The 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees revealed: Eminem, Boy George and more
The Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees for 2025 have been announced, with the likes of Eminem, Boy George and Janet Jackson among the 26 shortlisted artists appearing on the list.
The list of nominees, which is divided between ‘performing’ and ‘non-performing’ songwriters, will see a total of six inductees – three from each category – join esteemed company that has previously been honoured by the guild, such as Burt Bacharach and Hal David, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and Carole King among many other celebrated songwriters.
The non-performers category includes the likes of celebrated British composer Tony Macaulay, who wrote songs such as ‘Baby Now That I’ve Found You’ and ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ for the Foundations, as well Australian songwriter Mike Chapman, who was best known for his work with artists such as The Sweet, Suzi Quattro and Mud.
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 honoured at the Induction and Awards Gala, which will be held in New York in June.
Founded in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame was started by songwriter Johnny Mercer alongside music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond to honour those whose achievements within songwriting deserve to be recognised as significant and impactful to the history of popular music.
2024 saw a total of 11 new inductees to the Hall of Fame, including honours for the four original members of REM, both Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan, Timbaland, and Prince, who was given posthumous recognition by the institution after his death in 2016.
There are also special awards given out at the ceremony, celebrating the work of publishers and music executives whose outstanding services towards songwriting and the music industry deserve to be recognised.
One of the special categories is the Hal David Starlight Award, which is presented to young songwriters who are making a significant impression early in their careers. Recipients of this award in the past three years have been Lil Nas X, Post Malone, and SZA.
Once inducted, the chosen artists will join all previous inductees in being showcased as part of an interactive digital display at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles – a feature that has been in place since 2010.
Who are the 2025 Songwriters Hall Of Fame nominees?
Performing:
- Bryan Adams
- Boy George
- George Clinton
- Sheryl Crow
- Doobie Brothers
- Eminem
- David Gates
- Janet Jackson
- Tommy James
- Mike Love
- Alanis Morissette
- N.W.A.
- Steve Winwood
Non-performing:
- Walter Afanasieff
- Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan
- Mike Chapman
- Sonny Curtis
- Tom Douglas
- Franne Golde
- Ashley Gorley
- Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins
- Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter
- Tony Macaulay
- Roger Nichols
- Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham
- Narada Michael Walden
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