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2008 in music#Opera

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{{Globalize|article|USA|2name=the United States|date=December 2010}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2012}}

{{YYYY music|2008}}

{{Year nav topic5|2008|music|radio|television|film}}

This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2008 in music. This year was the peak of record sales in the United States, with sales declining year on year since then.{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/u-s-sales-database/|title = U.S. Sales Database| website=Recording Industry Association of America }}

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

=January=

  • January 1 – Julia Fischer makes her début as a concert pianist, performing Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor with the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie at the Alte Oper, Frankfurt. The concert was conducted by Matthias Pintscher, who replaced Sir Neville Marriner. On the same occasion she also performed the Violin Concerto no. 3 in B minor by Camille Saint-Saëns.[http://www.signandsight.com/features/1636.html Arno Widmann: "Julia Fischer: Virtuosissima!!!", Frankfurter Rundschau, 2 January 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2012]
  • January 5 – The Salzburg Festival launches the "Herbert von Karajan Jubilee Year" with a concert in Salzburg's Grosses Festspielhaus.Agence France Presse, January 4, 2008.
  • January 19–February 3 – Rage Against the Machine headline the Big Day Out festivals in Australia and New Zealand, their first shows outside the United States since reforming, and their first Australian shows in 12 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10466694|title=Rage Against The Machine to play Big Day Out|last=NZPA|date=September 29, 2007|publisher=The New Zealand Herald/APN Holdings NZ Limited |access-date=May 16, 2008}} They join co-headliners Björk, who pulled out of the Sydney festival under doctor's orders, and Arcade Fire.
  • January 29 – Face to Face announce that they will reunite for select shows in the US and internationally.{{cite web|url=http://www.facetofacemusic.com/blog/?p=4 |title=We're back!……….sort of |publisher=FaceToFace.com |last=unattributed |date=January 29, 2008 |access-date=February 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416132445/http://www.facetofacemusic.com/blog/?p=4 |archive-date=April 16, 2008 }}
  • January 31 – Laura Attwood of the King Edward VI School in Morpeth wins the second Eileen Bowler Award.Anon., "[http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/news/top-music-award-for-morpeth-girl-1-1522864 Top Music Award for Morpeth Girl] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115143607/http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/news/top-music-award-for-morpeth-girl-1-1522864 |date=November 15, 2017 }}", The Morpeth Herald (January 31, 2008).

= February =

  • February 8 – Michael Jackson's Thriller album, the world's best-selling album of all time, is reissued as Thriller 25 to celebrate its 25th anniversary, with Jackson himself as executive producer.{{cite web|first=Paul |last=Grein |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/7658/week-ending-may-18-2008-diva-smackdown-ends-with-ingenues-on-rise |title=Diva Smackdown |publisher=Yahoo |date=May 18, 2008 |access-date=May 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519145210/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/7658/week-ending-may-18-2008-diva-smackdown-ends-with-ingenues-on-rise |archive-date=May 19, 2011 }}
  • February 10 – The 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony takes place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, US.[http://www.grammy.com/Recording_Academy/Fifty_Years Official Grammy site] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821204724/http://www.grammy.com/Recording_Academy/Fifty_Years |date=August 21, 2008 }} Amy Winehouse wins five awards, including both Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Rehab", along with Best New Artist. Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters wins Album of the Year.
  • February 11 – After pleading no contest to a felony weapons charge, The Game was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 150 hours of community service, and three years of probation in connection with an incident where he was alleged to have brandished a gun at a basketball game in South Los Angeles in February 2007.{{Cite web |date=2009-03-13 |title=XXLmag.com – The Game Pleads No Contest to Weapons Charge, Sentenced to 60 Days in Jail |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=19356 |access-date=2022-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313075707/http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=19356 |archive-date=March 13, 2009 }}
  • February 19 – System of a Down guitarist, Daron Malakian, tells MTV.com that the band is not likely to reform as he will be concentrating on his new project Scars on Broadway.{{cite web | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1581717/20080215/id_0.jhtml | title = Scars On Broadway Is No Side Project | publisher = MTV.com | date = February 19, 2008 | access-date =February 24, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080302042937/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1581717/20080215/id_0.jhtml| archive-date= March 2, 2008 | url-status= dead}}
  • February 20–25 – Viña del Mar International Song Festival is held in Chile.{{cite web|url=http://festival2008.canal13.cl/2008/html/Irq1024.html|title=Festival de la Canción de Viña del Mar|publisher=Festival de la Canción de Viña del Mar|language=es|access-date=May 17, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080430101358/http://festival2008.canal13.cl/2008/html/Irq1024.html| archive-date= April 30, 2008 | url-status= dead}}
  • February 23 – March 3 – The second annual Soundwave festival is held in Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=273060|title=Soundwave Festival 2008 Announced!|last=Djamoos|first=Anton|date=October 18, 2007|publisher=Absolute Punk|access-date=May 17, 2008}}
  • February 26 – The Return of the Spice Girls tour comes to a close in Toronto.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}

= March =

  • March 6–9 – The 2008 Langerado Music Festival is held on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation in southern Florida.[http://www.langerado.com/home2.php Welcome to Langerado!: Langerado Music Festival March 6–9, 2008 Big Cypress, FL: Home] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224173037/http://www.langerado.com/home2.php |date=December 24, 2008 }}
  • March 7 – The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2008 takes place in Indonesia.{{cite web|url=http://www.javajazzfestival.com/2008/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531061704/http://www.javajazzfestival.com/2008/|archive-date=May 31, 2008|title=Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2008|year=2008|publisher=Java Festival Production|access-date=May 19, 2008}}
  • March 7–16 – The 2008 South by Southwest Conference and Festival is held in Austin, Texas, US.{{cite web|url=http://2008.sxsw.com/|title=South by Southwest Conference and Festivals|publisher=South by Southwest, Inc|access-date=May 19, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070809212918/http://2008.sxsw.com/ |archive-date = August 9, 2007|url-status=dead}}
  • March 11
  • Jazz musician and broadcaster Humphrey Lyttelton announces his retirement from presenting BBC Radio 2's jazz programme after forty years.{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzwise.com/archive/news/L.html|title=Lyttelton to leave radio show|date=March 12, 2008|publisher=Jazzwise Magazine|access-date=August 22, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080218071059/http://www.jazzwise.com/archive/news/L.html |archive-date = February 18, 2008}}
  • Rick Ross releases his second studio album, Trilla, to mixed reviews.{{Citation |title=Trilla by Rick Ross |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/trilla/rick-ross |language=en |access-date=2022-12-18}}
  • March 25–29 – Miami Winter Music Conference.{{cite web|url=http://www.wintermusicconference.com/|title=Winter Music Conference|year=2008|publisher=Winter Music Conference|access-date=May 19, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080516182002/http://www.wintermusicconference.com./| archive-date= May 16, 2008 | url-status= live}}
  • March 31 – theJazz radio station stops broadcasting.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7238444.stm BBC News: "Two GCap digital stations closed", 11 February 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2012.]

= April =

  • April 1 – Scott Weiland's departure from rock band Velvet Revolver becomes official.{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=94021 |title=It's Official: Velvet Revolver Parts Ways With Singer Scott Weiland |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=April 1, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404001835/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=94021 |archive-date=April 4, 2008 }} His reunion with his former band, Stone Temple Pilots, and tensions between him and the rest of Velvet Revolver, led to his departure.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0131840320080401|title=Velvet Revolver splits with rocker Scott Weiland|last=Gorman|first=Steve|date=April 1, 2008|publisher=Reuters|access-date=August 25, 2008}}
  • April 5
  • The reunited Face to Face perform together for the first time in four-and-a-half-years at The Bamboozle Left in Irvine, California, US.
  • Leona Lewis single "Bleeding Love" reached number 1 in 35 countries and became the first song to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart by a female British solo artist in 20 years since Kim Wilde did with "You Keep Me Hangin On" back in 1987. Her single was later proclaimed as the best selling single of 2008 worldwide and Lewis was named Top New Artist by Billboard.
  • April 12 – "Touch My Body" becomes Mariah Carey's 18th number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, putting her into second place among artists with the most number 1 singles in the rock era, and first place as a solo artist, surpassing Elvis Presley.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
  • April 15 – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa officially proclaims Mariah Carey Day in Los Angeles, California, US.{{cite web|url=http://www.mariahcarey.com/news/news.php?uid=2185 |title=Mariah Honored by the City of Los Angeles |last=unattributed |date=April 21, 2008 |publisher=UltraStar Entertainment LLC |access-date=May 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123031051/http://www.mariahcarey.com/news/news.php?uid=2185 |archive-date=November 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }} On this day, Mariah Carey also releases E=MC², her eleventh studio album. It debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with the highest first-week sales of her career.
  • April 22 – Andrey Baranov of Russia wins First Prize in the Second Benjamin Britten International Violin Competition in London.[http://www.violina2z.com/english/comp.html#6 Main International Violin Competitions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407003318/http://www.violina2z.com/english/comp.html |date=April 7, 2011 }}; [http://www.britten-competition.co.uk/ The Second Benjamin Britten International Violin Competition, London, April 14–22, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227101901/http://www.britten-competition.co.uk/ |date=December 27, 2009 }}.

= May =

  • May 3 – The sixth annual The Bamboozle festival opens at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
  • May 10–11 – Garth Brooks inducted Carrie Underwood on Grand Ole Opry.
  • The Give It A Name 2008 festival is held at Earls Court, London, UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/give-it-a-name/8536|title=It may not have a name, but it certainly has a purpose|last=(unattributed)|date=May 16, 2007|publisher=NME/IPC Media|access-date=May 23, 2008}}
  • May 14 – The "Spirit of Change" Gospel Choir celebrates its tenth anniversary with the 20th Zündorfer Gospelnacht concert in the Catholic Parish Church of St. Mariae Geburt, in Zündorf.Roland Schriefer, "[http://www.spirit-of-change.de/clips/KStA-20080515.jpg Sänger zeigen viel Gefühl: Chor feiert zehnjähriges Bestehen mit 20. Zündorfer Gospelnacht]", Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (May 15, 2008); Nadine Hantke, "[http://www.spirit-of-change.de/clips/KRS-20080515.jpg Eine Erfolgsgeschichte]: 'Spirit of Chance' {{sic}} feierte bei 20. Gospelnacht Geburtstag" Kölnische Rundschau (May 15, 2008); K. M., "'Spirit of Change' feierte 10. Geburtstag", Porz Aktuell (May 28, 2008).
  • May 21 – David Cook defeats David Archuleta to win season 7 of American Idol, in a contest decided by 97.5 million votes, a record for the show.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
  • May 24 – 43 countries compete in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest final in Belgrade, Serbia, including newcomers San Marino and Azerbaijan.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision/news/07.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518052951/http://www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision/news/07.shtml|archive-date=May 18, 2008|title=Eurovision Song Contest coverage across the BBC|last=(unattributed)|publisher=BBC|access-date=May 27, 2008}} The contest is won by Russia, with Believe by Dima Bilan.
  • May 24–26 – The Sasquatch! Music Festival is held over Memorial Day weekend at The Gorge Amphitheatre in central Washington, US.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
  • May 25 – The Slovak preliminary round of the first Bluegrass competition (toward the annual Czech Festival Banjo Jamboree) is held in Hviezdoslavovo námestie, Bratislava."[http://www.twincityjournal.eu/vismo/dokumenty2.asp?id_org=600185&id=1200&p1=1141 Koncerty 2008/05] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120525103504/http://www.twincityjournal.eu/vismo/dokumenty2.asp?id_org=600185&id=1200&p1=1141 |date=May 25, 2012 }}", Twin City Magazín (Bratislava) (April 2008).

= June =

  • June 1
  • Westlife play their 10th anniversary concert at Europe's fourth biggest stadium, Croke Park, in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.{{cite web|url=http://www.mcd.ie/home/fn.php?c=9617084&ar=publicinformationnotice&cat=all |title=Public Information Notice for Celine Dion and Westlife Concerts |last=unattributed |date=May 23, 2008 |publisher=MCD |access-date=August 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081112193414/http://www.mcd.ie/home/fn.php?c=9617084&ar=publicinformationnotice&cat=all |archive-date=November 12, 2008 }}
  • A fire at Universal Studios in Universal City, California, destroys as many as 175,000 master tapes containing as many as half a million songs by 20th and 21st century artists, some of which had never been released or digitized. The full extent of the damage was not made public until 2019.{{cite news |last=Rosen |first=Jody |title=The Day the Music Burned: It was the biggest disaster in the history of the music business — and almost nobody knew |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/11/magazine/universal-fire-master-recordings.html |date=June 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times Magazine |access-date=June 18, 2019 }}
  • June 6-8 – The 2008 Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival is held at Clinton State Park near Lawrence, Kansas, US.{{cite web|url=http://www.wakarusa.com/2008/lineup.asp?y=2008 |title=Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival |publisher=Wakarusa.com |date=2012-06-03 |access-date=2012-09-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522175001/http://www.wakarusa.com/2008/lineup.asp?y=2008 |archive-date=May 22, 2010 }}
  • June 10 – Lil Wayne's sixth album Tha Carter III sells 1 million copies in its first week of release.{{cite web | date=April 1, 2008 | title=Rancid compile music videos on new DVD, announce tour dates | publisher=Punknews.org | url=http://www.punknews.org/article/28337 | access-date=April 6, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080405190731/http://www.punknews.org/article/28337| archive-date= April 5, 2008 | url-status= live}}
  • June 12–15 – The 2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival is held in Manchester, Tennessee, US.{{cite web|url=http://www.bonnaroo.com/schedule/ |title=Bonnaroo – Schedule – Thursday, June 10, 2010 |publisher=Bonnaroo.com |date=2012-05-15 |access-date=2012-09-02}}
  • June 13–15
  • The seventh Isle of Wight Festival takes place in Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight, UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.isleofwightfestival.com/isle-of-wight-festival-2008.aspx |title=Isle of Wight Festival History – 2008 |date=2008-06-17 |access-date=2012-09-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617165115/http://www.isleofwightfestival.com/isle-of-wight-festival-2008.aspx |archive-date=June 17, 2008 }}
  • The annual Download Festival takes place at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England. The main stage was headlined by Kiss, The Offspring and Lostprophets, the Tuborg stage by Simple Plan, HIM and Cavalera Conspiracy, and the Gibson stage by The Dillinger Escape Plan, Testament and Jonathan Davis and the SFA.
  • June 15 – E. Kallai from Hungary wins First Prize in the 11th Carl Fleisch International Violin Competition in Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary.{{cite web|url=http://www.violina2z.com/english/comp.html#6 |title=Main International Violin Competitions |publisher=Violina2z.com |access-date=2012-09-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918085047/http://www.violina2z.com/english/comp.html |archive-date=September 18, 2012 }}
  • June 20 – My Bloody Valentine play their first reunion show at the Roundhouse, London, UK.{{cite news|date=June 24, 2008 |title=My Bloody Valentine at Roundhouse, NW1 |work=The Times |location=London |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article4199762.ece |access-date=September 18, 2008 |first=Pete |last=Paphides |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617001928/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article4199762.ece |archive-date=June 17, 2011 }}
  • June 27–29 – The Eidgenössiches Jodlerfest is held in Lucerne.Petra Hofmann, "[http://www.jodlerbiel-benken.ch/berichte.htm#ejf08 Eidgenössiches Jodlerfest vom 27. Juni 2008 – 29. Juni 2008 in Luzern] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706234346/http://www.jodlerbiel-benken.ch/berichte.htm#ejf08 |date=July 6, 2011 }}" . Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  • June 29 – Release of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, the first video game in the Guitar Hero series to be based around a single music group.{{cite web| title = Wii Preview: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith | work = Neal Ronaghan | publisher = Nintendo World Report | url=http://nintendoworldreport.com/previewArt.cfm?artid=15660 | access-date=April 1, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080413023457/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/previewArt.cfm?artid=15660| archive-date= April 13, 2008 | url-status= live}}

= July =

  • July 3 – Opening of the O2 Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London, UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.o2wirelessfestival.co.uk/home/index.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605202303/http://www.o2wirelessfestival.co.uk/home/index.aspx|archive-date=June 5, 2008|title=O2 Wireless Festival|last=unattributed|year=2008|publisher=Live Nation (Music) UK Limited|access-date=September 1, 2008}}
  • July 5 – Staatsminister Rainer Robra and Halberstadt Oberbürgermeister Andreas Henke preside as the notes A{{Music|flat}} and C are added in the sixth sound change of the performance of John Cage's Organ²/ASLSP (As SLow aS Possible) that began on 5 September 2001 and is to conclude on 5 September 2640, in Halberstadt, Germany."Orgelmarathon: Endlich neue TöneDie Zeit (7 July 2008).
  • July 23–26 – The 2008 10,000 Lakes Festival is held.{{cite web |url=http://www.10klf.com/index2008.php |title=10KLF 2008 |publisher=10klf.com |access-date=2012-09-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311031641/http://www.10klf.com/index2008.php |archive-date=March 11, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}
  • July 24–25 – The Splendour in the Grass music festival is held in Byron Bay, Australia, headlined by Devo and Wolfmother.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
  • July 24–28 – The Fifth International Symposium of throat-singing, "Khoomei—Cultural Phenomenon of the Peoples of Central Asia" is held in Tuva.Ministry of Culture of Tuva, "[http://en.tuvaonline.ru/2008/07/11/4753_khoomei.html Tuva Preparing to Host Throat Singing Admirers from all over the World]" (July 11, 2008). Retrieved January 7, 2010.

= August =

  • August 8 – Chen Qigang is director of music for the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing.{{cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/headlines/n214521306.shtml|title=How the Opening Ceremony was born|access-date=21 August 2009 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428182905/http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/headlines/n214521306.shtml|archive-date=April 28, 2009|df=mdy-all}} A minor scandal ensues when it is revealed that Lin Miaoke, the performer of "Ode to the Motherland", was miming to a recording by another girl, Yang Peiyi.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2545387/Beijing-Olympics-Faking-scandal-over-girl-who-sang-in-opening-ceremony.html|title=Beijing Olympics: Faking scandal over girl who 'sang' in opening ceremony|date=August 12, 2008|first=Richard|last=Spencer|newspaper=The Telegraph | location=London| access-date= 21 August 2009 }}
  • August 12–18 – Sziget Festival 2008 takes place in Budapest, Hungary.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
  • August 13 – Jeff Singer quits Paradise Lost.{{cite web |url=http://www.paradiselost.co.uk/news/2008/statement-from-jeff-aug-13.html |title=Statement from Jeff | Paradise Lost Official Website |access-date=2013-07-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130727043924/http://www.paradiselost.co.uk/news/2008/statement-from-jeff-aug-13.html |archive-date=July 27, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}
  • August 16 - Madonna celebrates her 50th birthday.
  • August 19 – LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, dies from complications from an ATV accident suffered earlier in the summer.
  • August 30
  • Filipino rock band Eraserheads hold their one-night-only reunion concert in the Fort open field, their first concert since 2001. After the 20-minute break, vocalist Ely Buendia is rushed to the hospital because of chest pain due to emotional stress.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
  • American Idol Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta's debut single "Crush" scores the highest debut of a song on the Billboard Hot 100 by an American Idol finalist not performed on the show. The track opened at No. 2 after selling 166,000 downloads in its first week of release.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}

= September =

= October =

  • October 1 – Tina Turner leaves semi-retirement to embark on her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour, which grosses over US $130 million.{{cite web|url=http://livedesignonline.com/mag/tina_turner_tours/index.html|title=Tina Turner Tours With Clay Paky|date=1 February 2009|work=Live Design|publisher=Penton Media, Inc|access-date=5 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404101831/http://livedesignonline.com/mag/tina_turner_tours/index.html|archive-date=April 4, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
  • October 5 – Stephanie Jeong wins the Second Prize (no First Prize is awarded) in the Premio Paganini international violin competition in Genoa.[http://www.violina2z.com/english/comp.html#6 Main International Violin Competitions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407003318/http://www.violina2z.com/english/comp.html |date=April 7, 2011 }}
  • October 7 – Spotify on-demand music streaming service launches in Sweden.
  • October 10 – The Fourth Waakirchener Zither Festival takes place in Waakirchen, Bavaria."[http://www.kkb-waakirchen.de/veranstaltung_detail.php?id=24 October 10, 2008: 4. Zitherfestival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719052430/http://www.kkb-waakirchen.de/veranstaltung_detail.php?id=24 |date=July 19, 2011 }}". Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  • October 12 – Opening of the VII Festival Internazionale di Musica e Arte Sacra, in Rome and the Vatican City (until November 30)."[http://www.festivalmusicaeartesacra.net/en/festival_uebersicht.php VII Festival Internazionale di Musica e Arte Sacra: October 12 – November 30, 2008]". Retrieved January 7, 2010. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106171903/http://www.festivalmusicaeartesacra.net/en/festival_uebersicht.php|date=January 6, 2009}}
  • October 16 – Britney Spears sets a new record for the biggest jump to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, rising from number 96 to number one in just one week, with her single "Womanizer". It is Spears' first American number one since her debut single "...Baby One More Time".{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1043782/spears-scores-record-setting-hot-100-jump |title=Spears Scores Record-Setting Hot 100 Jump |publisher=Billboard.com |access-date=2012-09-02}} (The record is subsequently broken by Kelly Clarkson). It also garners first-week download sales of 286,000, the biggest opening-week tally by a female artist.
  • October 18 – Rihanna scores her fifth number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 (as a featured artist on T.I.'s "Live Your Life", which follows "SOS", "Umbrella", "Take a Bow", and "Disturbia"), becoming the leading solo female artist with the most number ones to have charted in this decade until Beyoncé Knowles breaks her record (as a solo artist).{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044448/rihanna-topples-katy-perry-on-hot-100|title=Rihanna Topples Katy Perry On Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|date=August 14, 2008|access-date=November 3, 2008}}
  • Justin Bieber signed with L.A. Reid Island Records

= November =

  • November 1–9 – The Southbank Centre in London, UK presents "Klang: A Tribute to Stockhausen", a festival curated by Oliver Knussen, with a series of concerts focusing on works from the composer's last decade, including the world premieres of Urantia and Zodiac for Orchestra, as well as late-night performances, lectures, and master classes."News: Stockhausen Tribute in the UK", Computer Music Journal 33, no. 2 (2009): 6.
  • November 2 – The Fauxharmonic Orchestra loses in its debut confrontation with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra in a Bargemusic concert.Steve Smith, "Dueling Maestros, One Wielding a Wii", The New York Times (November 4, 2008): C7.
  • November 4 – Bhimsen Joshi is selected to receive the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/04ratna.htm|title=Bharat Ratna for Vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi|publisher=Rediff|access-date=21 February 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090214161418/http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/04ratna.htm| archive-date=February 14, 2009 | url-status= live}}
  • November 6 – Michael Tilson Thomas makes his Philadelphia Orchestra subscription-concert conducting debut.Peter Dobrin, "After 23 Years, a Return to Phila.", The Philadelphia Inquirer (November 8, 2008): E04.
  • November 17 – Korean violinist Hyun-Su Shin wins First Prize in the Jacques Thibaud International Violin Competition in Paris{{cite web|url=http://www.violina2z.com/english/comp.html#24 |title=Main International Violin Competitions |publisher=Violina2z.com |access-date=2012-09-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918085047/http://www.violina2z.com/english/comp.html |archive-date=September 18, 2012 }}
  • November 23 – 13 years after his disappearance, Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards is declared dead in absentia.
  • Wes Carr is crowned the winner of the sixth season of Australian Idol, defeating Luke Dickens.
  • November 24 – The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra announces the appointment of Pinchas Zukerman as principal guest conductor, to begin in January 2009.Dave Itzkoff, "Zukerman Appointed To Royal Philharmonic", The New York Times (November 24, 2008): C2.

= December =

  • December 9 – Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon say that Blur will reunite for a concert at Hyde Park on July 3, 2009. Tickets for the concert sell out within two minutes of release, and Blur announce another date on July 2, 2009.Paine, Andre. [https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266135/blur-reuniting-unveils-london-show-plans "Blur Reuniting, Unveils London Show Plans"]. billboard.com. December 9, 2008.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_7771000/7771915.stm|title=Blur confirm massive outdoor show

|access-date=December 10, 2008 |publisher=BBC |date=December 9, 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081212085616/http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_7771000/7771915.stm| archive-date= December 12, 2008 | url-status= live}}

Bands formed

Bands reformed

See :Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2008

Returning performers

Bands disbanded

See Musical groups disestablished in 2008

Bands on hiatus

{{More citations needed section|date=July 2008}}

  • ¡Forward, Russia! (indefinite hiatus){{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/forward-russia/38864|title=¡Forward, Russia! to Split?|last=unattributed|date=August 13, 2008|work=NME |location=UK |access-date=August 14, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080816010844/http://www.nme.com/news/forward-russia/38864| archive-date= August 16, 2008 | url-status= live}}
  • Big & Rich (until 2009, due to a neck injury suffered by Big Kenny){{cite web|url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,,GAC_26063_5795670,00.html|title=Big Kenny On Big & Rich's Hiatus|last=unattributed|date=January 29, 2008|publisher=Great American Country|access-date=September 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219064334/http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,,GAC_26063_5795670,00.html|archive-date=February 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}
  • The Dresden Dolls
  • From Autumn to Ashes
  • Hell Is for Heroes
  • Incubus (on break from touring and recording){{cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/incubus_to_take_a_break.html|title=Incubus To Take A Break|last=unattributed|date=July 1, 2008|publisher=Ultimate-Guitar.com|access-date=July 2, 2008}}
  • Monkey Swallows the Universe (indefinite hiatus)
  • My Chemical Romance (on an extended break after a US tour)
  • Kaddisfly (on hiatus after bassist Kile Brewer left; remaining members now called Waters & Bodies)
  • Phantom Planet
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers (two-year hiatus){{cite web|url=http://www.muchmusic.com/news/story.asp?id=20996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602093614/http://www.muchmusic.com/news/story.asp?id=20996|archive-date=June 2, 2008|title=Chili Peppers (Sort Of) Break-Up|last=unattributed|date=May 22, 2008|publisher=muchmusic.com|access-date=June 30, 2008}}
  • Rilo Kiley (due to the success of lead singer Jenny Lewis' solo career)
  • Social Distortion (due to their lead singer undertaking a solo tour)
  • The Starting Line (indefinite break){{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=301596|title=The Starting Line Press Conference|last=Jason|first=Tate|date=March 5, 2008|publisher=AbsolutePunk, LLC|access-date=June 30, 2008}}
  • Velvet Revolver (while looking for a new lead singer)
  • Westlife (a one year break)
  • Wolfmother (whilst looking for new musicians)
  • Yellowcard (indefinitely)

Albums released

{{Main article|List of 2008 albums}}

; Best-selling albums globally & United States

The best-selling records in 2008 according to IFPI:{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/top50-2008.pdf |title=IFPI – 50 Top Selling Albums 2008 |publisher=Ifpi.org |date=2005-04-12 |access-date=2012-09-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218120952/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/top50-2008.pdf |archive-date=February 18, 2009 }}

class="wikitable"
PositionAlbum titleArtist
1Viva la Vida or Death and All His FriendsColdplay
2Black IceAC/DC
3Thriller 25Michael Jackson
4RockferryDuffy
5Death MagneticMetallica
6SpiritLeona Lewis
7Back to BlackAmy Winehouse
8High School Musical 3: Senior YearVarious Artists
9Tha Carter IIILil Wayne
10Good Girl Gone BadRihanna

The best-selling albums in the United States:{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481196/lil-wayne-notches-top-selling-album-of-08 |title=Billboard – Lil Wayne Notches Top-Selling Album Of '08 |publisher=Billboard.com |date=2009-09-14 |access-date=2012-09-02}}

class="wikitable"
PositionAlbum titleArtist
1Tha Carter IIILil' Wayne
2Viva la Vida or Death and All His FriendsColdplay
3FearlessTaylor Swift
4Rock N Roll JesusKid Rock
5Black IceAC/DC
6Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift
7Death MagneticMetallica
8Paper TrailT.I.
9Sleep Through the StaticJack Johnson
10I Am... Sasha FierceBeyoncé

Songs released in 2008

class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
Date

!Song

!Artist

January 1

|Smog

|Bomb the Bass

January 15

|Pocketful of Sunshine

|Natasha Bedingfield

January 25

|Bust It Baby (Part 1)

|Plies featuring Ne-Yo

rowspan="2"|January 29

|Funplex

|The B-52s

Nine in the Afternoon

|Panic at the Disco

rowspan="2"|February 5

|Day 'n' Nite

|Kid Cudi vs. Crookers

Run the Show

|Kat DeLuna featuring Busta Rhymes

February 11

|Paper Planes

|M.I.A.

February 12

|Elevator

|Flo Rida featuring Timbaland

February 19

|It's Not My Time

|3 Doors Down

February 23

|Bust It Baby (Part 2)

|Plies featuring Ne-Yo

February 26

|The Way That I Love You

|Ashanti

February 28

|A-Punk

|Vampire Weekend

March 4

|Break the Ice

|Britney Spears

March 11

|Little Miss Obsessive

|Ashlee Simpson

rowspan="2"|March 17

|4 Minutes

|Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland

I Keep Faith

|Billy Bragg

March 24

|No Stress

|Laurent Wolf

March 25

|Mad as Rabbits

|Panic at the Disco

March 31

|American Boy

|Estelle featuring Kanye West

April 8

|Just Dance

|Lady Gaga featuring Colby O'Donis

rowspan="3"|April 15

|Closer

|Ne-Yo

I'm Yours

|Jason Mraz

Take a Bow

|Rihanna

April 28

|I Kissed a Girl

|Katy Perry

April 29

|Forever

|Chris Brown

rowspan="2"|May 2

|If I Never See Your Face Again

|Maroon 5 featuring Rihanna

That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)

|Panic at the Disco

May 9

|Violet Hill

|Coldplay

May 13

|The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)

|Weezer

May 19

|Train

|3 Doors Down

May 20

|In the Ayer

|Flo Rida featuring will.i.am

May 25

|Viva la Vida

|Coldplay

May 26

|Oxford Comma

|Vampire Weekend

rowspan="2"|May 27

|Dreamin'

|Weezer

When I Grow Up

|The Pussycat Dolls

rowspan="2"|June 10

|One Step at a Time

|Jordin Sparks

Body on Me

|Nelly featuring Akon and Ashanti

June 16

|Pork and Beans

|Weezer

rowspan="2"|June 17

|Disturbia

|Rihanna

7 Things

|Miley Cyrus

June 19

|Burnin' Up

|Jonas Brothers featuring Big Rob

July 15

|The Champion in Me

|3 Doors Down

July 16

|Good Good

|Ashanti

July 26

|Troublemaker

|Weezer

July 29

|Let it Rock

|Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil Wayne

August 8

|Make It Mine

|Jason Mraz

August 11

|So What

|Pink

August 18

|Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

|Vampire Weekend

August 21

|The Day That Never Comes

|Metallica

August 28

|Rock N' Roll Train

|AC/DC

rowspan="2"|September 4

|Sex on Fire

|Kings of Leon

You're Gonna Go Far, Kid

|The Offspring

rowspan="2"|September 9

|Hot n Cold

|Katy Perry

Whatcha Think About That

|The Pussycat Dolls featuring Missy Elliott

September 19

|Running Back

|Jessica Mauboy featuring Flo Rida

rowspan="2"|September 23

|Live Your Life

|T.I. featuring Rihanna

Right Now (Na Na Na)

|Akon

September 26

|Poker Face

|Lady Gaga

rowspan="2"|September 29

|Gotta Be Somebody

|Nickelback

Pieces

|Chase & Status ft. Plan B

September 30

|Gives You Hell

|The All-American Rejects

October 3

|Womanizer

|Britney Spears

October 6

|Rehab

|Rihanna featuring Justin Timberlake

October 8

|If I Were a Boy

|Beyoncé

October 10

|I Can Feel You

|Anastacia

October 12

|Out of this Club

|The Pussycat Dolls featuring R. Kelly and Polow da Don

October 13

|Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)

|Beyoncé

October 14

|I Hate This Part

|The Pussycat Dolls

October 21

|Decode

|Paramore

rowspan="3"|November 3

|Crying Blood

|V V Brown

Lovers in Japan

|Coldplay

Sober

|Pink

November 10

|Lost!

|Coldplay

November 14

|Northern Downpour

|Panic at the Disco

November 24

|Breakeven

|The Script

December 1

|Lhuna

|Coldplay featuring Kylie Minogue

rowspan="2"|December 2

|Circus

|Britney Spears

Let Me Be Myself

|3 Doors Down

December 9

|Use Somebody

|Kings of Leon

December 17

|Hallelujah

|Alexandra Burke

December 18

|Big Jack

|AC/DC

Hit records

= United States =

{{Further |Hot 100 number-one hits of 2008 (USA)}}

Singles which have ranked within Top 10 within the Billboard Hot 100 Hits (excludes those that were #1 in the UK)

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

}}

Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2008

= United Kingdom =

UK Official Top 75 No. 1 Hits

= Australia =

Australia Official Top 50 No. 1 Hits

Australia Official Top 50 Hits – Singles which have ranked within Top 20

= Other international hits =

Classical music

{{multiple issues|

{{Globalize|date=March 2025}}

{{More citations needed|date=March 2025}}

}}

=New works=

= New operas =

Musical films

Musical television

Deaths

= January =

= February =

= March =

= April =

= May =

= June =

= July =

= August =

= September =

= October =

  • October 1 – Nick Reynolds, 75, American folk musician
  • October 3 – Johnny "J", 39, American songwriter, music producer and rapper
  • October 4
  • Levi Kereama, 27, Australian musician
  • Alfred Gallodoro, 95, American jazz musician
  • October 9 – Gidget Gein, 39, American bassist (Marilyn Manson)
  • October 10
  • Alton Ellis, 70, Jamaican rocksteady musician
  • Dave Wright, 64 (The Troggs)
  • October 11
  • Russ Hamilton, 78, British singer
  • Neal Hefti, 85, American jazz trumpeter and composer
  • October 13 – Gus Chambers, 52, British vocalist
  • October 15 – Frankie Venom, 51, Canadian vocalist (Teenage Head)
  • October 17 – Levi Stubbs, 72, American vocalist (The Four Tops)
  • October 18
  • Peter Gordeno, 69, Burmese singer
  • Dave McKenna, 78, American jazz pianist
  • Dee Dee Warwick, 63, American soul singer
  • October 24 – Merl Saunders, 74, American musician{{cite news |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-oct-27-me-saunders27-story.html |title = Merl Saunders Dies At 74 |access-date =November 9, 2008 |date = October 27, 2008 |work=Los Angeles Times }}
  • October 27 – Ray Ellis, 85, American musician{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-ellis5-2008nov05,0,5099381.story |title=Ray Ellis Dies At 85 |access-date=November 9, 2008 |author=Thurber, Jon |date=November 5, 2008 |work=Los Angeles Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102132951/http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-ellis5-2008nov05%2C0%2C5099381.story |archive-date=November 2, 2012 }}
  • October 29 – Mike Baker, 45, American singer (Shadow Gallery){{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=108016 |title=Shadow Gallery Vocalist Michael A. Baker Dead At 45 |access-date=November 9, 2008 |date=October 31, 2008 |publisher=blabbermouth.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103070553/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=108016 |archive-date=November 3, 2008 |url-status=dead }}
  • October 31 – Frank Navetta, 46, American punk rock guitarist (Descendents){{cite web |url = http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=115&csid2=844&fid1=34636 |title = R.I.P. Descendents Guitarist/Co-Founder Frank Navetta |access-date = November 8, 2008 |author = Thissen, Brock |date = November 3, 2008 |publisher = Exclaim! |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100507080813/http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=115 |archive-date = May 7, 2010 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}

= November =

= December =

See also

{{Commons category}}

{{portal|Music}}

References

{{Reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2008 In Music}}

Category:2008-related lists

Category:Music-related lists

Category:Music by year