ABBA is the fourth-best-selling recording artist of all time. Not to mention the distinction between pop and rock is a thin, tenuous, and ill-defined line. If pop is not rock, then the Beatles do not belong in the HoF either, as they were first and foremost a pop group, no matter what other territories they ventured into (and that includes writing the first metal riff ever recorded).

ABBA is the fourth-best-selling recording artist of all time. Not to mention the distinction between pop and rock is a thin, tenuous, and ill-defined line. If pop is not rock, then the Beatles do not belong in the HoF either, as they were first and foremost a pop group, no matter what other territories they ventured into (and that includes writing the first metal riff ever recorded).

I'm not denying ABBA sold, but what rock credentials do they have? They might have recorded a couple rock songs (ie. King Kong Song), but they were primarily a 'pop' group. If we are just going by 'they sold' as criteria, then there are many other high-selling artists that aren't it.

Also, pop isn't rock, at least not in the 70s-80s period ABBA performed in. Also, the term 'pop' wasn't even used in opposition to rock until 1967, meaning The Beatles are a pretty weak indicator, given back then 'pop' and 'rock' meant about the same thing; they are always talked about as a rock band, really, and IMHO practiced an early form of pop rock or power pop, both rock subgenres.

Point is, though, in modern times, ABBA is considered a pop group, and has no business being in a 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame'. If there was a 'Pop Hall of Fame', they certainly deserve to go in, but they don't qualify as 'Rock and Roll' in really any circumstance.

-TN05