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.
Specific locations
2008 in British music
2008 in Canadian music
2008 in European music (Continental Europe) 2008 in Irish music 2008 in Japanese music 2008 in New Zealand music 2008 in Norwegian music 2008 in Swedish music 2008 in South Korean music 2008 in west african music
Specific genres
2008 in rock music
2008 in classical music
2008 in country music
2008 in electro pop music
2008 in heavy metal music
2008 in hip hop music
2008 in Latin music
2008 in jazz
2008 in opera
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. January 5 – The Salzburg Festival launches the "Herbert von Karajan Jubilee Year" with a concert in Salzburg's Grosses Festspielhaus. 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. 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. January 31 – Laura Attwood of the King Edward VI School in Morpeth wins the second Eileen Bowler Award.
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. February 10 – The 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony takes place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, US. 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. 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. February 20–25 – Viña del Mar International Song Festival is held in Chile. February 23 – March 3 – The second annual Soundwave festival is held in Australia. February 26 – The Return of the Spice Girls tour comes to a close in Toronto.
March
March 6–9 – The 2008 Langerado Music Festival is held on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation in southern Florida. March 7 – The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2008 takes place in Indonesia. March 7–16 – The 2008 South by Southwest Conference and Festival is held in Austin, Texas, US. March 11 Jazz musician and broadcaster Humphrey Lyttelton announces his retirement from presenting BBC Radio 2's jazz programme after forty years. Rick Ross releases his second studio album, Trilla, to mixed reviews. March 18 – Electronic music duo Crystal Castles releases their eponymous debut album. March 25–29 – Miami Winter Music Conference. March 31 – theJazz radio station stops broadcasting.