Sonic Youth became eligible for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year, and despite being one of the most important and influential artists of the last 20 years, they didn't get nominated. Guitarist and singer Thurston Moore was asked by the Washington Post about the Rock Hall:

Do you think Sonic Youth will ever be voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Do you care?

I have no problem with awards or awards ceremonies. I don't take issue with them; what it means is that people are celebrating your work in some capacity. But the Hall of Fame - whatever. It's a certain cabal of people who created this institution. It's not like real people are voting. It's like the Grammys. Very rarely does something win that doesn't have to do with sales of the record or the lobbying of the record label or management. It's the same thing with the Hall of Fame. You start lobbying your artist a decade early and the cabal votes. But that was before the Sex Pistols got in, so who knows?

Moore's cynical attitude about the Rock Hall process certainly isn't unfounded, but the "cabal" he refers to isn't what it used to be. As the years go on, it will be harder and harder for the Hall of Fame to ignore Sonic Youth's contributions to experimental and alternative music.

Future Rock Hall predicts that Sonic Youth has a 58% chance at induction, one of the highest ratings of the eligible artists. Here's to hoping they get in sooner rather than later.