ABBA, Jimmy Cliff, Genesis, the Hollies and the Stooges are on their way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As announced today, the five acts will be inducted in a ceremony on March 15.

"They represent a great cross-section of artists that define the broad spectrum and history of rock and roll and people that have contributed immeasurably to our business," Joel Peresman, president and CEO of the foundation, said in a statement.

Nominees missing the cut this year are Kiss, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, LL Cool J, Donna Summer, Laura Nyro, Darlene Love, and the Chantels.

It was a long time coming for proto-punk band The Stooges, already nominated eight times. Same for Genesis, which has been shut out in a perceived slight by the Hall against art-rock bands.

British band The Hollies, which featured Graham Nash, scored such hits as "Bus Stop" and "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)." Jimmy Cliff helped popular reggae with the 1972 film "The Harder They Come," in which he starred.

ABBA, while not generally considered to be a rock 'n' roll band, sold 350 million records worldwide and scored 14 Top 40 hits, including "Dancing Queen" and "Waterloo."

ABBA getting in and Kiss coming up short will not go over well with the Kiss Army, which actually staged a protest several years ago at the Rock Hall.

Critics Andrew Druckenbrod and Scott Mervis talk about music on "The Beat," available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.