Jackson Artist of the Century
Jan 9 29th American Music Awards: Janet Jackson and Lenny Kravitz win. Michael Jackson receives Artist of the Century award.
- Jan 29 "Foolish" single released by Ashanti (Billboard Song of the Year 2002)
"Plutonian Ode"
Feb 2 Philip Glass' Symphony No. 6 (Plutonian Ode), for soprano and orchestra, based on the poem by Allen Ginsberg, premieres with the American Composers Orchestra conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, at Carnegie Hall, NYC
- Feb 17 Westlife go to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'World Of Our Own.' The Irish boy band's 10th UK No.1 single.
Grammy Awards
Feb 27 44th Grammy Awards: "Walk On"; Alicia Keys win
Music History
Feb 27 Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell receives Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
The Osbournes
Mar 5 American reality TV program "The Osbournes" featuring family of Ozzy Osbourne premieres on MTV
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Mar 18 17th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Isaac Hayes; Brenda Lee; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; Gene Pitney; Ramones; Talking Heads; Chet Atkins; and Jim Stewart
- Mar 20 16th Soul Train Music Awards: The O'Jays, Dr. Dre & Alicia Keys win
Stop to Love
Apr 1 "Stop to Love" compilation album by Luther Vandross is released
Music Concert
Apr 13 Rock for the Rainforest benefit concert held at Carnegie Hall, NYC; performers include: Sting, Elton John, James Taylor, Nina Simone, Smokey Robinson, Lulu, Patti Labelle, Ravi Shankar, Anoushka Shankar, Jeff Beck, Wynonna Judd, and Rebecca Del Rio
- May 6 "The Good Stuff" single released by Kenny Chesney (Billboard Song of the Year 2002)
Music History
May 6 The Rolling Stones fly a yellow blimp emblazoned with their logo at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, NYC to announce forthcoming international tour
Cats
May 11 Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Cats" (based on poetry by T. S. Eliot) directed by Trevor Nunn, closes at the New London Theatre in the West End, London, after 8,949 performance
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
May 16 "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" directed by George Lucas, starring Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman, opens in cinemas
Academy of Country Music Awards
May 22 37th Academy of Country Music Awards: Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride & Alan Jackson win
- May 25 47th Eurovision Song Contest: Marie N for Latvia wins singing "I Wanna" in Tallinn
- Jun 2 56th Tony Awards: "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (musical) & "The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?" (play) win
- Jun 3 "The Party at the Palace" concert commemorating Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee held at Buckingham Palace Garden in London; performers include: Queen, Annie Lennox, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones; The Corrs; Ozzy Osbourne, Brian Wilson, and Paul McCartney, among others
Let Go
Jun 4 Canadian singer Avril Lavigne releases debut album, "Let Go"
Music History
Jun 11 "American Idol" created by Simon Fuller with judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson premieres on Fox-TV
CMT Music Awards
Jun 12 1st CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards: Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride, and Kenny Chesney win
Glastonbury Festival
Jun 28 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Coldplay, and Rod Stewart headline; other performers include Roger Waters, Isaac Hayes, Ani DiFranco, The Charletons, and The White Stripes
Music History
Jul 25 Revival of Herb Gardner's stage comedy "I'm Not Rappaport", starring Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen, opens at the Booth Theatre, NYC; runs for 53 performances
The Rising
Jul 30 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen's 12th studio album "The Rising", his first new record with the E Street Band since 1985 tops the charts in 7 countries
Music History
Sep 4 Kelly Clarkson is crowned the winner of the first series of "American Idol" TV singing competition series
- Sep 8 Revival of Herb Gardner's stage comedy "I'm Not Rappaport", starring Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen, closes at the Booth Theatre, NYC, after 53 performances
Farm Aid Concert
Sep 21 Farm Aid 15 held in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Keith Urban, Lee Ann Womack, Kid Rock, Gillian Welch, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and The Drive-By Truckers [1]
Music History
Oct 24 Twyla Tharp's rock ballet "Movin' Out", set to songs of Billy Joel, opens at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, NYC; runs for 1,303 performances
- Oct 26 Moscow Theatre Siege ends: Approximately 50 Chechen rebels and 150 hostages die when Russian Spetsnaz storm a theater building in Moscow, which had been occupied by the rebels during a musical performance three days before
- Nov 6 36th Country Music Association Awards: Alan Jackson & Martina McBride win
- Nov 13 Eminem releases single 'Lose Yourself' from soundtrack of "8 Mile", 1st rap song to win Academy Award Best Original Song
Ringo Starr
Nov 15 British drummer Ringo Starr inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall Of Fame [1]
Brainwashed
Nov 18 Dark Horse/EMI posthumously releases "Brainwashed", George Harrison's 12th and final studio album
Up!
Nov 18 Mercury Nashville Records releases "Up!", the 4th studio album by Shania Twain (Billboard Album of the Year, 2003)
- Nov 19 Nonesuch Records releases "Travelogue", Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell's 18th studio album, a collection of re-worked versions her own songs, backed by an orchestra
- Nov 29 "The Concert for George", a benefit memorial to George Harrison held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, features Eric Clapton; Paul McCartney; Ringo Starr; Jeff Lynne; Tom Petty; Joe Brown; Anoushka Shankar; Billy Preston; and members of Monty Python
- Dec 9 13th Billboard Music Awards: Nelly, Nickelback & Eminem win
"Chicago"
Dec 27 "Chicago" (Best Picture 2003), film based on John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical, directed by Rob Marshall, starring Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, and Catherine Zeta-Jones is released. in NYC, Los Angeles, and select North American cities
Kendrick Lamar
Eminem
XXXTentacion
Tupac Shakur
Nicki Minaj
Coolio