Metallica has received SoundExchange's Hall of Fame Award, commemorating the band's status as one of the top-streaming acts in the organization’s 20-year history. The quartet was presented with the honor on 11/10, just prior to their M72 World Tour’s sold-out performance at Detroit’s Ford Field.

“Metallica is considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time—and with good reason,” reads a quote from SoundExchange boss Michael Huppe. “They have built and rebuilt themselves, continually honing their epic sound with each album and constantly expanding their appeal without abandoning their roots. Metallica is a once-in-a-lifetime success story. Recognizing Metallica with a SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award is an honor.”

Metallica was formed in 1981 by vocalist-guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich. Since then, the band has sold nearly 120m albums worldwide and generated more than 15b streams thanks to albums like Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, … And Justice for All, Metallica (The Black Album) and their most recent, 72 Seasons. The nine-time Grammy winners were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

Metallica established its charitable foundation, All Within My Hands, in 2017. It's provided nearly $16m in grants to educational programs, organizations combating food insecurity, critical local services and disaster-relief efforts. Needless to say, the members of Metallica are doing more than just headbanging their way through life.

Seen wondering how HITS has been around nearly as long as they have are (l-r) Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo and Ulrich.