- Jan 4 Revival of Leigh, Charlap, Styne, Comden and Green's musical "Peter Pan", starring Sandy Duncan, closes at Lunt-Fontanne Theater, NYC, after 578 performances
"The Pirates of Penzance"
Jan 8 Joseph Papp's revival of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta "The Pirates of Penzance", starring Linda Ronstadt, Rex Smith, and Kevin Kline, opens at the Uris Theater, NYC; runs for 772 performances and wins a Tony Award
- Jan 11 "Tintypes" closes at John Golden Theater NYC after 93 performances
"Woman"
Jan 16 John Lennon's single "Woman" is posthumously released in the UK
- Jan 18 Punk singer Wendy O. Williams arrested in Milwaukee for on-stage obscenity (later cleared)
- Jan 21 "Shakespeare's Cabaret" opens at Bijou Theater New York City for 54 performances
- Jan 28 Revival of Brt Kalmar and Harry Ruby's musical "The Five5 O'Clock Girl" opens at Helen Hayes Theater, NYC; runs for 12 performances
8th American Music Awards
Jan 30 8th American Music Awards: Barbra Streisand & Kenny Rogers win
- Jan 31 "The Tide Is High" by Blondie hits #1
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers