The Songwriter's Hall of Fame has just officially announced its 2020 inductees.
Recognition within the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame is dedicated to composers and lyricists around the world who are committed to honoring music’s past and future through composition and songwriting. Eligibility for induction into the hall is based on the songwriter’s catalog and the passage of at least 20 years between now and the songwriter’s first commercial release.
The 2020 Songwriter's Hall of Fame inductee class includes five-time GRAMMY winner and chart-topping pop/r&b star Mariah Carey, super-production duo and GRAMMY winners Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley and Chris Jasper, professionally known as The Isley Brothers and Motown’s first-ever Head of A&R William "Mickey" Stevenson, plus stellar songwriters and GRAMMY winners Steve Miller, Rick Nowels, and Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics.
Taking to Twitter in reaction to her selection as a member of the 2020 inductee class, Carey wrote to her supporters, "I can't believe it… THE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME." She continued saying, "This is truly one of the greatest honors of my career. I'm so proud and humbled to be in the company of such legendary songwriters - both previously inducted as well as the incredible class of 2020!"
Williams also took to social media with an Instagram post expressing his gratitude for the selection which comes over a decade after the 2003 release of The Neptunes' certified Gold debut The Neptunes Presents… Clones, saying "no greater feeling… Chad you are a savant and I’ve learned so much from you." He continued, “To all the door openers, wisdom sharers and business eye openers who were a part of this constellation to get us here, thank you. We are so humbled and honored to be included with this amazing group of songwriters."
Announced last November, the slate of nominees for 2020’s class included some of music’s most notable artists in candidates and GRAMMY winners like Gloria Estefan, Andre "Andre 3000" Benjamin and Antwon "Big Boi" Patton of Outkast, Roger Nichols and R.E.M.
While additional special award honorees have yet to be announced, the Songwriters Hall of Fame's 51st Annual Induction and Awards Dinner is set to take place on June 11 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.