To be eligible for nomination, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an individual artist or band must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. This year's nominees had to release their first recording no later than 1989.

The 2015 inductees will be announced in December. Fans also have the ability to participate in the selection process. Votes may be cast at rockhall.com for the artists they'd like to see inducted. The top five artists selected by the public will be part of a "fans' ballot," which will be tallied along with other ballots to determine the 2015 inductees.

"We are pleased to present this group of nominees, as they represent the myriad places where rock and roll converges with blues, electronic, dance, Motown, R&B, funk and other genres," said Joel Peresman, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, in a statement. "Rock and roll incorporates the styles of so many different kinds of music and that’s what makes this group of nominees – and this art form – so powerful and unique."

In addition to Green Day and Sting, who is currently represented on Broadway with his new musical The Last Ship, nominees also include The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Kraftwerk, The Marvelettes, N.W.A., Nine Inch Nails, Lou Reed, The Smiths, The Spinners, Stevie Ray Vaughan, War and Bill Withers.