their careers.
The voting process for Hall of Fame inductions is only open to eligible members and will see people cast their picks until voting closes on December 22nd.
The chosen inductees will then be announced early in 2025, with the selected six being honored at the Induction and Awards Gala, which will be held in New York in June.
