Induction Criteria

Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Induction Procedures
Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc.
Approved by OMHOF Board of Directors, March 18, 2008

• Authorization: Created in response to a 1996 State of Oklahoma House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 1070), which designates the City of Muskogee as the official seat of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., and whose facility was founded in cooperation with Northeastern State University, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. (OMHOFMI) is a not for profit, 501©3 membership and volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Oklahoma Music. OMHOFMI supervises the induction process for the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, presents and produces the annual Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Concert, and provides other educational programs and entertainment events in conjunction with the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Museum, which houses OMHOFMI’s office and meeting space at 401 S. 3rd Street in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
   
• Yearly Musical Inductions: Each year, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. will supervise and administrate the induction of individual and group entities into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
   
• Induction Categories: Recognizing that the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., must approach the past in an orderly and systematic fashion to honor the unique and diverse elements of Oklahoma’s music history, as well as produce a show that will be fiscally responsible, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame has established the following categories for yearly inductions:
  • Country (to include old-time, singing cowboys, western swing, bluegrass, honky-tonk, pop country, outlaw, alternative country, or red dirt music); Frequency note: Inducted each year with posthumous inductions taking the place of nominated and elected hall of fame inductees who can not perform in a given year.
  • Pop and Rock (includes all popular music outside of the R & B categories, to include rockabilly, rock and roll, classic rock, heavy metal, and modern rock); Frequency note: Inducted each year with posthumous inductions taking the place of nominated and elected hall of fame inductees who can not perform in a given year
  • Songwriters, lyricists (Oklahoma songwriters and non-Oklahomans who have written songs about Oklahoma); Frequency note: Inducted each year with posthumous inductions taking the place of nominated and elected hall of fame inductees who can not perform in a given year.
  • Eldon Shamblin Session Musician Award – full inductee for musical excellence as a studio musician or significant touring musician who has played an important role in creating important and lasting music. Frequency note: Inducted each year with posthumous inductions taking the place of nominated and elected hall of fame inductees who can not perform in a given year.
  • Other Musical Genres (to include, but not be limited to, gospel, contemporary Christian, Broadway, folk, classical, opera, Latin, American Indian individual or group artists, rap/hip hop, new age or world music, or any other genre not covered by the above styles) Frequency Note: Inducted every year.
  • Rising Star Award - Given to individuals or groups who have attained significant national notice for their musical talent. Frequency Note: Honored every year.
  • Jazz or Rhythm and Blues (to include non-pop/top 40 blues, R&B, and all jazz styles to include Dixieland, swing, bebop, cool jazz, fusion, or modern jazz) Frequency Note: Given the presence of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in Tulsa, this category will be inducted every fourth year beginning in 2011, then 2015, 2019, etc.
  • American Indian Tribal Music Traditions: See section V for specific details. Frequency note: Inducted every fourth year beginning in 2008, then 2012, 2016, etc.
  • Non-performers (executives, producers, engineers, agents, disc-jockeys, journalists, scholars, television personalities, filmmakers, and other industry professionals who have made significant contributions to the music industry in Oklahoma or outside of the state; also, includes institutions such as historic radio stations or performance venues) Frequency Note: Inducted every fourth year beginning in 2009, then 2013, 2017, etc.
  • Rotating Awards:
    • Educator Award - special award to one who has made a significant contribution to music education.
    • Governor's Award - special award for notable accomplishment in the realm of Oklahoma music given at the discretion of the electoral boards based on standard nomination process.
    • Historic Merit Award - given by Historic Merit Committee for outstanding accomplishments in the history of Oklahoma music that have not been recognized by the board of electors.
   
  Frequency Note: Inducted every fourth year beginning in 2010, then 2014, 2018, 2022, etc.
   
• Induction Process
  • Authorization - The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. authorizes an appointed induction selection committee to solicit nominations and tabulate votes in the given categories for induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
  • Electors - The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. Board of Directors, any living inductee of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, a panel of at least forty media members, scholars, or music industry professionals designated by the induction selection committee.
  • Eligibility - Along with having made significant and noticeable contributions to the field of music, to be considered for induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, a nominee should have some solid connection to the state of Oklahoma, either by birthright, moving to the state at an early age, living in Oklahoma for a significant portion of his or her career, writing songs or music about Oklahoma, or furthering music in the state of Oklahoma. Excellence in the field of music will be the primary criterion for induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
  • Method of Election
    • Nominations of individuals or groups for any one of the categories may be made by any of the following entities:
      • Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. Board Member
      • Any member of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. who has paid dues for the year in which a nomination has been made.
      • Any inductees of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
    • Nominators may only nominate one person, group, or musical entity per year.
    • All nominations must be submitted in writing to the executive director of Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, Inc. by February 15 of the new calendar year.
    • Nominations for any of the annual additional awards, such as the rising star award or governor's award, may be written in by board members with their nomination, or dues paying members of Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. The nominations for rising star, or additional awards, will be voted on by the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Board of Electors. Nominees for additional awards who receive no competing nominations will be given a "yes" or "no" listing on the ballot.
    • Once nominated, a nominee remains on the ballot for ten successive years, at which time their names move to a Historic Merit Committee Nominee List. The Historic Merit Committee is detailed in Section VII.
    • Once a nominee has been voted eligible for the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, the nominee has three calendar years from the time of the election to accept their induction and agree to appear at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Concert and Induction Ceremony.
    • Nominees may or may not wish to perform at the concert, which is not a requirement for induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. The nominee may or may not designate someone to perform on behalf of the nominee.
    • If the nominee is deceased, every effort should be made to contact the nominee's closest family to invite them to the induction ceremony, and to work with them on appropriate materials for the induction biography and museum exhibit materials.
    • After three calendar years from being voted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, if the person, group, or entity does not participate in the induction process, they must be re-nominated and placed back on the ballot for re-selection into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
   
• Voting
  • Once nominations have been received by the executive director of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., the executive director will coordinate with the induction selection committee to create the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Nominee ballot. (See Section VIII for details on induction selection committee)
  • A ballot containing the names of all nominated entities will be mailed to each voting member who should return the ballot to Friends of Oklahoma Music, Inc. by February 28. The executive committee will open and count the votes.
  • Nominees who receive the highest number of votes in each eligible category are inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame each year.
  • In case of a tie vote, the executive director will create a ballot with the tying entities and re-submit the ballot to voters within 72 hours of a tie vote. Electors should send marked ballots to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., executive director within forty-eight hours of receiving a ballot.
  • Absentee Balloting by Phone or E-Mail: Should an elector not be able to return a physical ballot by the stated deadline, they should contact the executive director as soon as possible for further directions regarding an absentee vote.
  • Time of Election - The election should occur in February of each year or some other such month Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, Inc. should decide for reasons such as publicity purposes or interacting with previous inductees who have not yet received their award.
  • Certification of Election Results - The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, Inc. executive committee will certify the election results by the March meeting of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, Inc. board of directors.
   
• American Indian Music and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
  • Given the unique history of American Indian music in Oklahoma, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. will induct the thirty-eight American Indian tribes, bands, and nations of Oklahoma who have persisted in their musical traditions every fourth year until the process is complete around 2152; the board may also choose aggregate or accelerated inductions where appropriate. The order should proceed by the best-known date of arrival into the present-day boundaries of the state of Oklahoma by the various tribal entities currently in the state, beginning with tribes considered indigenous to the state, then moving forward through tribes according to their arrival dates in Indian Territory.
  • The executive director of Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., or a representative designated by the board, should contact the tribe and inform them they have an opportunity to be recognized for maintaining their musical traditions in a given year. Each tribe should be given the option of performing an appropriate musical selection at the induction ceremony and/or concert, and/or given the option of receiving their award at an annual tribal gathering.
  • While tribal officials should be invited to the concert and ceremony to receive their award, live music may or may not be appropriate at the ceremony itself. The executive director, or the Hall of Fame's representative, will interact with the appropriate tribal representative to determine the best approach to recognize the tribe's musical heritage.
  • American Indian musicians may be inducted outside of a particular tribal tradition in the "other" category. As an example, singers who have made significant contributions to the intertribal, pan-Indian powwow world, or musicians who have contributed to contemporary American Indian music are eligible in the "other" category. American Indians who have contributed to other genres of music such as jazz, blues, country, rock, new age or classical music will be elected in the same manner as other inductees into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
  • Once all pertinent American Indian tribal entities are inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, an American Indian music category should be established for induction every fourth year after the tribal process is complete.
  • Specific points of consideration regarding American Indian music:
    • The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame recognizes much American Indian music is not for entertainment purposes, but is for spiritual, physical, and social purposes outside of the entertainment aesthetic, or the banquet and concert environment. Therefore, a given tribe's music may not lend itself to the entertainment milieu, and a performance may or may not be appropriate for the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Concert. Communication between tribal representatives and the executive director, or the Hall of Fame's representative, can resolve these issues.
    • In this case, every effort should be made to make an authentic video for educational purposes with assistance from the tribal entity. Tribal officials should be invited to the ceremony, and a formal induction should take place. However, other alternatives may exist such as presenting the award to tribal entities at a function of their choosing, such as a yearly homecoming or tribal dance, or some other ceremony the tribe prefers.
   
• VI Posthumous Inductions
  • Posthumous inductions should rotate on an even balance through the major categories. However, as a result of sheer volume, categories such as jazz and country will lend themselves to more posthumous inductions.
    • Country 2010, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2024, etc.
    • Jazz/Blues 2011, 2019, 2027, 2035, etc.
  • When possible, posthumous inductions may take the place of a nominee who elects not to perform in a given year.
   
• VII Historic Merit Committee
  • Every fourth year the Historic Merit Committee may select one nominee from a list of nominees who were not elected to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame after ten years on the ballot. The first Historic Merit Committee Award will be given in 2010.
  • The Historic Merit Committee is made up of appointees by successive presidents of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. Once a person is appointed to the committee, they serve a life term or until they ask to be removed from the committee. The chair of the committee will be confirmed by the standing president of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. Board of Directors in a year when the committee makes a recommendation for induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
   
• VIII Induction Selection Committee
  • The Induction Selection Committee's primary purpose is to coordinate the nomination and balloting process for election into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Secondarily, the committee will work in conjunction with the board to establish a panel of knowledgeable electors from the media, academia, and the music industry.
  • The Induction Selection Committee's duties include helping the executive director to create a nominee ballot with information regarding individual nominees, reporting on the validity of individual nominees for a given year, and coordinating efforts to revise the induction selection process rules when needed for presentation to the board of directors.
  • Induction Selection Committee is comprised of individuals appointed by the president of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., and who may or may not be on the board of directors, but have extensive expertise in the field of Oklahoma music. The chair of the committee and continuing committee members shall be confirmed each year by the standing president of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. Board of Directors.
   
• IX Special Years, Thematic Inductions, or Posthumous Inductions
  • When appropriate, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. Board of Directors may plan and produce thematic inductions, such as a posthumous jazz, country or rock program that honors all living and/or deceased individuals and inducts them all at the same time; or inductions that center around centralized themes such as the Tulsa Sound, Women of Country, American Indian music, or Red Dirt music.
   
• X Amendments
  • Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. reserves the right to revoke, alter or amend these rules at any time.
    • Induction Category Rotation 2008 - 2012
      • 2008
        • Country
        • Rock/Pop
        • Songwriter
        • Session Musician
        • American Indian Tribe
        • Other
        • Rising Star
      • 2009
        • Country
        • Rock/Pop
        • Songwriter
        • Session Musician
        • Other
        • Non-Performer
        • Rising Star
      • 2010
        • Country
        • Rock/Pop
        • Songwriter
        • Session Musician
        • Other
        • Rotating Award(s)
        • Rising Star
      • 2011
        • Country
        • Rock/Pop
        • Songwriter
        • Session Musician
        • Jazz/R & B
        • Other
        • Rising Star
      • 2012
        • Country
        • Rock/Pop
        • Songwriter
        • Session Musician
        • American Indian Tribe
        • Other
        • Rising Star