The nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2016 have been announced, and there are several popular groups to choose from this year.

According to Rolling Stone, artists eligible to become nominees must have released their first album or solo track in 1990 or before. This requirement applies to bands as well as solo artists. That is the only major requirement to get on the ballot, on which fans will now vote until Dec. 9.

The nominees include some new bands and artists, as well as some returning to the ballot. The list includes Nine Inch Nails, N.W.A., The Smiths, Deep Purple, Janet Jackson, Chic, Steve Miller, Chicago, Chaka Khan, the Spinners, Cheap Trick, the Cars, the J.B.'s, Los Lobos and Yes.

There has been a lot of controversy in the past over which groups have been selected and those who have been left out for induction into the Hall of Fame. So, for the fourth straight year, there will be what is called a "fan ballot," which will serve as one of the votes for membership into the Hall.

This basically means that fans will all have the chance to weigh in toward a single, collective vote for membership into the Hall, which will be tallied alongside the votes of artists, historians, music industry insiders and the Hall of Fame voting body itself.

Although this process does not give fans the ability to determine outright who gets in, it does give them a collective seat at the table.

Billboard reports that the Class of 2015 included Ringo Starr, Lou Reed, Green Day, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. Starr was previously inducted with The Beatles, but was inducted as a solo artist last year for the first time.