Using Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All-Time as a Predictor for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rolling Stone recently released a new “best of” list, the “100 Greatest Songwriters of All-Time.” Unlike most of their other lists, there’s no description of their methodology for ranking the names, so this one feels a bit arbitrary. As usual, these types of lists stir up controversy, but let’s take a look to see if the list can provide any insight into future Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. The close ties between the Rock Hall Nominating Committee and Rolling Stone are no secret, and they often share the same favorites and biases.

Of the 100 songwriters on the list, there are just 29 who are not yet in the Rock Hall, and many of these are primarily known for country music, so they are long shots for induction anyway (Parton, Haggard, Nelson, Lynn, Kristofferson, Prine, and Hall). Ten more aren’t eligible for induction yet, but will be strong candidates in the future.

Some of the eligible artists on the list who are not in the Hall of Fame who could show up on this year’s Performer ballot are Harry Nilsson, The Smiths, Lucinda Williams, Ashford and Simpson, Björk, and the Replacements.

The full list (linked artists are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame):

  1. Bob Dylan
  2. Paul McCartney
  3. John Lennon
  4. Chuck Berry
  5. Smokey Robinson
  6. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
  7. Carole King/Carole King and Gerry Goffin
  8. Paul Simon
  9. Joni Mitchell
  10. Stevie Wonder
  11. Bob Marley
  12. Brian Wilson
  13. Hank Williams
  14. Bruce Springsteen
  15. Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland
  16. Leonard Cohen
  17. Neil Young
  18. Prince
  19. Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry
  20. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
  21. Lou Reed
  22. Van Morrison
  23. Robert Johnson
  24. Elvis Costello
  25. Randy Newman
  26. James Brown
  27. Ray Davies
  28. Woody Guthrie
  29. Buddy Holly
  30. Pete Townshend
  31. Dolly Parton
  32. Burt Bacharach and Hal David
  33. Merle Haggard
  34. Michael Jackson
  35. Bono and the Edge
  36. Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter
  37. Jackson Browne
  38. Al Green
  39. David Bowie
  40. John Fogerty
  41. Max Martin
  42. Sly Stone
  43. Johnny Cash
  44. Jimmy Webb
  45. Robbie Robertson
  46. Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong
  47. Neil Diamond
  48. Elton John and Bernie Taupin
  49. Don Henley and Glenn Frey
  50. Billy Joel
  51. Willie Dixon
  52. The Notorious B.I.G.
  53. Stevie Nicks
  54. Kurt Cobain
  55. Tom Waits
  56. Madonna
  57. Joe Strummer and Mick Jones
  58. George Clinton
  59. Tom Petty
  60. Willie Nelson
  61. Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
  62. Harry Nilsson
  63. Chrissie Hynde
  64. Bert Berns
  65. George Harrison
  66. Kenny Gamble and Leon A. Huff
  67. Morrissey and Marr
  68. Jay Z
  69. James Taylor
  70. Dan Penn
  71. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
  72. Fats Domino and Dave Barthomolew
  73. Radiohead
  74. Patti Smith
  75. Isaac Hayes and David Porter
  76. Loretta Lynn
  77. Allen Toussaint
  78. Curtis Mayfield
  79. Lucinda Williams
  80. R. Kelly
  81. Björk
  82. Marvin Gaye
  83. Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
  84. Kanye West
  85. R.E.M.
  86. Sam Cooke
  87. Kris Kristofferson
  88. Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill
  89. Felice and Boudleaux Bryant
  90. Babyface
  91. Eminem
  92. Paul Westerberg
  93. Billie Joe Armstrong
  94. John Prine
  95. The Bee Gees
  96. Timbaland and Missy Elliott
  97. Taylor Swift
  98. Otis Blackwell
  99. Tom T. Hall
  100. Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson
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