"Of course, they are the single biggest name in '90s adult contemporary rock/adult alternative/rock revivalist music now (compared to the Black Crowes, Counting Crows, and Melissa Etheridge), and they are a white rock band."
Goo Goo Dolls take that, I think. By far the biggest act in the adult alternative subgenre, and they're older and better-respected as well. Alternative purists still hate them for watering down The Replacements, even though I don't think most of their hits sound much like them and it was mainly their rockin' album tracks that do. However, the kind of Gen X rockers who would be offended by the Goo Goo Dolls selling out have very little institutional power. At this point, I almost wonder if The Replacements won't get in until after the Goos get in and fight for them... You could argue they're not revivalists like the three that you named, and I agree their sound was current, but then I wouldn't really say Train were revivalists either (their sound was also current). But the difference between Goo Goo Dolls and Train is that Goo Goo Dolls at least are respected in pop circles much more.
And besides, I don't think the Hall cares as much about current popularity as historic popularity (yeah, maybe the P!nk and Shakira nominations are showing this beginning to change a little). I don't think they'd consider Train until at least Counting Crows, Goo Goo Dolls, and Matchbox Twenty got in, and while I don't think all three of those bands will be shut out, I'm not convinced all of them would make it either.
I don't say they should, I am just predicting they have good chance to be nominated/inducted
They fit well with taste of the old boomers (their 'ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC") .
You could see Howard Stern thinks Train are fxxking influential and maybe boomers or early gen x white people in the committee may think this way as well... It fits their taste and their knowledge about modern rock music...
I am against this but it may happen eventually realistically speaking
I could see Train being inducted in the Rock Hall in the future. (I don't particularly support them or like their music; I'm just thinking realistically.)
1. They have four billion streams on Spotify (only Linkin Park and Coldplay from current eligible rock acts exceed this).
2. They have nearly 25 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
3. They are still an arena-touring-level act in America.
Of course, they are the single biggest name in '90s adult contemporary rock/adult alternative/rock revivalist music now (compared to the Black Crowes, Counting Crows, and Melissa Etheridge), and they are a white rock band.
Additionally, Pat Monahan appeared for Journey's induction, so he has a connection with the Rock Hall.
Train fits well with the conservative Rock Hall version of "modern rock" (have to admit they are indeed popular in this case), they fit boomers' "rock and roll."
I could see them being nominated and inducted in the future. Their only major hurdle is that their critical acclaim is insanely bad, seeming to be even worse than Journey's, Foreigner's, and others in that lane.
Sean wrote: