1998 in music
See also:
1997 in music,
other events of 1998,
1999 in music, 1990s in music and the list of 'years in music'
Events
- February 19 - The Stray Cats reunite for a benefit show for the Carl Perkins Foundation at L.A.'s House Of Blues.
- February 19 - Lorrie Morgan issues a statement denying a story reported in the tabloid Star magazine that claimed that the singer had an affair with US President Bill Clinton
- February 22 - In Los Angeles, California, Stevie Wonder is honored as the 1999 MusiCares Person of the Year.
- February 24 - Elton John is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. The singer is mistakenly introduced as "Sir John Elton".
- February 24 - Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee is arrested and charged with beating his wife, actress Pamela Anderson. Malibu sheriff deputies responded to reports of a disturbance and found Anderson bleeding from an injury to her hand.
- February 24 - John Fogerty is awarded the 1998 Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award
- March 13 - The Smashing Pumpkins file a $1 million lawsuit against U.K.-based Sound And Media Ltd., alleging that the company released a book and CD about the band without proper clearances.
- March 26 - Chuck Negron files a lawsuit against his fellow Three Dog Night band mates, alleging that they broke a 1990 settlement agreement and interfered with his career.
- April 5 - Rock and Roll drummer Cozy Powell is killed in a high-speed car crash near Bristol, England. Powell was known for playing with Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Jeff Beck, Brian May and Whitesnake.
- April 7 - George Michael is arrested in a public restroom in Beverly Hills, California for lewd conduct. Michael is sentenced to community service.
- May 8 - A British court rules in favor of the Beatles and John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, stopping the release of another Live at the Star Club recording. All copies of the recording and the original tape are awarded to the Beatles, as well as damages and legal costs.
- May - The 3rd EJCF in Basel was held. Next time was in 2001.
- December 5 - Billboard changes chart policy for their Hot 100 chart to allow airplay only singles or album cuts to make that chart.
- Swedish pop group, A-Teens, forms
- The entertainment industry frantically lobbies for, and the United States Congress passes, the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, which gives the entertainment industry 20 more years of exclusive monopoly on all of its works created since 1923.
- Elton John performs "Candle In The Wind" at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales; John Tavener's Song for Athene is performed at the same ceremony.
Albums Released
Top Hits
See also: Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1998
Top 10 Selling Albums of the Year
- Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
- The Offspring - Americana
- Cher - Believe
- 98° - 98° and Rising
- Shania Twain - Come On Over
- Monica - The Boy Is Mine
- Madonna - The Ray Of Light
- Brandy - Never Say Never
- R. Kelly - R.
- Mya - Mya
Births
Deaths
- January 4 - Mae Questel, (89), US singer and actress, the voice of Betty Boop
- January 8 - Michael Tippett, composer (born 1905)
- January 19 - Carl Perkins, complications following a series of strokes
- February 6 - Carl Wilson, The Beach Boys, lung cancer
- February 13 - Buddy Lee, respiratory failure while undergoing treatment for lung cancer
- February 17 - Bob Merrill, US songwriter, suicide
- February 19 - Grandpa Jones, star of Hee-Haw, comedian and musician
- February 28 - Todd Duncan, first Porgy in [Porgy and Bess]], age 95
- April 5 - Cozy Powell, drummer, car accident
- April 7 - Wendy O. Williams, The Plasmatics, suicide
- April 17 - Linda McCartney, cancer
- May 14 - Frank Sinatra
- July 6 - Roy Rogers, 86, US actor, singer and King of the Cowboys
Awards
