1979 in Scandinavian music

Events

• 31 March – At the 24th Eurovision Song Contest, Denmark is the best-performing Scandinavian country, finishing 6th. Norway finishes 11th, Finland 14th and Sweden 17th.
• 13 September – ABBA begin their third concert tour, mainly visiting North America, Europe and Asia during 1979–1980, supporting the group's sixth studio album, Voulez-Vous, and later their compilations Greatest Hits Vol. 2.

Classical works

• Ulf Grahn – String quartet no 2
• Vagn Holmboe
• * Violin Concerto No. 2
• * Notater for 3 trombones and tuba
• * Konstateringer for choir
• * Guitar Sonata No. 1
• * Guitar Sonata No. 2
• * Accordion Sonata No. 1
• * Bogtrykkemaskinen for violin and piano
• Allan Pettersson – Viola Concerto
• Einojuhani Rautavaara – Magnificat
• Aulis Sallinen – Symphony No. 4

Hit singles

• ABBA – "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
• Frederik (singer) – "Tsingis Khan"
• Ted Gärdestad – "Satellit"
• Katri Helena – "Katson sineen taivaan"
• Jan Malmsjö – "Halleluja"
• Anita Skorgan – "Oliver"
• Vikingarna – "Djingis Khan"

Hit albums

• ABBA – Voulez-Vous
• Kim Larsen – 231045-0637
• Jahn Teigen – ''En dags pause''

Film music

• Spede Pasanen – Koeputkiaikuinen ja Simon enkelit
• Janne Schaffer – ''Repmånad''

Births

• 26 February – Daníel Bjarnason, Icelandic composer
• 8 April – Alexi Laiho, rock musician (died 2020

Deaths

• 7 March – Klaus Egge, Norwegian composer and music critic
• 3 April – Ernst Glaser, Norwegian violinist, conductor and music teacher
• 12 July – Kalervo Tuukkanen, Finnish composer
• 24 October – Trygve Lindeman, Norwegian cellist and head of the Oslo Conservatory of Music