2023 in British music

See also: Timeline of musical events

List of years in British music
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This is a summary of the year 2023 in British music.

Events

January

• 6 January – Glyndebourne Festival Opera announces that its originally planned 2023 Glyndebourne on Tour season will not occur, as a result of the reduced funding from Arts Council England for the 2023–2026 National Portfolio.
• 9 January – The Royal Albert Hall announces the appointment of James Ainscough as its next chief executive director, effective in the late spring of 2023.
• 10 January – The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra announces that Kirill Karabits is to conclude his chief conductorship of the orchestra at the close of the 2023–2024 season.
• 13 January – The BBC announces the appointment of Sam Jackson as the new controller of BBC Radio 3, effective April 2023.
• 17 January – Arts Council England (ACE) announces the presentation to English National Opera (ENO) of a one-year grant of £11.46M for the period of April 2023 – March 2024, following its previous November 2022 announcement of a total withdrawal of ACE's funding to ENO for the period 2023–2026 unless ENO relocates outside of London.
• 31 January – The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation announces Sir George Benjamin as the recipient of the 2023 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize.

February

• 1 February – In an interview on Finnish Radio, Sir Mark Elder states that he is to stand down as music director of  The Hallé in August 2024, at the close of the 2023–2024 season..
• 3 February – John Lydon loses his bid to represent Ireland in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, with the Public Image Ltd song "Hawaii". They lose out to Wild Youth.
• 11 February – Pensacola Christian College in the USA cancels a concert appearance by The King's Singers two hours before the scheduled performance time, after objections from a group of students, parents and college staff to the presence of homosexuals in the ensemble.
• 18 February – Twelve new pieces of music are commissioned by Charles III for his coronation, including a composition by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

March

• 7 March – The BBC releases its 2023 Classical Review 2023, whose intended plans include:
  • A reduction in the number of salaried posts in the three BBC England-based orchestras by 20%
  • The closure of the BBC Singers
• 15 March – Universal Music Group announces its purchase of Hyperion Records.
• 24 March – The BBC announces a reversal of its intended closure of the BBC Singers, following public reactions in protest at the original 7 March 2023 announcement.
• 27 March – The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Emma Stenning as its next chief executive, effective 3 April 2023.

April

• 12 April – Opera North announces the appointment of Laura Canning as its next general director, the first woman named to the post, effective December 2023.
• 16 April – Vox Urbane performs its inaugural concert at the Asylum Chapel in Peckham, London.
• 23 April – "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers is removed from an official King's Coronation playlist celebrating British and Commonwealth artists after they were criticised for expressing anti-royal views.
• 25 April – Frankie Goes to Hollywood confirm they are to re-form in order to play a concert at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, the band's first live performance for 36 years.
• 27 April – British singer Adele joins James Corden for the final edition of Carpool Karaoke.
• 28 April – HMV announces plans to reopen its flagship store at 363 Oxford Street four years after it closed when the company went into administration.

May

• 3 May – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces Kate Bush and George Michael as among its roster of inductees for 2023.
• 4 May – A jury at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York decides that Ed Sheeran did not copy Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" when composing "Thinking Out Loud".
• 5 May – The official build-up to the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest begins in Liverpool with a concert by Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra to open the fans village.
• 7 May – At the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla, the following new classical compositions receive their world premieres:
  • Judith Weir – Brighter Visions Shine Afar
  • Karl Jenkins – Crossing the Stone
  • Sarah Class – Sacred Fire
  • Nigel Hess, Roderick Williams, Shirley Thompson – Be Thou My Vision
  • Iain Farrington – Voices of the World
  • Patrick Doyle – King Charles III Coronation March
  • Paul Mealor – Kyrie Eleison (the first composition sung in Welsh at a coronation)
  • Christopher Robinson – The Recognition
  • Debbie Wiseman – Alleluia
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber – Make A Joyful Noise
  • Roxanna Panufnik – Coronation Sanctus
  • Tarik O'Regan – Coronation Agnus Dei
• 10 May – A performance by The View at Manchester's Deaf Institute comes to an abrupt end after an onstage fight breaks out between band members.
• 13 May – The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Liverpool and is won by Sweden.

June

• 6 June – The BBC announces its new roster of New Generation Artists for the period 2023–2025:
  • James Atkinson (baritone)
  • Alim Beisembayev (pianist)
  • Chaos Quartet
  • Giorgi Gigashvili (pianist)
  • Niamh O’Sullivan (mezzo-soprano)
  • Michael Pandya (collaborative pianist)
  • Johanna Wallroth (soprano)
• 16 June
  • The BBC Concert Orchestra announces the appointment of Anna-Maria Helsing as its next chief conductor, the first female conductor to be named to the post and the first female conductor to be named chief conductor of any BBC orchestra, effective 1 October 2023, with an initial contract of three seasons.
  • King's Birthday Honours: 
    • Kathryn McDowell is made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
    • Ivor Bolton and Tasmin Little are each made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
    • Lucy Crowe, Janine Irons, Nicky Spence, and Caron Wheeler are each made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
    • Rekesh Chauhan, Peter Corry, Jennie Muskett and Jyotsna Srikanth are each made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
• 18 June – BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2023 competition results:
  • Main Prize: Adolfo Corrado
  • Song Prize: Sungho Kim
  • Audience Prize: Julieth Lozano Rolong
• 20 June – The Hallé announces the appointment of Wong Kah Chun as its next principal conductor and artistic advisor, effective with the 2024–2025 season, with an initial contract of 5 seasons.
• 23 June
  • The Foo Fighters make a surprise appearance at the Glastonbury Festival 2023, appearing on the Pyramid Stage.
  • The Arctic Monkeys headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2023, their third appearance at the festival.
• 24 June
  • Rick Astley plays the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2023.
  • Guns N' Roses headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2023.
• 25 June – Elton John plays the final UK concert of his farewell tour at Glastonbury 2023, headlining the Pyramid Stage on the festival's final day.
• 27 June – Lewis Capaldi announces a sabbatical from touring for the "foreseeable future" after struggling to finish his set at Glastonbury 2023.
• 29 June – National Youth Orchestras of Scotland announce the appointment of Catherine Larsen-Maguire to the newly created post of music director, effective 2024, with an initial tenure of 3 years.

July

• 1 July – BBC Two airs a special edition of Later... with Jools Holland dedicated entirely to Noel Gallagher to coincide with the release of Council Skies, the fourth studio album by his band, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
• 14 July – The First Night of the Proms is briefly interrupted by two protestors from Just Stop Oil, who climb on stage at the Royal Albert Hall and unfurl an orange banner, before being removed by security staff.
• 28 July – Three tracks from the Barbie soundtrack enter the UK singles Chart in the top five, the first time three songs from the same soundtrack have been in the top five at the same time. The songs are What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish at number three, Dance the Night by Dua Lipa at number four, and Barbie World by Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice at number five.

August

• 4 August – The Official Chart now has four songs from the Barbie soundtrack inside the top ten, as Speed Drive by Charli XCX reaches number 9.
• 11 August – A UK Health Security Agency investigation into a number of cases of sickness and diarrhoea at the 2023 WOMAD Festival is inconclusive on a cause.
• 14 August – The BBC's Maida Vale Studios, which have been the venue for performances by artists including The Beatles and Adele, are sold to a group led by composer Hans Zimmer.
• 18 August – For the first time in its 70 year history, the top six selling singles on the Official Chart are by female artists. They are, 1: "What Was I Made For?" by Billie Eilish, 2: "Dance the Night" by Dua Lipa, 3: "Vampire" by Olivia Rodrigo, 4: "Cruel Summer" by Taylor Swift, 5: "(It Goes Like) Nanana" by Peggy Gou, and 6: "Bad Idea Right?" by Olivia Rodrigo.
• 20 August – The UK government gives the go ahead to plans for a northern version of London's BRIT School, based in Bradford.
• 23 August – An advertisement for a fictional glass repair business in the Hackney Gazette is believed to be a teaser for a new Rolling Stones album as it contains several references to the band's past songs.
• 24 August – Conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner pulls out of the BBC Proms after being accused of assaulting a singer who left the podium in the wrong direction during a concert in France.
• 25 August – 25-year-old pianist Alim Beisembayev makes his BBC Proms debut playing Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto at the Royal Albert Hall as a replacement for Benjamin Grosvenor, who was taken ill.

September

• 1 September –
  • Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody says the band will continue as a trio after Johnny Quinn and Paul Wilson announce their departure from the group.
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor headlines the 2023 Blackpool Illuminations switch-on concert.
• 5 September – Shireland CBSO Academy, the first school in the UK to be partnered with an orchestra, opens in West Bromwich. The school is partnered with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
• 6 September –
  • The Rolling Stones announce Hackney Diamonds, their 24th studio album and first album of original material since 2005.
  • A Yamaha baby grand piano used by Freddie Mercury to compose some of Queen's best known songs sells at auction for £1.7m.
• 7 September – Jazz quintet Ezra Collective win the 2023 Mercury Prize for their second studio album, Where I'm Meant to Be, becoming the first jazz act to win the prize.
• 9 September –
  • "Sprinter", a track by Dave and Central Cee, is declared the UK Official Chart's song of summer 2023.
  • The traditional Last Night of the Proms is held at the Royal Albert Hall and in the middle of a late summer heatwave.
• 13 September – Jazz FM confirms that the annual Jazz FM Awards will return in Spring 2024, moving back to spring following disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 15 September –
  • Sugababes release "When the Rain Comes", their first single in a decade and the first to be released since the original line-up of Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhán Donaghy regained the rights to Sugababes name in 2019.
  • Lambeth Council gives the O2 Academy Brixton the go-ahead to reopen once the venue has met 77 "extensive and robust" conditions "designed to promote public safety".
• 21 September – LIVE, the voice of the UK's live music industry, appoints Steve Lamacq as its new Chair.
• 25 September – Louise Redknapp and Kéllé Bryan are reported to have pulled out of a planned Eternal reunion tour scheduled for 2024 after a row occurred because their former bandmates, sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, refused to play at LGBTQ and Pride events.

October

• 4 October – The Snug in Atherton, Greater Manchester, is the first grassroots gig venue to benefit from the Music Venue Trust's "Own Our Properties" plan, where music fans can invest in venues to save them from increasing rents and closure.
• 10 October – Bilingual pop duo Rogue Jones win the 2023 Welsh Music Prize for their album Dos Bebés.
• 20 October – Welsh rapper Ren Gill reaches number one in the UK Album Chart with his second album Sick Boi, an account of chronic illness that has left him unable to perform on stage.
• 26 October – Scottish band Young Fathers win the 2023 Scottish Album of the Year Award for their fourth album, Heavy Heavy.

November

• 2 November – "Now and Then", described by the surviving members of The Beatles as their "last song", receives its public premiere.
• 10 November – Remastered versions of The Beatles' Red Album and Blue Album are released to coincide with the issue of their final track, "Now and Then", which is included on the release.

Bands reformed

• Frankie Goes to Hollywood (for performance at Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool)
• Haircut One Hundred
• Heavenly
• Love and Rockets
• Rialto
• S Club 7
• The Soup Dragons

Classical works

• Newton Armstrong – The Book of the Sediments'
• Kerensa Briggs – Ode to a Savior
• Linda Buckley – Mallacht
• Anna Clyne – Weathered (clarinet concerto)
• Rufus Isabel Elliot – the stones in the river by our camp in the forest / the space on the ground where we lay
• Sadie Harrison – The River Dreams of Winter (first public performance)
• Christian Mason (music) and Paul Griffiths (text) – The Singing Tree
• Grace-Evangeline Mason
  • A Memory of the Ocean
  • ABLAZE THE MOON
• David Matthews – String Quartet No. 17
• Scott McLaughlin – The Dirac Sea: Folds in continuous fields
• Joseph Phibbs – Flame and Shadow
• Colin Riley – Hearing Places
• Ryan Wigglesworth – Quatre Vignettes de Jules Renard (version for voice and orchestra)

New operas

• Sarah Angliss and Ross Sutherland – Giant
• Conor Mitchell – Abomination: A DUP Opera

British music awards

• 5 January – R&B band Flo are announced as the BBC Sound of 2023.
• 11 February – The 2023 Brit Awards are held at The O2 Arena in London, and presented by comedian Mo Gilligan.
• 7 September – The 2023 Mercury Prize is awarded at London's Hammersmith Apollo.
• 10 October – The 2023 Welsh Music Prize is awarded at a ceremony in Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre.
• 26 October –
  • The 2023 UK Music Video Awards will be held at Magazine London in London, to recognise the best in music videos and music film making from United Kingdom and worldwide.
  • The Scottish Album of the Year Award is presented at Stirling's Albert Halls.

Charts and sales

Number-one singles

The singles chart includes a proportion for streaming.

Chart date (week ending)	Song	Artist(s)	Chart sales	References
5 January	"Last Christmas"	Wham!	79,622
12 January	"Escapism"	Raye featuring 070 Shake	45,570
19 January	"Pointless"	Lewis Capaldi	55,903
26 January	"Flowers"	Miley Cyrus	91,731
2 February			121,151
9 February			106,508
16 February			81,435
23 February			72,975
2 March			64,259
9 March			56,374
16 March			53,686
23 March			56,815
30 March			52,340
6 April	"Eyes Closed"	Ed Sheeran	60,265
13 April	"Miracle"	Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding	49,753
20 April			45,563
27 April	"Wish You the Best"	Lewis Capaldi	49,587
4 May	"Miracle"	Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding	44,178
11 May			47,671
18 May			41,057
25 May			42,378
1 June			44,291
8 June			45,536
15 June	"Sprinter"	Dave and Central Cee	108,200
22 June			89,194
29 June			71,086
6 July			67,346
13 July			61,918
20 July			62,680
27 July			63,487
3 August			59,397
10 August			53,518
17 August			49,021
24 August	"What Was I Made For?"	Billie Eilish	45,488
31 August	"Dance the Night"	Dua Lipa	41,204
7 September	"Vampire"	Olivia Rodrigo	43,211
14 September	"Paint the Town Red"	Doja Cat	57,962
21 September			54,414
28 September			50,144
5 October			48,890
12 October			41,014
19 October	"Strangers"	Kenya Grace	40,152
26 October			38,809

Number-one albums

The albums chart includes a proportion for streaming.

Chart date (week ending)	Album	Artist(s)	Chart sales	References
5 January	Christmas	Michael Bublé	19,985
12 January	Midnights	Taylor Swift	11,311
19 January			10,003
26 January	St. Jude	Courteeners	19,022
2 February	What's Rock and Roll?	The Reytons	12,252
9 February	Gloria	Sam Smith	14,155
16 February	Queen of Me	Shania Twain	17,976
23 February	This Is Why	Paramore	21,093
2 March	Trustfall	Pink	37,570
9 March	Cracker Island	Gorillaz	22,440
16 March	From Nothing to a Little Bit More	The Lathums	17,937
23 March	Endless Summer Vacation	Miley Cyrus	18,746
30 March	Songs of Surrender	U2	20,569
6 April	Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd	Lana Del Rey	41,925
13 April	The Record	Boygenius	18,869
20 April	Higher Than Heaven	Ellie Goulding	11,818
27 April	72 Seasons	Metallica	29,249
4 May	A Kiss for the Whole World	Enter Shikari	13,513
11 May	Anxiety Replacement Therapy	The Lottery Winners	22,209
18 May	-	Ed Sheeran	76,263
25 May			18,381
1 June	Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent	Lewis Capaldi	95,882
8 June			12,187
15 June	But Here We Are	Foo Fighters	44,513
22 June	The Show	Niall Horan	26,937
29 June	What Ifs & Maybes	Tom Grennan	27,065
6 July	The Good Witch	Maisie Peters	20,760
13 July	Dead Club City	Nothing but Thieves	13,622
20 July	Speak Now (Taylor's Version)	Taylor Swift	67,112
27 July	Beautiful and Brutal Yard	J Hus	17,260
3 August	The Ballad of Darren	Blur	44,051
10 August	Utopia	Travis Scott	25,027
17 August	Victory	Cian Ducrot	15,668
24 August	Knebworth 22	Liam Gallagher	16,204
31 August	Unreal Unearth	Hozier	19,068
7 September	I Told Them...	Burna Boy	14,164
14 September	Back to the Water Below	Royal Blood	18,856
21 September	Guts	Olivia Rodrigo	60,272
28 September	Greatest Hits 2.0	Busted	27,319
5 October	Tension	Kylie Minogue	53,237
12 October	Autumn Variations	Ed Sheeran	30,016
19 October	For All the Dogs	Drake	29,408
26 October	Sick Boi	Ren	18,653

Number-one compilation albums

The compilation chart includes a proportion for streaming.

Chart date (week ending)	Album	Chart sales	References
5 January	Now 113	3,925
12 January	The Greatest Showman	2,593
19 January	Now Yearbook Extra 1985	3,016
26 January	The Greatest Showman	2,556
2 February		2,459
9 February		2,549
16 February		2,435
23 February	Now Yearbook Extra 1980–1984	2,984
2 March	Now Dance – The 80s	4,328
9 March	Now Yearbook 1986	5,495
16 March	The Greatest Showman	2,290
23 March	Now 60s Pop	4,767
30 March	The Greatest Showman	2,371
6 April	Dance Craze: The Best of British Ska...Live	3,810
13 April	The Greatest Showman	2,522
20 April	Now Yearbook Extra 1986	3,392
27 April	Now 114	10,946
4 May		4,399
11 May	Now Yearbook 1978	6,710
18 May	Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3	4,978
25 May	Eurovision Song Contest 2023	17,477
1 June		9,772
8 June		6,322
15 June	Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse	7,518
22 June		6,655
29 June		5,298
6 July		4,193
13 July		3,285
20 July	Now Yearbook 1992	4,205
27 July	Now 12" 80s: 1980	2,296
3 August	Barbie: The Album	21,207
10 August		20,653
17 August		16,778
24 August		14,041
31 August		12,213
7 September		10,511
14 September		9,643
21 September		8,226
28 September		7,301
5 October		6,577
12 October		5,712
19 October		5,205
26 October		4,500

Deaths

• 2 January – Andrew Downes, English classical composer, 72
• 3 January – Alan Rankine, Scottish musician, producer, member of (the Associates), 64
• 10 January – Jeff Beck, English guitarist, singer, (The Yardbirds), (Jeff Beck Group), 78
• 15 January – Bruce Gowers, English music video director ("Bohemian Rhapsody"), 82
• 2 February – Tim Quy, English musician, (Cardiacs), 61
• 5 February – Phil Spalding, English bassist, session musician, 65
• 8 February – Hilary Tann, Wales-born composer resident in the USA, 75
• 19 February – Christopher Nupen, classical music documentary filmmaker, 88
• 25 February – Sir David Lumsden, English organist, harpischordist and choirmaster, 94
• 2 March
  • Steve Mackey, English bassist, producer, (Pulp), 56
  • Nicholas Snowman, arts administrator and co-founder of the London Sinfonietta, 78
• 5 March – Kenneth Montgomery, classical conductor, 79
• 13 March – Simon Emmerson, English record producer, guitarist, DJ, musical director, founder of (Afro Celt Sound System), 67
• 16 March – Tony Coe, English jazz musician, 88
• 24 March – Christopher Gunning, English composer, 78
• 25 March – Nicholas Lloyd Webber, English composer, 43
• 27 March – James Bowman, classical countertenor, 81
• 6 April – Paul Cattermole, English singer, (S Club 7), 46
• 7 April – Ian Bairnson, Scottish musician, multi-instrumentalist, (Alan Parsons Project), (Pilot), guitarist for (Kate Bush), 69
• 8 April – Bob Heatlie, Scottish songwriter, record producer, 76
• 14 April – Mark Sheehan, Irish guitarist, singer-songwriter, (The Script), (Mytown), 46
• 20 April – David Ellis, composer and music administrator, 90
• 21 April – Mark Stewart, English musician (The Pop Group), 62.
• 27 April – Wee Willie Harris, English singer, musician, 90
• 3 May – Linda Lewis, English singer-songwriter ("Rock-a-Doodle-Doo"), 72
• 10 May – Rolf Harris, Australian singer ("Jake the Peg", "Two Little Boys"), 93
• 11 May – Francis Monkman, English musician, composer and songwriter (Curved Air), (Sky), (Matching Mole), 73
• 17 May – Algy Ward, English bassist, (Tank), (The Damned), (The Saints), 63
• 19 May – Andy Rourke, English bassist, (The Smiths), 59
• 22 May – Chas Newby, English bassist, (The Beatles), 81
• 6 June – Tony McPhee, English guitarist (The Groundhogs), 79
• 16 June – Peter Dickinson, composer, musicologist, author, and pianist, 86
• 20 June – John Waddington, English guitarist (The Pop Group), (Maximum Joy), (Perfume), 63
• 29 June – Clarence Barlow, composer, 77
• 3 July – Mo Foster, English multi-instrumentalist (Affinity), (Fancy), (RMS) and record producer, 78
• 5 July – Anthony Gilbert, composer and academic, 88
• 6 July – Graham Clark, English opera tenor, 81
• 16 July – Jane Birkin, English-French singer, actress, 76
• 17 July – Barry Martyn, English jazz drummer, 82
• 19 July – Mark Thomas, British film composer (Twin Town, The Final Curtain, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London), 67
• 21 July – Vince Hill, English traditional pop singer ("Edelweiss", "Roses of Picardy", "Merci, Chérie"), 89
• 23 July – Raymond Froggatt, English singer-songwriter ("Callow-la-vita", "Big Ship", "Rachel"), 81
• 26 July – Sinéad O'Connor, singer, 56
• 28 July – Jim Parker, British composer ("Captain Beaky and His Band", themes of Midsomer Murders, House of Cards, Foyle's War), 88
• 3 August – Carl Davis, American-born British conductor and composer, 86
• 13 August – Patricia Bredin, UK's first Eurovision Song Contest participant in 1957, 88
• 24 August – Bernie Marsden, English hard rock guitarist (UFO), (Whitesnake), 72
• 3 September – Simon Pearson, English drummer (The Wedding Present), (Cinerama), (Goya Dress), 53
• 5 September –
  • Joe Fagin, English singer-songwriter, 83
  • Bruce Guthro, Canadian-born vocalist (Runrig), 62
• 13 September – Roger Whittaker, English singer-songwriter, musician, 87

See also

• 2023 in British radio
• 2023 in British television
• 2023 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 2023