Artists are selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on their musical talents as a performer and their impact on the culture of rock music.  Members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame are inducted on their abilities to create great music through songwriting over the course of their career.

On June 15 Sade, Glen Ballard, Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Jeff Lynne, Teddy Riley, and Liz Rose became the newest members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City.

Songwriters Hall member and Broadway songwriter Tim Rice was presented with the Johnny Mercer Award.

Post Malone was presented with the Hal David Starlight Award; which is given to a “gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry.”

While Sade, Snoop Dogg, and Gloria Estefan may be very familiar names; Jeff Lynne was a member of the Electric Light Orchestra and later joined The Travelling Wilburys.

Glen Ballard, Teddy Riley, and Liz Rose are all songwriters who either collaborate with musical artists or outright write songs that go on to be hits by musical artists.  Rose has collaborated with a teenage Taylor Swift.  Along with a Grammy Award; Liz Rose has earned the SESAC Nashville Songwriter of the Year, Country Music Association, and Academy of Country Music awards. Besides Taylor Swift, she has written music for Billy Gilman, Gary Allan, Tim McGraw, the Eli Young Band, Dan + Shay, Allison Krauss, Blake Sheldon, LeeAnn Womack, Chris Young, and Bonnie Raitt.

Glen Ballard is a six time Grammy Award winning songwriter who has worked with Alanis Morissette and Michael Jackson on some of their biggest albums including “Jagged Little Pill” and “Thriller”.  He has also written songs for Wilson Phillips, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, George Strait, Josh Groban, Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Chaka Khan, Andrea Bocelli, Katy Perry, Ringo Starr, George Benson, Shakira, and Idina Menzel.

Fusing Hip-Hop, R&B, dance, and pop; Teddy Riley is credited with creating the New Jack Swing.  His credits include “My Prerogative” from Bobby Brown.

With each inductee speaking on the importance of music, the first Hispanic woman to be inducted Gloria Estefan said, “to those fans that have found in my music what I found in the music of the life-changing songwriters that nourished my soul throughout my life, I thank you for that privilege.  And I can assure you that it is just as magical from the other side of the song.”  Estefen is an eight time Grammy Award winning artist whose music as a solo artist and as a part of the Miami Sound Machine have sold over 100 million albums around the world.  She is also a Medal of Freedom recipient and a Kennedy Center Honor.

Not only is he the founder of ELO, Jeff Lynne was responsible for many of the band’s biggest hits.  He is an Officer of the British Empire, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the holder of three Ivor Novello Awards.

More than just a songwriter, Teddy Riley has formed a number of bands including Wreckx-N-Effect, Guy, and Blackstreet.  His music has been recorded by Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat, Stevie Wonder, Kool Moe Dee, and Jane Child.

Sade and Snoop Dogg were not in attendance and have deferred their inductions to next year.

Songwriters are eligible for nomination into the Songwriters Hall 20 years after their first commercial release and have a notable catalog of songs.


Songwriters Hall of Fame Chairman Nile Rodgers spoke on The Hall and songwriters saying, “the music industry does not exist without songwriters delivering great songs first.  Without them there is not recorded music, no concert business, no merch…nothing, it all starts with the song and the songwriter.  We are therefore very proud that we are continually recognizing some of the culturally most important songwriters of all time and that the 2023 slate represents not just iconic songs but also diversity and unity across genres, ethnicity and gender, songwriters who have enriched our lives and, in their time, literally transformed music and the lives of billions of listeners all over the world.”