2018 in music


This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2018 in music.

Specific locations

  • African
  • American
  • Asian
    • Chinese
    • Japanese
    • Philippine
    • South Korean
  • Canadian
  • European
    • British
    • Scandinavian
      • Danish
      • Finnish
      • Icelandic
      • Norwegian
      • Swedish
  • Latin

Specific genres

  • Classical
  • Country
  • Heavy metal
  • Hip hop
  • Electronic
  • Jazz
  • Latin
  • New Wave
  • Opera
  • Pop
  • Punk
  • Rock
  • R&B
  • World music
  • K-pop
  • J-pop

Albums released

Awards

60th Annual Grammy Awards
Record of the Year: 24K Magic by Bruno MarsAlbum of the Year: 24K Magic by Bruno MarsSong of the Year: "That's What I Like" by Bruno MarsBest New Artist: Alessia Cara
2018 Billboard Music Awards
Top Artist: Ed SheeranTop Male Artist: Ed Sheeran • Top Female Artist: Taylor SwiftTop Duo/Group: Imagine DragonsTop New Artist: Khalid • Top Billboard 200 Album: DAMN. by Kendrick LamarTop Hot 100 Song: "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber
2018 ARIA Music Awards
Album of the Year: Love Monster by Amy SharkSong of the Year: "Youngblood" by 5 Seconds of SummerBreakthrough Artist: Dazed & Confused by Ruel
2018 Brit Awards
British Album of the Year: Gang Signs & Prayer by StormzyBritish Single of the Year: "Human" by Rag'n'Bone ManBritish Breakthrough Act: Dua LipaBritish Video: "Sign of the Times" by Harry Styles
Eurovision Song Contest 2018
"Toy" by Netta (Israel)
2018 Juno Awards
Artist of the Year: Gord DownieGroup of the Year: A Tribe Called RedAlbum of the Year: Everything Now by Arcade FireSingle of the Year: "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" by Shawn Mendes
2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards
Artist of the Year: BTSAlbum of the Year: Love Yourself: Tear by BTSSong of the Year: "What Is Love" by TwiceBest Music Video: "Idol" by BTS
2018 MTV Video Music Awards
Video of the Year: "Havana" by Camila Cabello featuring Young ThugSong of the Year: Rockstar by Post Malone (featuring 21 Savage) • Artist of the Year: Camila Cabello • Best New Artist: Cardi BBest Collaboration: Dinero by Jennifer Lopez (featuring DJ Khaled and Cardi B)
2018 MTV Europe Music Awards
Best Song: "Havana" by Camila Cabello featuring Young ThugBest Video: "Havana" by Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug) • Best Artist: Camila Cabello • Best Group: BTSBest New: Cardi B
American Music Awards of 2018 (USA)
Artist of the Year: Taylor SwiftNew Artist of the Year: Camila CabelloCollaboration of the Year: "Havana" by Camila Cabello featuring Young ThugTour of the Year: Reputation Stadium Tour by Taylor Swift
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Inductees: Bon JoviThe CarsDire StraitsThe Moody BluesNina Simone
27th Seoul Music Awards (South Korea)
Grand Prize: BTSBest Song: "Like It" by Yoon Jong-shinBest Album: Palette by IUBest New Artist: Pristin, Chungha, Wanna One

Bands formed

Soloist debuts

Bands reformed

Bands on hiatus

Bands disbanded

Deaths

January

  • 1
    • Jon Paul Steuer, 33, American punk singer and actor
    • Betty Willis, 76, American R&B singer
  • 2Rick Hall, 85, American record producer
  • 3 – Josiah Boyd, 32, American heavy metal bassist (A Hill to Die Upon)
  • 4Ray Thomas, 76, British progressive rock flautist (The Moody Blues)
  • 5 – Mikio Fujioka, 36, Japanese heavy metal guitarist (Babymetal)
  • 7
  • 8Denise LaSalle, 83, American blues and R&B singer-songwriter
  • 9 – Paul Antingnani, American heavy metal drummer (Sworn Enemy)
  • 10 – "Fast" Eddie Clarke, 67, British heavy metal guitarist (Motörhead, Fastway)
  • 12 – Pierre Pincemaille, 61, French classical organist
  • 13 – Tzimis Panousis, 63, Greek comedy singer
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17 – Ric Jacobs, 61, American pop-rock singer (Steel Breeze)
  • 18 – Steve Nisbett, 69, Nevisian-born British reggae drummer (Steel Pulse)
  • 19Fredo Santana, 27, American rapper
  • 20
  • 22Preston Shannon, 70, American blues singer and guitarist
  • 23
  • 24Mark E. Smith, 60, British post-punk singer-songwriter (The Fall)
  • 25
    • Tommy Banks, 81, Canadian jazz pianist
    • Steve Foster, Australian folk singer
    • Floyd Miles, 74, American blues singer and guitarist
  • 26
    • Buzz Clifford, 76, American pop singer
    • Igor Zhukov, 81, Russian classical pianist
  • 27 – Grant Fell, 56, New Zealand industrial rock bassist (Headless Chickens)
  • 28 – Neil Harris, 63, British punk guitarist (Sham 69)
  • 28
    • Eddie Shaw, 80, American blues saxophonist
    • Coco Schumann, 93, German jazz guitarist
  • 31
    • Del Delker, 93, American gospel singer
    • Leah LaBelle, 31, Canadian-born American R&B singer

February

  • – Rick Evans (75), American musician (Zager and Evans)
  • 1
  • 3Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, 65, American jazz and rock drummer
  • 5 – Zeno Roth, 51, German rock guitarist
  • 7
  • 8
    • Algia Mae Hinton, 88, American blues singer
    • Lovebug Starski, 57, American rapper
    • Ebony Reigns, 20, Ghanaian dancehall singer
  • 9
  • 11
    • Vic Damone, 89, American pop singer
    • Tom Rapp, 70, American psychedelic rock singer (Pearls Before Swine)
  • 12
  • 13
    • Scott Boyer, 70, American rock singer and guitarist (Cowboy, The 31st of February)
    • Billy Johnson, American emo and noise rock drummer (Reggie and the Full Effect, Rocket Fuel Is The Key)
  • 14 – Nuray Hafiftaş, 53, Turkish folk singer
  • 16 – Barbara Alston, 74, American R&B singer (The Crystals)
  • 19
    • Johnny Mosby, 88, American country music singer (Johnny & Jonie Mosby)
    • Norm Rogers, 61, American alternative country drummer (The Jayhawks, Cows)
    • Stormin MC, 34, British grime rapper
  • 22 – Errol Buddle, 89, Australian jazz bassoonist and saxophonist
  • 23 – Eddy Amoo, 73, British soul singer (The Real Thing)
  • 24Bud Luckey, 83, American voice actor and singer[1]

March

  • 1 – Bill Burkette, 75, American pop singer (The Vogues)
  • 2
    • Jesus Lopez Cobos, 78, Spanish classic music conductor
    • Brandon Jenkins, 48, American Red Dirt country singer-songwriter
    • Van McLain, 62, American rock guitarist and singer (Shooting Star)
  • 3
    • Patrick Doyle, 31, British indie rock drummer (Veronica Falls)
    • Kenneth Gärdestad, 69, Swedish pop songwriter
  • 7 – Jerzy Milian, 82, Polish jazz vibraphonist
  • 9 – Pyarelal Wadali, 75, Indian Sufi folk singer (Wadali Brothers)
  • 11Ken Dodd, 90, British comedian and pop singer
  • 12
  • 13
    • Claudia Fontaine, 57, British pop and ska singer (Afrodiziak)
    • Jimmy Wisner, 86, American pianist, arranger, songwriter
  • 14
  • 16
    • Laurence Cleary, 60, Irish new wave guitarist (The Blades)
    • Buell Neidlinger, 82, American jazz bassist and cellist
  • 18 – Killjoy, 48, American death metal singer (Necrophagia, Viking Crown)
  • 20 – Peter "Mars" Cowling, 72, British blues rock bassist (Pat Travers Band, The Flying Hat Band, Gnidrolog)
  • 22Morgana King, 87, American jazz singer
  • 24Lys Assia, 94, Swiss pop singer
  • 25Seo Min-woo, 33, South Korean pop singer (100%)
  • 27 – Kenny O'Dell, 73, American country singer-songwriter
  • 28 – Caleb Scofield, 39, American alternative rock and sludge metal bassist and singer (Cave In, Zozobra, Old Man Gloom)
  • 30
    • Alias, 41, American rapper and producer
    • Sabahudin Kurt, 82, Bosnian folk singer
    • Major Short, 93, American double bass player (Somethin' Smith and the Redheads)
  • 31 – Frode Viken, 63, Norwegian rock guitarist (D.D.E.)

April

  • 1
    • Audrey Morris, 89, American jazz singer
    • Ron Shaw, 77, American folk singer, guitarist and banjoist (The Hillside Singers)
  • 3Lill-Babs, 80, Swedish pop singer
  • 4Don Cherry, 94, American pop singer
  • 5Cecil Taylor, 89, American jazz pianist
  • 6 – Jacques Higelin, 77, French chanson singer
  • 8Nathan Davis, 81, American jazz multi-instrumentalist
  • 9 – Timmy Matley, 36, Irish pop singer (The Overtones)
  • 10 – Yvonne Staples, 80, American soul singer (The Staple Singers)
  • 14 – Milan Škampa, 89, Czech classical violist (Smetana Quartet)
  • 16Dona Ivone Lara, 97, Brazilian samba singer
  • 17
  • 19
    • Stuart Colman, 73, English musician (Pinkerton's Assorted Colours, The Flying Machine), record producer (Shakin' Stevens), and broadcaster
    • Reginald McArthur, 63, American R&B singer (The Controllers)
  • 20
    • Avicii, 28, Swedish EDM DJ and producer
    • Brian Henry Hooper, 55, Australian alternative rock guitarist (Beasts of Bourbon, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists)
  • 23Bob Dorough, 94, American jazz singer and pianist
  • 24 – Paul Gray, 54, Australian new wave singer, songwriter and keyboardist (Wa Wa Nee)
  • 26Charles Neville, 79, American R&B saxophonist (The Neville Brothers)
  • 29
    • Ted Devoux, 55, American rapper (Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.)
    • Rose Laurens, 65, French pop singer-songwriter
  • 30 – Tim Calvert, 52, American heavy metal guitarist (Nevermore, Forbidden)

May

  • 1
  • 2 – Tony Cucchiara, 80, Italian folk singer
  • 4
    • Steve Coy, 56, British new wave drummer (Dead or Alive)
    • Tony Kinman, American cowpunk singer and bassist (Rank and File, The Dils)
    • Abi Ofarim, 80, Israeli pop singer
  • 5 – Dick Williams, 91, American pop singer (The Williams Brothers)
  • 7 – Gayle Shepherd, 81, American pop singer (Shepherd Sisters)
  • 9
    • Sammy Allred, 84, American country music singer and mandolinist (The Geezinslaw Brothers)
    • Ben Graves, 46, American horror punk drummer (Murderdolls)
    • Carl Perkins, 59, New Zealand reggae singer (House of Shem)
    • Shirley Thomas, 74, American pop singer (The Dixiebelles)
  • 10Scott Hutchison, 36, British indie singer, songwriter and guitarist (Frightened Rabbit, The Fruit Tree Foundation, Mastersystem)
  • 11 – Matt Marks, 38, American contemporary classical multi-instrumentalist (Alarm Will Sound)
  • 13Glenn Branca, 69, American avant-garde composer and guitarist (Theoretical Girls)
  • 16Hideki Saijo, 63, Japanese pop singer
  • 17
    • Jürgen Marcus, 69, German schlager singer
    • Jon Sholle, 70, American jazz, roots music and blues multi-instrumentalist
  • 19
  • 25 – Piet Kee, 90, Dutch classical organist
  • 27 – Andy MacQueen, Australian punk guitarist (Exploding White Mice)
  • 28
    • Evio Di Marzo, 64, Venezuelan tropical singer and guitarist (Adrenalina Caribe)
    • Stewart Lupton, 43, American indie rock singer (Jonathan Fire*Eater)
    • Josh Martin, 46, American grindcore guitarist (Anal Cunt)
  • 31 – Demba Nabé, 46, German dancehall rapper (Seeed)

June

  • 1
    • Andrew Massey, 72, British classical conductor
    • Sinan Sakić, 61, Serbian turbo-folk singer (Južni Vetar)
  • 2 – Wayne Secrest, 68, American bassist (Confederate Railroad)
  • 3 – Clarence Fountain, 88, American gospel singer (The Blind Boys of Alabama)
  • 4 – Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, 73, American spoken word poet (The Last Poets)
  • 5
  • 6 – Teddy Johnson, 98, British pop singer (Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson)
  • 7 – Al Capps, 79, American arranger, composer and record producer
  • 8Danny Kirwan, 68, British rock and blues guitarist (Fleetwood Mac)
  • 9 – John McElrath, 77, American rock singer and keyboardist (The Swingin' Medallions)
  • 10
    • Neal E. Boyd, 42, American operatic pop singer
    • Ras Kimono, 60, Nigerian reggae singer
  • 11 – Wayne Dockery, 76, American jazz bassist
  • 12Jon Hiseman, 73, British jazz fusion and blues drummer (Colosseum, Colosseum II, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)
  • 13D. J. Fontana, 87, American rock and roll drummer (The Blue Moon Boys)
  • 15
  • 16 – Rebecca Parris, 66, American jazz singer
  • 18
  • 19
    • Bansi Quinteros, 41, Spanish psychedelic trance keyboardist (GMS)
    • Lowrell Simon, 75, American singer (The Lost Generation)
  • 21 – David Corcoran, 64, American rock drummer (Duke Jupiter)
  • 22
  • 24
    • George Cameron, 70, American baroque pop drummer (The Left Banke)
    • Dan Ingram, 83, radio DJ
  • 26
    • Fedor Frešo, 71, Slovak rock bassist (The Soulmen, Prúdy)
    • Ed Simons, 101, American classical music conductor
  • 27 – Steve Soto, 54, American punk rock bassist (Adolescents, Agent Orange, Manic Hispanic)
  • 29 – Eugene Pitt, 80, American doo wop singer (The Jive Five)
  • 30
    • Smoke Dawg, 21, Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter (Halal Gang)
    • Dean Webb, 81, American bluegrass mandolinist (The Dillards)

July

  • 2
  • 3Richard Swift, 41, American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (The Shins, The Arcs, Starflyer 59)
  • 4 – Carmen Campagne, 58, Canadian folk singer
  • 6
    • Vlatko Ilievski, 33, Macedonian rock singer and guitarist
    • Vince Martin, 81, American folk singer
  • 7
    • Brett Hoffmann, 51, American death metal singer (Malevolent Creation)
    • Garry Lowe, 65, Jamaican-born Canadian reggae and blues rock musician (Big Sugar)
  • 8Tab Hunter, 86, American pop singer
  • 9 – Stefan Demert, 78, Swedish pop singer
  • 10 – Ye Lwin, 70, Burmese rock guitarist
  • 13K. Rani, 75, Indian playback singer
  • 15 – Theryl DeClouet, 66, American jazz-funk and R&B singer (Galactic)
  • 18 – Raivo Rätte, 48, Estonian alternative rock bassist (Kosmikud)
  • 25Patrick Williams, 79, American composer, arranger and conductor
  • 27 – Mark Shelton, 60, American heavy metal guitarist (Manilla Road)
  • 28 – Olga Jackowska, 67, Polish rock singer (Maanam)
  • 29
  • 31 – Irvin Jarrett, 69, Jamaican reggae percussionist (Inner Circle, Third World)

August

  • 1
    • Ted LeGarde, 87, Australian country music singer and guitarist (The LeGarde Twins)
    • Celeste Rodrigues, 95, Portuguese fado singer
    • Umbayee, 67, Indian ghazal singer
  • 2 – Neil Argo, 71, American film and television composer
  • 3
  • 4 – Lorrie Collins, 76, American rockabilly singer and guitarist (The Collins Kids)
  • 5
    • Majid Al-Majid, 52, Saudi folk singer
    • Ellen Joyce Loo, 32, Canadian-born Hong Kong folktronica singer and guitarist (at17)
  • 8 – Linda Mkhize, 37, South African rapper
  • 9 – Arthur Davies, 77, Welsh opera singer
  • 10 – Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell, 40, American nu-metal vocalist (Primer 55)
  • 14
    • Jill Janus, 42, American heavy metal singer (Huntress)
    • Valentina Levko, 92, Russian opera singer
    • Randy Rampage, 58, Canadian thrash metal and punk singer and bassist (Annihilator, D.O.A., Stress Factor 9)
  • 16
  • 17
    • Claudio Lolli, 68, Italian pop singer
    • Danny Pearson, 65, American R&B singer
  • 20 – Eddie Willis, 82, American soul and R&B guitarist (The Funk Brothers)
  • 21Spencer P. Jones, 61, Australian punk singer and guitarist (The Johnnys, Beasts of Bourbon)
  • 22
  • 24 – DJ Ready Red, 53, American hip hop DJ (Geto Boys)
  • 25 – Kyle Pavone, 28, American metalcore singer (We Came as Romans)
  • 26Inge Borkh, 97, German opera singer
  • 29
    • Tony Camillo, 90, American record producer and arranger (Bazuka)
    • Ellie Mannette, 90, Trinidadian steelpan drummer
  • 30Joseph Kobzon, 80, Russian pop singer

September

October

  • 1
  • 3
    • Hugo Raspoet, 77, Belgian folk singer
    • John Von Ohlen, 77, American jazz drummer (Blue Wisp Big Band)
  • 4Hamiet Bluiett, 78, American jazz saxophonist (World Saxophone Quartet)
  • 5 – Bernadette Carroll, 74, American pop singer (The Angels)
  • 6Montserrat Caballé, 85, Spanish opera singer
  • 7 – John Wicks, 65, British power pop singer and guitarist (The Records, The Kursaal Flyers)
  • 8 – Tim Chandler, 58, American Christian alternative rock bassist (Daniel Amos, The Swirling Eddies, The Choir)
  • 10 – Jane Walker, New Zealand new wave keyboardist (Toy Love)
  • 12 – Andy Goessling, 59, American progressive bluegrass multi-instrumentalist (Railroad Earth)
  • 14 – Saleem Abdul Majid, 57, Malaysian rock singer (Iklim)
  • 16 – Du Yuwei, 19, Chinese pop singer (GNZ48)
  • 17
    • Valters Frīdenbergs, 30, Latvian pop singer (Valters and Kaža)
    • Oli Herbert, 44, American metalcore guitarist (All That Remains)
  • 18
    • Ayub Bachchu, 56, Bangladeshi rock singer and guitarist (Souls, Love Runs Blind)
    • Sergey Bondarenko, 31, Ukrainian pop rock singer (Nensi)
    • Randolph Hokanson, 103, American classical pianist
  • 23 – Mighty Shadow, 77, Trinidadian calypsonian
  • 24
  • 25Sonny Fortune, 79, American jazz saxophonist
  • 26 – Baba Oje, 87, American rapper and musician (Arrested Development)
  • 27
    • Freddie Hart, 91, American country and gospel singer
    • Teddy Scott, 82, American R&B singer (The G-Clefs)
    • Todd Youth, 47, American punk rock guitarist (Murphy's Law, Danzig, The Chelsea Smiles)
  • 28 – Babs Beverley, 91, British pop singer (Beverley Sisters)
  • 29
    • Jimmy Farrar, 67, American southern rock singer (Molly Hatchet, Gator Country)
    • Young Greatness, 34, American rapper
  • 30
  • 31 – Kenny Marks, 67, American contemporary Christian singer

November

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
    • Mark Fosson, American primitive guitarist
    • Maria Guinot, 73, Portuguese pop singer
  • 6 – Hugh McDowell, 65, British progressive rock cellist (Wizzard, Electric Light Orchestra)
  • 7
    • Scott Herrick, American pop singer (The Arbors)
    • Francis Lai, 86, French film composer
  • 13Lucho Gatica, 93, Chilean bolero singer
  • 15
    • Roy Clark, 85, American country singer
    • Ivan Smirnov, 63, Russian jazz fusion guitarist
  • 16
    • Al James, 72, British rock guitarist (Showaddywaddy)
    • Norris Weir, 72, Jamaican ska singer (The Jamaicans)
  • 17 – Cyril Pahinui, 68, American Hawaiian music guitarist
  • 20
    • Roy Bailey, 83, British folk singer, songwriter and guitarist
    • Trevor McNaughton, 77, Jamaican reggae singer (The Melodians)
  • 21 – Devin Lima, 41, American pop singer (LFO)
  • 22 – Imrat Khan, 83, Indian classical sitarist
  • 27 – Johnny Maddox, 91, American ragtime pianist
  • 28
    • Gary Haisman, 60, British hip house singer
    • Roger Neumann, 77, American jazz saxophonist
  • 29 – Erik Lindmark, 46, American technical death metal singer and guitarist (Deeds of Flesh)

December

  • 1
    • Calvin Newborn, 85, American jazz guitarist
    • Jody Williams, 83, American blues guitarist
  • 2 – Perry Robinson, 80, American jazz clarinetist
  • 6
    • Ace Cannon, 84, American pop saxophonist
    • Pete Shelley, 63, British punk singer, songwriter and guitarist (Buzzcocks)
  • 7
  • 9 – Yigal Bashan, 68, Israeli pop singer
  • 10 – Fred Wieland, 75, Australian rock guitarist (The Strangers, The Mixtures)
  • 11 – Angelo Conti, 62, Italian punk singer (Banda Bassotti)
  • 13Nancy Wilson, 81, American jazz singer
  • 14
  • 15
    • Arthur Maia, 56, Brazilian jazz and samba bassist and composer
    • Jerry Chesnut, 87, American country singer and songwriter
  • 17Galt MacDermot, 89, Canadian-American composer (Hair, Two Gentlemen of Verona) and pianist
  • 21Dipali Barthakur, 77, Indian folk singer
  • 22
    • Indonesian musicians, members of the pop rock band Seventeen
      • Windu Andi Darmawan, drummer
      • Muhammad Awal Purbani, bassist
      • Herman Sikumbang, guitarist
    • Jimmy Work, 94, American country singer-songwriter
  • 23 – Honey Lantree, 75, British pop drummer and singer (The Honeycombs)
  • 24
    • Jerry Riopelle, 77, American pop singer-songwriter and keyboardist (The Parade)
    • Jaime Torres, Argentine folk charango player
    • James Calvin Wilsey, 61, American rock guitarist (Avengers, Chris Isaak)
  • 25 – Guto Barros, 61, Brazilian rock guitarist (Blitz)
  • 26Theodore Antoniou, 83, Greek classical music composer and conductor
  • 27 – Miúcha, 81, Brazilian bossa nova singer
  • 28 – Christine McGuire, 92, American pop singer (The McGuire Sisters)
  • 29Aldo Parisot, 100, Brazilian-born American classical music cellist
  • 30 – Mike Taylor, Canadian indie pop keyboardist (Walk Off the Earth)
  • 31

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bud Luckey, Oscar-Nominated Animator Who Designed Woody for 'Toy Story,' Dies at 83". The Hollywood Reporter. February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  2. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (March 28, 2018). "Liam O'Flynn, Master Irish Piper in a Folk Revival, Dies at 72". The New York Times.