Rock Hall Nominees: Who Gets in?

Cyndi Lauper vs Billy Idol vs Joy Division/New Order

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Why Now?

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces their 2025 inductees in 5 days (April 27). It will take place on American Idol, but that’s where my trusty DVR comes in! In the past few years I’ve been pumped that new wave artists are finally getting in, and it started with Talking Heads. When Duran Duran ($) got in: bonanza! This year 3 new wave artists got nominated: Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol, and a Joy Division/New Order combo platter. I love them all! But who’s the most electable by the Hall? Usually, an artist getting inducted comes down to 3 factors:

1. Hits/Sales

This factor is the most straightforward to measure.

Lauper leads the charge in hits: she has 11 Billboard top 40 hits, while Idol has 6. Lauper had the monster debut album She’s So Unusual, but True Colors got platinum too. She was everywhere from 1984 to 1987, with iconic videos, helping out the Goonies, and even winning a wrestling match or two.

Billy Idol was more consistent in hit albums, with 4 reaching platinum. While not as ubiquitous as Cyndi Lauper, he still had a large presence and had more longevity: he was in peoples’ minds a lot from the early ‘80s to early ‘90s.

Joy Division/New Order takes up the rear with 2 hits and no platinum albums. Blue Monday and Bizarre Love Triangle got a lot of radio play and are embedded in the collective conscious, but New Order did not have as much face-time, which was important in the ‘80s.

Winner: slight edge to Lauper

2. Genre/Gender Trend

Two decades ago, Idol’s blend of classic rock and blues would've aligned with the Hall’s preferences. But in 2025, things have shifted. Underrepresented genres like synthpop, post-punk, and female-fronted pop are finally getting more recognition—thanks to broader industry awareness and a new crop of Rock Hall voters.

That momentum benefits both Lauper and New Order. Lauper’s gender trailblazing make her a strong fit for the Hall’s recent corrective lens. Meanwhile, New Order’s fusion of punk roots and electronic evolution mirrors the genre crossovers now celebrated.

Idol, despite being a pop culture icon, doesn’t ride the same wave of reevaluation. His catalog remains influential, but the Hall seems more focused on honoring artists who broke new ground for overlooked communities and genres.

Winner: tie between Lauper and Joy Division/New Order.

3. Influence

Influence has become an even bigger factor in recent years. Which artist had the biggest legacy so far?

Cyndi Lauper empowered a lot of female artists over the decades, including now. In the ’90s, artists like No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani and Alanis Morissette followed her lead. Later, P!nk, Nicki Minaj, and Charli XCX carried the torch.

But Joy Division and New Order’s influence is even more far-reaching. Joy Division had only two albums but shifted punk from brash to brooding—kickstarting post-punk, goth, and alternative.

And New Order has inspired many electronica acts, including the Chemical Brothers and Orbital. More mainstream groups Republica and the Killers also are influenced by them.

Billy Idol has electric and eclectic songs and videos, melding punk, classic rock, blues, etc. into a cool mix! But it might be this very reason that his influence lags. His most notable followers - Smash Mouth and Buckcherry—are peripheral.

Winner: Joy Division/New Order

Verdict

Overall: Despite their suffering in the fan vote, Joy Division/New Order has the best shot. We’ll say likely. Lauper is not a shoo-in but if I had to predict I say she’ll get in too. Finally, with Billy Idol I’d call it a longshot (hopefully I’m wrong).

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Be sure to enjoy this playlist featuring the nominees!