Earlier this week, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its induction nominees for 2020. Sixteen artists are nominated, nine of them are first-time contenders.

For the artists to be qualified, they should have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years ago. Nominees for this year have acts released in the 90s, while some legacy artists have yet to be included in the roster.

To date, only 21 artists have been inducted more than once, such as Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Eric Clapton.

How do they choose the nominees?

According to the Rock Hall, their basis is the artist's "demonstrated musical excellence, musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career, the body of work, revolution and superiority in style and performance."

The announcement of 2020 inductees will be in January, while the ceremony will take place in Cleveland on May 2. It will be preceded by a week of celebratory events and the opening of the 2020 inductee exhibit at the museum. It will be broadcasted live on HBO and fans may watch the ceremony live.

The public may cast their votes for the 2020 Rock Hall nominees at rockhall.com from today until January 10, 11:59 PM EST. The top five artists selected by the public will comprise a "fans' ballot," which will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2020 inductees. 

Here's the complete list of 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees:

Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar is a first-time nominee, but he has been eligible since 2005. His top hits include "Hit Me with Your Best Shot", "We Belong" and "Invincible." 

She also dominated the Grammy's in the '80s, winning numerous awards in 1980 and receiving a total of nine nominations. 

Dave Matthews Band

DMS is also a first-time nominee. The band formed in 1991 and had different mainstream hits like "Ants Marching", "What Would You Say" and "Don't Drink Water" during the 90s. 

From 2000 until 2009, they were the top-selling live act and is the only band to have seven consecutive #1 debut albums. 

The band inspired now-famous singer-songwriter Jason Mraz and John Mayer. 

Depeche Mode

The band has been nominated in 2017 and 2018.

Depeche Mode was formed in 1981 in the United Kingdom town of Basildon. Their dance floor hits in "Just Can't Get Enough" and "Dreaming of Me" discovered new areas of electronic feels, postpunk and futuristic industrial sounds. 

They blew up in the goth-grunge swamp gospel and crafted songs like "Songs of Faith and Devotion", "Delta Machine" and "Spirit".

The Doobie Brothers

First-time nominees as well, The Doobie Brothers has hard-rocking beats, dual drummer power and tense vocal harmonies in their music. They started in North California in the mid-70s, which led them to discover even more sounds and textures. 

Throughout the band's career, they have sold over 48 million albums worldwide and charted five Top 10 singles. Fifty years later, they are set to play their old feel-good hits with their brand-new jingles, giving the young generation a chance to listen to actual "music."

Whitney Houston

Eligible since 2010, Houston's voice is flexible, dominant and has a voice index that can give rock, pop, R&B, funk, soul, hip-hop and pop elements.

She was the first singer to have seven consecutive #1 hits, longest-reigning #1 single and Emmy and six Grammy awards. 

Judas Priest

Judas Priest was nominated in 2018. Their entire message is "being yourself and loving the music you love regardless of the trends." 

With Platinum-selling albums since the '70s, the band has a mighty power of dual guitar attack, rising vocals and dynamic riffs. They have gone through a lot of lineup changes over the years. 

Bands like Slipknot, Pearl Jam and Metallica have all took inspiration from the band world of metal and hard rock. 

Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk was nominated in 2003, 2013, 2015 and 2017. They were founded in Düsseldorf in the 70s, and their music explored the connection of rock-and-roll and avant-garde. 

They have later become musical visionaries and master songsmiths. Kraftwerk developed the creativeness to other bands such as Depeche Mode, U2, Kanye West and many more.

MC5

MC5 has been nominated three times, in 2003, 2017 and 2018.

They're one of the bands that, now more than 50 years, will be back on the road with a group of musicians playing energetic music. The band's compelling sound was a rare combo of R&B, psychedelia and garage rock with prevailing governmental messages. 

Motörhead

Motörhead's music is a blend of rock and roll, punk rock and heavy metal. Their music became a vision for musicians in numerous styles and almost independently deposited the thrash metal subgenre. 

Nine Inch Nails

The band makes music that contrasts ruthless, gentle, madness, calm, bleak hopelessness and religious elation. They have been nominated in 2015 and 2016. 

The Notorious BIG

Biggie Smalls' all-around rapping style got him chosen into the Rock Hall. He released his debut single in 1993 and has been a mainstream rapper ever since. 

He died in 1997 that devastated the music community. His music influenced artists like Jay-Z, Eminem, Alicia Keys, Michael Jackson and Usher. Even in death, his music radiates life. 

Rufus featuring Chaka Khan

The rise of disco increased in 1970. The band was first formed in the '60s and then added Chaka Khan, whose voice of liquid fire and sweet incense carried a carnality as aggressive as it was noticeably womanly. 

They were one of the most popular and most influential funk bands in history, boasting four consecutive #1 R&B albums, 10 Top 40 Pop Hits and five #1 singles. 

Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren was inspired by British rock, the sound of soul, vocal harmony and '60s musicians. He released 12 solo albums and nine albums between 1970 and 1980. 

We can hear his influence in artists like Bjork, Daft Punk and Prince. 

Soundgarden

The band ignited a musical effort to modify rock and roll. Soundgarden had a raw influence that flew in an artificial and disengaged world. 

Their music paved their way to Pearl Jam and Nirvana. 

T.Rex

T. Rex was a rock and roll comet that beautified the earth and left behind a new rock style which inspired musicians since the 1970s. 

The band influenced Bowie, Ramones and The Who and has been featured in movie soundtracks and have been referenced in popular culture and novels. 

Thin Lizzy

Their impact on rock and roll reached everywhere. They merged psychedelic rock, blues and folk. 

The Dublin-based band was a hard rock band that expressed and confronted rock standards. However, they were also conventional notes and peppy live shows that fitted into the equation.

Thin Lizzy encapsulated and represented the essence and pleasure of rock-and-roll. 

Tags: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Whitney Houston The Notorious BIG