The Rock Hall category renamed the Award for Musical Excellence in 2010 was Sidemen.
The Sidemen category was introduced in 2000 to recognize musicians, producers and other contributors who often worked outside the spotlight alongside major recording artists. These honorees could include veteran session players and concert musicians whose playing helped shape famous records and performances.
The category was temporarily dormant from 2004 through 2007, then reactivated in 2008. In 2010, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame changed its name to the Award for Musical Excellence. The broader title gave the organization more flexibility to honor outstanding contributors who did not fit neatly into the main Performer category.
This history can cause confusion with two other Rock Hall categories. Non-Performers was renamed the Ahmet Ertegun Award in 2008, while Early Influences recognizes artists whose work predates or helped establish rock and roll. Sidemen is therefore the precise former name—not a description of the award’s modern recipients.