2003 in music

Events

January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested. The tapes have been used for bootleg releases for years.
January 13 – The Who guitarist, Pete Townshend, is arrested by Scotland Yard on suspicion of possessing and making indecent images of children and of incitement to distribute such images, after pornographic images are found on his home computer.
January 15 – 2003 CDNOW Readers' Poll for all albums and new talent of 2002.
February 3 – Legendary record producer Phil Spector is arrested for investigation of homicide after the body of actress Lana Clarkson is found at his home in Alhambra, California. Police responded to the 911 phone call from one of Spector's neighbors and discovered Clarkson's body who was suffering from a gun shot wound. Clarkson pronounced dead at the scene.
February 20 – The Station nightclub fire: Fire engulfs a Rhode Island nightclub during a fireworks display which was part of the performance by rock band Great White. The fire quickly spreads across the ceiling, filling the building with thick, black smoke, killing 100 people and injuring 160 others was audience members rush for the exits. Many people were missing for some time, including Great White guitarist Ty Longley, who was later confirmed to be dead.
February 23 – New York City is the site of The 45th Annual Grammy Awards, featuring Nickelback, No Doubt, Foo Fighters, Britney Spears, and other performers.
March 10 – Johnny Cash is admitted to Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee to undergo treatment for pneumonia.
April 1 – Dozens of fans walk out during a Pearl Jam concert when lead singer Eddie Vedder made anti-war comments and insulting remarks about U.S. President George W. Bush. Other audience members booed and shouted at Vedder telling him to "shut up". Vedder attempted to calm the crowd by adding "just to clarify.. we support the troops."
April 21 S Club announce live on stage at London's Docklands Arena that they've decided to split up after five years together. Their final single, Say Goodbye enters the chart at #2 a month after the announcement. Rachel Stevens from the group launched her successful solo career shortly afterwards with the song Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex
June – David Del Tredici's Wondrous the Merge for string quartet and narrator, based on a homoerotic poem by James Broughton, makes its controversial debut at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival.
June 14 – The Los Angeles, California radio station KROQ airs the 11th Annual of the Weenie Roast show with AFI, The Ataris, Blur, Chevelle, Deftones, Finch, Foo Fighters, Godsmack, Good Charlotte, Hot Hot Heat, Interpol, Jane's Addiction, Less Than Jake, Liam Lynch, Staind, Sum 41, Thrice, The Transplants, The Used, The White Stripes, and Pete Yorn.
June 27 – June 29 – Glastonbury festival, UK, headline acts included David Gray, R.E.M., Primal Scream, Morcheeba, The Flaming Lips, Radiohead, Super Furry Animals, Lamb, Macy Gray, Feeder, Manic Street Preachers, Moby, and Doves. The weather is mostly dry and the festival deemed a success from both a security and entertainment viewpoint by Michael Eavis.
July – A-Teens and many others perform at the Stockholm Pride
July 30 – The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, The Guess Who, and others headline a benefit concert in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to prove that the city is safe from SARS. With 450 000 spectators, it is the largest concert in Canadian history.
October 16 – Simon and Garfunkel begin their "Old Friends" U.S. reunion tour, twenty years after their 1983 world tour.
November – Michael Jacksonis booked and released on bail, and his home searched, on charges of having had sex with a teenage boy
December 6 – P-Funk founder George Clinton is arrested and charged with drug possession in Tallahassee, Florida.
December 13/14 – The Los Angeles, California radio station KROQ airs the 14th Annual of the Acoustic Christmas show with AFI, Blink-182, Brand New, Chevelle, The Distillers, Jane's Addiction, Jet, Korn, Linkin Park, The Offspring, P.O.D., Pennywise, Puddle of Mudd, Rancid, Staind, 311, Thrice and Trapt.
December 30/31 – The New Year's Eve Falls Festival in Australia, traditionally held in Lorne, Victoria, holds events in both Lorne and Marion Bay, Tasmania at the same time. The same artists perform at both events, alternating between the two venues each night.

Albums released

Inertia – Exies – (January 7) – LP
Living Out Loud – Aaron Lines – (January 7) – LP
Redemption – Benzino – (January 14) – LP
Sexy, Funny, Bastard! – Mystro Clark – (January 14) – LP
Pain to Kill – Terri Clark – (January 14) – LP
From Here and On – Bombshell Rocks – (January 21) – LP
Bigger Cages, Longer Chains – The International Noise Conspiracy – (January 21) – LP
Music in High Places – Unwritten Law – (January 21) – LP
Realist – Kizzy Rock – (January 21) – LP
This Is It: The Best of Faith No More – Faith No More – (January 28) – Greatest Hits
The Show Must Go Off – Mest – (January 28) – DVD
Get Rich or Die Tryin' – 50 Cent – (February 6) – LP
100th Window – Massive Attack – (February 10) – LP
Live at Warfield – Slayer – (February 11) – DVD
Essential Ozzy Osbourne – Ozzy Osbourne – (February 11) – Greatest Hits
Michael Bublé – Michael Bublé -(February 11) – LP
The Myth Of Reality – T-Rock – (February 18) – LP
Cyclorama – Styx – (February 18) – LP
Chocolate Factory – R. Kelly – (February 18) – LP
Under the Tray – Reggie and the Full Effect – (February 18) – LP
Everything's Eventual – Appleton – (February 24) – LP
The Art Of Losing – American Hi-Fi – (February 25) – LP
Da Capo (Released in Japan) – Ace of Base – (March 3)
Avalanche – Matthew Good – (March 4) – LP
Fallen – Evanescence – (March 4) – LP
So Long, Astoria – The Ataris – (March 4) – LP
Sing The Sorrow – AFI – (March 11) – LP
Slow Motion Daydream – Everclear – (March 11) – LP
Monster – Killer Mike – (March 11) – LP
26 Songs – Melvins – (March 11) – LP
Loser – Cory P – (March 11) – LP
Innocent Eyes – Delta Goodrem – (March 23) – LP
One Heart – Céline Dion – (March 25) – LP
Meteora – Linkin Park – (March 25) – LP
The Trouble Being Myself – Macy Gray – (March 25) – LP
Go For Broke – Kazzer – (April 1) – LP
Keep on Your Mean Side – The Kills – (April 1) – LP
Sleeping With Ghosts – Placebo – April 1 – LP
Faceless – Godsmack – (April 8) – LP
Mescalero – ZZ Top – (April 15) – LP
Ball – Widespread Panic – (April 15) – LP
Say You Will – Fleetwood Mac – (April 15) – LP
Thankful – Kelly Clarkson – (April 15) – LP
What If It All Means Something – Chantal Kreviazuk – (April 22) – LP
We've Come For You All – Anthrax – (May 6) – LP
Electric Version – The New Pornographers – (May 6) – LP
Think Tank – Blur – (May 6)
Year of the Spider – Cold – (May 13) – LP
On and On – Jack Johnson – (May 13) – LP
The Golden Age of Grotesque – Marilyn Manson – (May 13) – LP
Deftones – Deftones – (May 20)
Black Like Sunday – King's X – (May 20) – LP
Birds of Pray – Live – (May 20) – LP
14 Shades of Grey – Staind – (May 20) – LP
Poodle Hat – "Weird Al" Yankovic – (May 20) – LP
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin – (May 26) – DVD
Falling Uphill – Lillix – (May 27) – LP
How the West Was Won – Led Zeppelin – (May 27) – LP
Results May Vary – Limp Bizkit
BeSt: The Greatest Hits Of...- S Club 7- LP
0304 – Jewel – (June 3) – LP
My Private Nation – Train – (June 3) – LP
St. Anger – Metallica – June 6 – LP
Hail to the Thief – Radiohead – (June 9) – LP
Die Trying – Die Trying – (June 10) – LP
Everything Must Go – Steely Dan – (June 11) – LP
Finger Eleven – Finger Eleven – (June 17) – LP
After the Storm – Monica – (June 17) – LP
We Were Born in a Flame – Sam Roberts – (June 17) – LP
Essentially Naked – Bif Naked – (June 24) – Greatest Hits
Elephunk – Black Eyed Peas – (June 24) – LP
Liz Phair – Liz Phair – (June 24) – LP
Almost Famous – Lumidee – (June 24) – LP
Hotel Paper – Michelle Branch – (June 24) – LP
Between the Never and the Now – Vendetta Red – (June 24) – LP
Dangerously in Love – Beyoncé – (June 25) – LP
Chapter 2 – Ashanti – (July 1) – LP
Zebra IV – Zebra – (July 8) – LP
123 And Its Over – Revolution – (July 15) – LP
Feeler – Pete Murray – (July 21) – LP Australia
Man in the Air – Kurt Elling – (July 22) – LP
Strays – Jane's Addiction – (July 22) – LP
Moodring – Mya – (July 22) – LP
Three Days Grace – Three Days Grace – (July 22) – LP
Ocean Avenue – Yellowcard – (July 22) – LP
Thickskin – Skid Row – (August 5) – LP
TruANT – Alien Ant Farm – (August 19) – LP
Barlow – Barlow – (August 19) – LP
Unleashed – Bow Wow – (August 19) – LP
Indestructible – Rancid – (August 19) – LP
In This Skin – Jessica Simpson – (August 19) – LP
Action Pact – Sloan – (August 19) – LP
The Neptunes Present...Clones – Various Artists – (August 19) – LP
Everything Goes Numb – Streetlight Manifesto – (August 25) – LP
Metamorphosis – Hilary Duff – (August 26) – LP
Burning Down the Opera – Edguy – (August 26) – Live
Love & Life – Mary J. Blige – (August 26) – LP
Wonder What's Next – Chevelle – (August 27) – LP
Nekromanteia – Fields of Aplomb – (August 30) – CD
Severance – Daysend – (September) – LP
Hallucinations – David Usher – (September 9) – LP
Dance of Death – Iron Maiden – (September 9) – LP
Love Is the Only Soldier – Jann Arden – (September 9) – LP
Heavier Things – John Mayer – (September 9) – LP
Roger Miret and the Disasters – Roger Miret and the Disasters – (September 9) – LP
Reality – David Bowie – (September 15) – LP
Traveler – Colin James – (September 15) – LP
Worldwide Underground – Erykah Badu – (September 16) – EP
Permission to Land – The Darkness – (September 16) – LP
Grand Champ – DMX – (September 16) – LP
Thirteenth Step – A Perfect Circle – (September 16) – LP
Page Avenue – Story of the Year – (September 16) – LP
Billy Talent – Billy Talent – (September 16) – LP
Some Devil – Dave Matthews – (September 23) – LP
Results May Vary – Limp Bizkit – (September 23) – LP
The Long Road – Nickelback – (September 23) – LP
Cheers – Obie Trice – (September 23) – LP
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – Outkast – (September 23) – LP
The 'R.' in R&B Collection 1 – R. Kelly – (September 23) – Greatest Hits
Past, Present & Future – Rob Zombie – (September 23) – Greatest Hits
Go – Vertical Horizon – (September 23) – LP
Life For Rent – Dido – (September 30) – LP
Absolution – Muse – (September 30) – LP
School of Rock – Original Soundtrack – (September 30) – Soundtrack
Debris – Ayria – (October 2) – LP
Katonah – Apollo Sunshine – (October 7) – LP
Chicken & Beer – Ludacris – (October 7) – LP
Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People – Primus – (October 7) – LP/DVD
Sacred Love – Sting – (October 13) – LP
Measure of a Man – Clay Aiken – (October 14) – LP
Coral Fang – The Distillers – (October 14) – LP
The Jethro Tull Christmas Album – Jethro Tull – (October 14) – LP
Boy In Da Corner – Dizzee Rascal – (October 14) – LP
12 Memories – Travis – (October 14) – LP
Crusader – Scribe (October 18) – LP (New Zealand)
Nitro Burning Funny Daddy – Brian Setzer – (October 21) – LP
The Very Best of the Eagles – The Eagles – (October 21) – Greatest Hits
Streetcore – Joe Strummer – (October 21) – LP (final album)
Rush in Rio – Rush – (October 21) – Live/DVD
Live at the Astoria – Steve Vai – (October 21) – DVD
Room on Fire – The Strokes – (October 21) – LP
Twentysomething – Jamie Cullum – (October 21) – LP
What's Wrong With This Picture? – Van Morrison – (October 21) – LP
MFZB – Zebrahead – (October 21) – LP
Everything to Everyone – Barenaked Ladies – (October 27) – LP
Homegrown – UB40 – (October 27) – LP
The Glorious Burden – Iced Earth – (October 28) – LP
In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003 – R.E.M. – (October 28) – Greatest Hits
My World – Avril Lavigne – (November 4) – Live
Skull Ring – Iggy Pop – (November 4) – LP
Blood in My Eye – Ja Rule – (November 4) – LP
Payable on Death – P.O.D. – (November 4) – LP
Sixty Six To Timbuktu – Robert Plant – (November 4) – LP
Afterglow – Sarah McLachlan – (November 4) – LP
The Very Best of Sheryl Crow – Sheryl Crow – (November 4) – Greatest Hits
Private Room – Avant – (November 11) – LP
Live from the Road – Chevelle – (November 11) – LP
Train of Thought – Dream Theater – (November 11) – LP
Kid Rock – Kid Rock – (November 11) – LP
Music To Crash Your Car To, Vol. 1 – Mötley Crüe – (November 11) – Greatest Hits with 4 Disc Set & DVD
SoulO – Nick Lachey – (November 11) – LP
Lost Dogs – Pearl Jam – (November 11) – Rarities & 2 Disc Set
Try This – Pink – (November 11) – LP
The Soundtrack to the Apocalypse – Slayer – (November 11) – Live with 4 Disc Set & DVD
Another 700 Miles – 3 Doors Down – (November 11) – EP
Thank You – Stone Temple Pilots – (November 11) – LP
Beg for Mercy – G-Unit – (November 14) – LP
Blink-182 – Blink-182 – (November 18) – LP
In the Zone – Britney Spears – (November 18) – LP
Jackpot – Chingy – (November 18) – LP
The Other Side – Godsmack – (November 18) – LP
The Essential Joe Satriani – Joe Satriani – (November 18) – LP
Live in Texas – Linkin Park – (November 18) – LP & DVD
Body Language – Kylie Minogue – (November 18) – LP
Greatest Hits – The Red Hot Chili Peppers – (November 18) – LP
The Electric Joe Satriani: An Anthology – Joe Satriani – (November 18) – LP
Heavy – Swollen Members – (November 18) – LP
The Infinite Steve Vai: An Anthology – Steve Vai – (November 18) – LP
At Last – Cyndi Lauper – (November 18) – LP
Call Off the Search – Katie Melua – (November 23) – LP (UK)
Dedicated – Lemar – (November 24) – LP (UK)
Films About Ghosts: The Best Of... – Counting Crows – (November 25) – Greatest Hits
Elocation – Default – (November 25) – LP
Seven – Enrique Iglesias – (November 25) – LP
Thicker Than Water – Jack Johnson – (November 25) – Soundtrack LP
Take a Look in the Mirror – Korn – (November 25) – LP
This is Not a Test – Missy Elliott – (November 25) – LP
Folklore – Nelly Furtado – (November 25) – LP
The Singles 1992–2003 – No Doubt – (November 25) – LP
Life on Display – Puddle of Mudd – (November 25) – LP
Now and Forever: The Hits – TLC – (November 25) – Greatest Hits
The Diary of Alicia Keys – Alicia Keys – (December 2) – LP
Splinter – The Offspring – (December 2) – LP
And Then ... – Joe – December 2 – LP
Fefe Dobson – Fefe Dobson – (December 9) – LP
The Reason – Hoobastank – (December 9) – LP
Tasty – Kelis – (December 9) – LP
Soulstar – Musiq – (December 9) – LP
Nick Cannon – Nick Cannon – (December 9) – LP
Soulful – Ruben Studdard – (December 9) – LP
Up Against All – Tarralyn Ramsey – (December 9) – LP
And Then... – Joe – (December 16) – LP
You Got Served – B2K – (December 23) – LP
Peace Songs – Various Artists – (Charity Disk)
Back To The Well – Kenny Rogers
The Cat Empire – The Cat Empire
Nocturama – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Converting Vegetarians – Infected Mushroom
Get Born – Jet
Vulture Street – Powderfinger
Zen For Sale – Sun Dial

Top hits on record

"Angel" – Amanda Perez
"Are you Happy Now?" – Michelle Branch
"Baby Boy" – Beyonce f. Sean Paul
"Beautiful" – Christina Aguilera
"Boys of Summer" – The Ataris
"Bright Lights" – Matchbox Twenty
"Bring me to Life" – Evanescence
"Bye Bye Boyfriend" – Fefe Dobson
"Calling All Angels" – Train
"Can't Hold us Down" – Christina Aguilera f. Lil Kim
"Clocks" – Coldplay
"Crazy in Love" – Beyonce f. Jay Z
"Don't Know Why" – Norah Jones
"Don't Worry" – Appleton
"Fighter" – Christina Aguilera
"Forever and for Always" – Shania Twain
"Get Busy" – Sean Paul
"Get Low" – Lil' John & the East Side Boyz
"Going Under" – Evanescence
"Harder to Breathe" – Maroon 5
"Here Without You" – 3 Doors Down
"Hey Ya" – OutKast
"I Begin to Wonder" – Dannii Minogue
"Ignition Remix" – R. Kelly
"I'm with you" – Avril Lavigne
"In da Club" – 50 Cent
"Intuition" – Jewel
"Invisible" – Clay Aiken
"It's About Time" – Lillix
"It's my Life" – No Doubt
"I Want You" – Thalia (singer) f. Fat Joe
"Jenny from the Block" – Jennifer Lopez
"Je suis malade" – Dalida & Serge Lama
"Landslide" – Dixie Chicks
"Lose Yourself" – Eminem
"Losing Grip" – Avril Lavigne
"Love at First Sight" – Kylie Minogue
"Low" – Kelly Clarkson
"Maybe" – Emma Bunton
"Magic Stick" – Lil Kim f. 50 Cent
"Me Against the Music" – Britney Spears f. Madonna
"My Immortal" – Evanescence
"Never Leave You" – Lumidee
"P.I.M.P." – 50 Cent
"Miss Independent" – Kelly Clarkson
"My Love is Like... Woah!" – Mya
"Perfect" – Simple Plan
"Right Thurr" – Chingy
"Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)" – Ashanti
"Rock Your Body" – Justin Timberlake
"Say Goodbye"- S Club
"Senorita" – Justin Timberlake
"Seven Nation Army" – White Stripes
"Sing for the Moment" – Eminem
"Shake Ya Tailfeather" – Nelly, P. Diddy & Murphy Lee
"Shook (The Answer)" – Keshia Chanté
"So Yesterday" – Hilary Duff
"Someday" – Nickelback
"Stand Up" – Ludacris f. Shawnna
"Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" – Rachel Stevens
"Take me Away" – Fefe Dobson
"This is the Night" – Clay Aiken
"The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" – Jason Mraz
"This Is The New *hit" – Marilyn Manson
"Toxic" – Britney Spears
"Stacy's Mom" – Fountains of Wayne
"Tomorrow" – Lillix
"Underneath it All" – No Doubt f. Lady Saw
"Unpredictable" – Keshia Chanté
"Unwell" – Matchbox Twenty
"Up!" – Shania Twain
"Walk Away" – Barlow
"When I'm Gone" – 3 Doors Down
"Where Is The Love?" – Black Eyed Peas f. Justin Timberlake

Classical music

Haflidi Hallgrimsson – Cello Concerto
György Ligeti – Hamburg Concerto for solo Horn and Chamber Orchestra with 4 obligato Natural Horns (1998–99, 2003)
Alexander Raskatov – The Last Freedom

Opera

Krzysztof Penderecki – Ubu Rex

Musical theater

Avenue Q Broadway production
Bounce
The Boy from Oz Broadway production
Fame On 42nd Street opened at the Little Shubert Theatre on November 11 and ran for 264 performances
The Full Monty Melbourne production
Jerry Springer – The Opera London production
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat London revival
Never Gonna Dance Broadway production opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on December 4 and ran for 84 performances
Taboo Broadway production opened November 13 and ran for 103 performances.
Thoroughly Modern Millie London production
Tonight's the Night London production
Wicked Broadway production

Musical film

Brother Bear Animated feature
The Singing Detective

Births

October 28 – Beatrice Millie McCartney, daughter of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills. The McCartneys fooled the press into publishing misleading details about the birth.