(Web Desk) - Musicians Timbaland, Steely Dan members Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, Hillary Lindsey, R.E.M. and Dean Pitchford were announced Wednesday as the newest members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and will be inducted at this summer's 2024 ceremony.
"I've said it before, but the music industry does not exist without songwriters delivering great songs first," said Grammy winner and Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman Nile Rodgers in a statement.
"Without them there is no recorded music, no concert business, nothing, it all starts with the song and the songwriter."
The Chic co-founder added, "We are therefore very proud that we are continually recognizing some of the culturally most important songwriters of all time and that the 2024 slate represents not just iconic songs but also diversity and unity across genres, ethnicity and gender, songwriters who have enriched our lives and literally enriched music and the lives of billions of listeners all over the world."
Timbaland, who has written songs for Aaliyah, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado and more, reacted to the news on Instagram, writing, "GOD IS GREAT."
More inductees are expected to be announced as the year goes on.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala is scheduled for June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.