2018 Music Events — Verified Historical Highlights
2018 Music Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 07 Jan 75th Golden Globes Highlights: The 75th Golden Globe Awards, held on January 7, 2018, honored achievements in film and television. Notable winners included 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' for Best Motion Picture (Drama) and 'Lady Bird' for Best Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy). Oprah Winfrey received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for her contributions to the entertainment industry. source: time.com
- 15 Jan Death of Dolores O'Riordan: Dolores O'Riordan, the iconic lead singer of the alternative rock band The Cranberries, is found dead from drowning in a London hotel. Her unexpected passing marks a significant loss for the music industry and fans worldwide.
- 28 Jan 60th Annual Grammy Awards: At the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, several notable achievements were celebrated. Bruno Mars won three major awards: Song of the Year for 'That's What I Like', Record of the Year and Song of the Year for '24K Magic', and Album of the Year for '24K Magic'. Alessia Cara was named Best New Artist, and posthumous awards were given to Leonard Cohen and Carrie Fisher.
- 09 Mar NME Magazine Ends Print Edition: After 66 years of publication, the iconic British music journalism magazine New Musical Express (NME) ceased its print edition and transitioned to a digital-only format, signaling a significant shift in media consumption.
- 30 Mar Kacey Musgraves Releases 'Golden Hour': Country singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves released her fourth album 'Golden Hour', which would later win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2019.
- 20 Apr Death of Avicii: On April 20, 2018, Swedish DJ and music producer Avicii, whose real name was Tim Bergling, was found dead in Muscat, Oman. His death was ruled a suicide, prompting discussions about mental health in the music industry. Avicii was known for hits like 'Wake Me Up' and had a significant impact on electronic dance music. source: bbc.com
- 05 May Childish Gambino releases 'This Is America': On May 5, 2018, American artist Childish Gambino released the music video for 'This Is America,' which quickly went viral. The video received widespread acclaim for its commentary on social issues in the United States. source: time.com
- 20 May 25th Billboard Music Awards: The 25th Billboard Music Awards featured notable wins for Ed Sheeran and Kendrick Lamar (6 awards each), with performances by Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, and a historic first performance by K-pop group BTS.
- 21 May Sony Acquires EMI Music Publishing: Sony has agreed to a $2.3 billion deal to purchase a controlling stake in EMI Music Publishing, which will allow the company to indirectly own 90% of the music publisher and its extensive catalog of 2 million songs.
- 18 Jun XXXTentacion Murder: American rapper XXXTentacion was fatally shot in Deerfield Beach, Florida, shocking the music community and sparking discussions about violence against artists.
- 26 Jul Paul McCartney's Secret Cavern Club Performance: Sir Paul McCartney performed a surprise concert at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, the legendary venue where The Beatles began their iconic musical journey.
- 16 Aug Death of Aretha Franklin: Legendary American soul singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin passed away at the age of 76, marking the end of an era for music and leaving behind an unparalleled legacy in the world of rhythm and blues.
- 20 Aug MTV Video Music Awards 2018: Camila Cabello wins major awards at the MTV Video Music Awards, receiving Artist of the Year and Video of the Year for her hit song 'Havana' at Radio City Music Hall.
- 16 Sep Defqon.1 Festival Tragedy in Sydney: A serious drug-related incident at the Defqon.1 Festival in Sydney, Australia resulted in two fatalities and 700 people seeking medical attention. Three individuals were in critical condition. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian declared the event dangerous and effectively banned the music festival.
- 20 Sep Wolf Alice Wins Mercury Prize: British rock band Wolf Alice won the prestigious 2018 Hyundai Mercury Prize for their album 'Visions of a Life', marking a significant achievement in the UK music scene.
- 09 Oct Taylor Swift Dominates American Music Awards: Taylor Swift made history at the 2018 American Music Awards by winning four trophies, including Artist of the Year. With this achievement, she surpassed Whitney Houston's record, solidifying her status as a pop music icon.
- 02 Nov Rosanne Cash Album Release: Blue Note Records releases 'She Remembers Everything', the fourteenth studio album by singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash, produced by Tucker Martine and John Leventhal.
- 04 Nov Camila Cabello Dominates MTV Europe Music Awards: Pop star Camila Cabello made a significant impact at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Bilbao, winning four awards. Legendary artist Janet Jackson was honored with the Global Icon award, marking a memorable night in music.
What happened in 2018?
Discover what the world looked like in 2018: