Here's the news released by the Associated Press:

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Madonna was announced as a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee on Thursday along with John Mellencamp, The Ventures, Leonard Cohen and The Dave Clark Five.

A panel of 600 industry figures selected the five acts to be inducted at the annual ceremony, to be held March 10 in New York. To be eligible, artists must have issued a first single or album at least 25 years before nomination.

Madonna Louise Ciccone signed with Sire Records in 1982 and became one of MTV’s first stars two years later with "Like A Virgin." She has constantly altered her image ever since, showing staying power that few ’80s stars could muster.

Indiana native Mellencamp became a voice of America’s heartland with hits like "Pink Houses"; and Cohen’s "Suzanne" and "Dress Rehearsal Rag" made him a folk rock icon in the late 1960s.

The Ventures defined instrumental guitar rock in the ’60s with surfer anthems like "Walk Don’t Run" and "Hawaii Five-O," and The Dave Clark Five were one of the most successful British invasion bands with "Glad All Over."