2015 in American music

The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in 2015 in music in the United States.

Notable events

January

12 – Lady Antebellum performed the National Anthem at the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
13 – Guster released their first studio album in five years, Evermotion.
*Panda Bear released their first studio album in four years, Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper.
30 – The Offspring set a record for longest time between #1 singles on the Mainstream Rock charts with Coming for You, their first since Gone Away in 1997.

February

1 – Idina Menzel performed the National Anthem and Katy Perry performed at the halftime show during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. This was the most watched, highest-rated, and most tweeted per second halftime show.
8 – The 57th Grammy Awards, hosted by LL Cool J, took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. British singer Sam Smith won the most awards with four including; Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best New Artist. Beck's Morning Phase won Album of the Year.

March

3 – Kelly Clarkson released her first studio album of all original music in almost four years, Piece by Piece.
29 – The 2nd iHeartRadio Music Awards took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Taylor Swift won the most awards with three.

April

19 – The 50th ACM Awards were held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton. Miranda Lambert won the most awards with three.

May

13 – Nick Fradiani was named winner of the fifteenth season of American Idol. Clark Beckham was named winner runner-up.
17 – The Billboard Music Awards were held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Taylor Swift took home the most awards with eight.
19 – Sawyer Fredericks was named winner of the eighth season of The Voice. Meghan Linsey was named runner-up. Joshua Davis and Koryn Hawthorne finishing third and fourth place respectively.
* - Faith No More released their first studio album in 18 years, Sol Invictus.
30 - Madonna gets her record 45th number-one song on the dance charts, with the song Ghosttown, surpassing George Strait for the most number-one entries on any kind of Billboard chart.

June

8 – The music video for "Dark Horse" by Katy Perry reached 1 billion views on Vevo, making it the first music video by a female artist to do so and the third music video overall to do so. It was the third most-viewed YouTube video of all time, and the most-watched video by a female artist until "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift took both records a month later.
16 – Hilary Duff released her first studio album in seven years, Breathe In. Breathe Out..
30 – Failure released their first studio album in 19 years, The Heart Is a Monster.

July

10 – Starting on this day albums will now be released on Fridays instead of Tuesdays in America. Some reasons for the change is to help prevent illegal downloads and "In the digital world, you can't make consumers wait".
* Veruca Salt released their first studio album in nine years, Ghost Notes. This is also the first album to feature the band's original lineup since 1997's Eight Arms to Hold You.
30 – The reunited Savatage played their first show in thirteen years at Wacken Open Air in Germany, which took place from July 30 to August 1.

August

30 – The 2015 MTV Video Music Awards were held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Taylor Swift was the big winner of the night with four awards, including Video of the Year for "Bad Blood".

September

11 – Slayer released their first album in six years, Repentless. Their album was their first since the death of founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman in 2013 and subsequently proved to be the band's final album following their disbandment in 2019.
18–19 – The 2015 iHeartRadio Music Festival took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

October

2 – Janet Jackson released Unbreakable her first album since 2008's Discipline to widespread critical acclaim. The album goes on to top the Billboard 200 chart.
4 – Van Halen concluded their 2015 North American tour, performing the final date at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. It would ultimately prove to be the band's final performance before they officially disbanded, due to Eddie Van Halen's death almost exactly five years later.
23 – The music video for Adele's "Hello" broke the Vevo Record for the most views within a 24-hour span with 27.7 million views, beating out the previous record held by Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood". It also broke the record for shortest time to attain 100 million Vevo views, previously held by Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball". In 2017, Swift took back the record with 43.2 million views with the music video for Look What You Made Me Do.

November

2 – Adele's comeback single "Hello" became the first song with over a million digital sales in a week.
7 – The 49th Annual Country Music Association Awards was held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood hosted for the eighth year in a row.
9 – Chester Bennington amicably departs from Stone Temple Pilots as lead singer to focus more on Linkin Park.
22 – The 2015 American Music Awards was held at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.
28 – Billboard reported Adele's 25 sold 3.38 million in pure album sales in its first week of release, according to Nielsen Music. That's the largest single sales week for an album since Nielsen began tracking point-of-sale music purchases in 1991, surpassing the previous single-week sales record, held by NSYNC's No Strings Attached.

December

3 – Former Stone Temple Pilots & Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland is found dead on his tour bus in Bloomington, Minnesota at the age of 48 while on tour with his band, the Wildabouts.
8 – Nominations for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards were announced, with Kendrick Lamar leading the list.
15 – Jordan Smith was named winner of the ninth season of The Voice. Emily Ann Roberts was named runner-up. Barrett Baber and Jeffery Austin finishing third and fourth place respectively.

Bands formed

Bands reformed

Bands on hiatus

Bands disbanded

Albums released in 2015

August

Top songs on record

''Billboard'' Hot 100 No. 1 Songs

"Bad Blood" – Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar
"Blank Space" – Taylor Swift
"Can't Feel My Face" – The Weeknd
"Cheerleader" – OMI
"Hello" – Adele
"The Hills" – The Weeknd
"See You Again" – Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
"Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
"What Do You Mean?" – Justin Bieber

''Billboard'' Hot 100 Top 20 Hits

All songs that reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the year, complete with peak chart placement.

Deaths

January 1 – Jeff Golub, 59, jazz guitarist
January 2 – Little Jimmy Dickens, 94, country singer
January 4 – Lance Diamond, 72, singer
January 8
*Andraé Crouch, 72, gospel singer-songwriter and producer
*Curtis Lee, 75, singer-songwriter
January 10
*Tim Drummond, 75, rock bass player and songwriter
*George Probert, 87, jazz saxophonist and clarinet player
January 12
*Frank Glazer, 99, pianist and composer
*A. J. Masters, 64, singer-songwriter and guitarist
January 15
*Ervin Drake, 95, songwriter
*Kim Fowley, 75, singer-songwriter, producer, and manager
January 18
*Cynthia Layne, 51, jazz singer-songwriter
*Dallas Taylor, 66, rock drummer
January 19
*John Bilezikjian, 66, oud player
*Ward Swingle, 87, jazz singer
January 20 – Rose Marie McCoy, 92, songwriter
January 27 – Neil LeVang, 83, guitarist and banjo player
January 29 – Rod McKuen, 81, singer-songwriter
January 31 – Don Covay, 76, singer-songwriter
February 1 – Anita Darian, 87, soprano
February 2
*Joseph Alfidi, 65, pianist, composer, and conductor
*The Jacka, 37, rapper
*Zane Musa, 36, saxophonist
February 3
*Mary Healy, 96, variety entertainer, singer, and actress
*William Thomas McKinley, 76, pianist and composer
February 7 – Joe B. Mauldin, 74, bass player
February 8 – Keith Knudsen, 56, singer-songwriter and drummer
February 9 – Marvin David Levy, 82, composer
February 12
*Sam Andrew, 73, singer-songwriter and guitarist
*John-Edward Kelly, 56, saxophonist and conductor
*Mosie Lister, 93, singer-songwriter
*Richie Pratt, 71, jazz drummer and composer
February 14 – Hulon, 58, jazz saxophonist
February 16 – Lesley Gore, 68, singer-songwriter
February 18 – Dave Cloud, 58, singer-songwriter
February 21 – Clark Terry, 94, jazz trumpeter and composer
February 23 – Ron Edgar, 68, drummer
February 24 – Robert Belfour, 74, blues singer-songwriter and guitarist
February 27 – Tod Dockstader, 82, composer
February 28 – Ezra Laderman, 90, classical composer
March 1 – Orrin Keepnews, 91, record producer, co-founded Riverside Records
March 8 – Lew Soloff, 71, trumpet player and composer
March 9
*Jerry Brightman, 61, guitarist
*Wayne Kemp, 73, country singer and guitarist
March 11 – Jimmy Greenspoon, 67, singer-songwriter and keyboard player
March 15 – Mike Porcaro, 59, rock bass player
March 16
*Bruce Crump, 57, rock drummer
*Don Robertson, 92, pianist and songwriter
March 18 – Samuel Charters, 85, record producer
March 19 – Michael Brown, 65, keyboard player and songwriter
March 20
*Paul Jeffrey, 81, jazz saxophonist
*A. J. Pero, 55, rock drummer
March 21 – Miriam Bienstock, 92, record executive
March 22 – Norman Scribner, 79, pianist, composer, and conductor
March 24 – Scott Clendenin, 48, bass player
March 27
*B.J. Crosby, 63, jazz singer
*Johnny Helms, 80, jazz trumpet player and bandleader
March 30 – Preston Ritter, 65, drummer
March 31 – Ralph Sharon, 91, pianist, composer, and conductor
April 1 – Billy Butler, 69, soul singer-songwriter and guitarist
April 2 – Doug Sax, 78, sound engineer
April 3 – Bob Burns, 64, rock drummer
April 5
*Richard LaSalle, 97, pianist and composer
*Julie Wilson, 90, singer
April 6
* Ray Charles, 96, singer-songwriter and conductor
* Milton DeLugg, 96, jazz accordion player and composer
April 7 – Stan Freberg, 88, recording artist
April 9 – Tut Taylor, 91, bluegrass guitarist
April 10 – Keith McCormack, 74, singer-songwriter and guitarist
April 14 – Percy Sledge, 74, singer
April 15 – Billy Ray Hearn, 85, record executive, founded Sparrow Records and Myrrh Records
April 16 – Johnny Kemp, 55, singer
April 19 – Bernard Stollman, 85, record executive, founded ESP-Disk
April 21 – Wally Lester, 73, singer
April 24 – Sid Tepper, 96, songwriter
April 27
*Jack Ely, 71, singer and guitarist
*Marty Napoleon, 93, jazz pianist
April 30 – Ben E. King, 76, singer-songwriter and producer
May 1 – Grace Lee Whitney, 85, singer
May 2 – Guy Carawan, 87, singer and musicologist
May 5 – Craig Gruber, 63, bass player
May 6 – Jerome Cooper, 68, jazz drummer
May 9 – Johnny Gimble, 88, singer-songwriter and fiddler
May 10 – Victor Salvi, 95, classical harpist
May 11 – Stan Cornyn, 81, record executive
May 12 – Bobby Jameson, 70, singer-songwriter
May 13 – Robert Drasnin, 87, clarinet player and composer
May 14 – B.B. King, 89, blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
May 15 – Ortheia Barnes, 70, singer
May 17
*Chinx, 31, rapper
*Tranquility Bass, 47, rapper
May 18 – Elbert West, 47, country singer-songwriter
May 19 – Bruce Lundvall, 79, record executive
May 20 – Bob Belden, 58, saxophonist, composer, conductor, and producer
May 21 – Louis Johnson, 60, bass player
May 24 – Marcus Belgrave, 78, jazz trumpet player
May 26
*Rocky Frisco, 77, pianist
*Art Thieme, 73, folk singer
May 28 – Steven Gerber, 66, composer
May 30 – Jim Bailey, 77, singer
May 31
* Nico Castel, 83, tenor
* Will Holt, 86, singer-songwriter
* Slim Richey, 77, jazz guitarist and fiddler
June 1 – Jean Ritchie, 92, folk singer-songwriter
June 6 – Ronnie Gilbert, 88, folk singer-songwriter
June 8 – Paul Bacon, 91, jazz musician
June 9 – Pumpkinhead, 39, rapper
June 11
*Jim Ed Brown, 81, country singer-songwriter
*Ornette Coleman 85, jazz saxophonist, violinist, trumpet player, and composer
June 12 – Monica Lewis, 93, singer
June 13
*Buddy Boudreaux, 97, jazz saxophonist and clarinet player
*Big Time Sarah, 62, blues singer
June 16 – Mighty Sam McClain, 72, singer-songwriter
June 19 – Harold Battiste, 83, saxophonist, pianist, and composer
June 21 – Gunther Schuller, 89, horn player, composer, and conductor
June 22
*Joseph de Pasquale, 95, viola player
*James Horner, 61, composer and conductor
June 27 – Chris Squire, 67, singer-songwriter and bass player
July 1 – Red Lane, 76, country singer-songwriter
July 2 – Roy C. Bennett, 96, songwriter
July 6
*Julio Angel, 69, singer
*Camille Bob, 77, singer and drummer
July 8 – Ernie Maresca, 76, singer-songwriter and producer
July 9 – Michael Masser, 74, songwriter and producer
July 10
*Hussein Fatal, 38, rapper
*Jon Vickers, 88, opera singer
July 11 – Joey Robinson, Jr., 53, Sugar Hill Records executive
July 13 – Arthur G. Wright, 78, soul guitarist
July 14 – Dave Somerville, 81, singer
July 15
*Alan Curtis, 80, harpsichord player and conductor
*Howard Rumsey, 97, jazz bassist
July 18 – Buddy Buie, 74, songwriter and producer
July 19
*Van Alexander, 100, composer and bandleader
*Carmino Ravosa, 85, pianist and composer
July 20 – Wayne Carson, 72, singer-songwriter and producer
July 21
*Mitch Aliotta, 71, bass player
*Theodore Bikel, 91, folk singer-songwriter
*Paul Freeman, 79, conductor
*Justin Lowe, 32, metal guitarist
July 22
*Don Joyce, 71, singer
*Daron Norwood, 49, country singer-songwriter
July 26
*Bobbi Kristina Brown, 22, singer
*Vic Firth, 85, drummer
July 27 – Rickey Grundy, 56, gospel singer-songwriter
July 29 – Buddy Emmons, 78, guitarist
July 30 – Lynn Anderson, 67, country singer
July 31 – Pamela Brandt, 68, country-rock bassist, singer and songwriter
August 2 – J. Durward Morsch, 94, trombonist and composer
August 4 – Billy Sherrill, 78, songwriter and producer
August 5 – Raphy Leavitt, 66, composer and conductor
August 8 – Sean Price, 43, rapper
August 11 – Eddie Cusic, 89, blues singer-songwriter and guitarist
August 13 – Harold Ousley, 86, saxophonist and flute player
August 14 – Bob Johnston, 83 record producer
August 15 – Danny Sembello, 52, songwriter and producer
August 27 – George Cleve, 79, conductor
September 1 – Boomer Castleman, 70, singer-songwriter and guitarist
September 2 – Brianna Lea Pruett, 32, singer-songwriter
September 5 – Frederick "Dennis" Greene, 66, singer
September 7 – Susan Allen, 64, harp player
September 13 – Gary Richrath, 65, guitarist and songwriter
September 16 – Peggy Jones, 75, guitarist
September 18 – Daniel Kyre, 21, guitarist
September 21 – Ben Cauley, 76, trumpet player and songwriter
September 27
*Wilton Felder, 75, saxophonist and bass player
*Denise Lor, 86, singer
September 28 – Frankie Ford, 76, singer
September 29
*Benjamin Hutto, 67, conductor
*Phil Woods, 83, saxophonist and composer
October 2 – Willie Akins, 76, jazz saxophonist
October 4 – Dave Pike, 77, vibraphone player and composer
October 6
*Smokey Johnson, 78, drummer
*Billy Joe Royal, 73, pop and country singer
October 9
*Koopsta Knicca, 40, rapper
*Larry Rosen, 75, jazz producer
October 10
*Steve Mackay, 66, saxophonist
*Robbin Thompson, 66, singer-songwriter
October 11 – Smokin' Joe Kubek, 58, guitarist and songwriter
October 13 – Skatemaster Tate, 56, singer and producer
October 16 – John Jennings, 61, guitarist and producer
October 18 – Frank Watkins, 47, bass player
October 20 – Cory Wells, 74, singer
October 22 – Mark Murphy, 83, singer-songwriter
October 23 – Leon Bibb, 93, folk singer
October 25 – Lee Shaw, 89, pianist and composer
October 26 – David Rodriguez, 63, singer-songwriter
October 27 – Herbie Goins, 76, R&B singer
November 2
*Tommy Overstreet, 78, country singer-songwriter and guitarist
*David Stock, 76, composer and conductor
November 6 – Chuck Pyle, 70, country-folk singer-songwriter
November 7 – Eddie Hoh, 71, drummer
November 10
*Robert Craft, 92 conductor
*Allen Toussaint, 77, singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer
November 15 – P. F. Sloan, 70, singer-songwriter
November 16 – Betty Ann Grove, 86, singer
November 17
*Al Aarons, 83, trumpet player
*David VanLanding, 51, singer
November 18 – Daniel Ferro, 94 opera singer
November 21 – Joseph Silverstein, 83, violinist and conductor
November 23 – Cynthia Robinson, 71, trumpet player and singer
November 26 – Ronnie Bright, 77, singer
November 29 – Buddy Moreno, 103, singer
December 1 – Shirley Gunter, 81, R&B singer-songwriter
December 2
*John Eaton, 85, composer
*Wally Roker, 78, singer
December 3 – Scott Weiland, 48, rock singer-songwriter
December 8
*Mattiwilda Dobbs, 90, soprano
*Bonnie Lou, 91, country singer-songwriter
*Gary Marker, 72, bass player
December 9 – Rusty Jones, 73, jazz drummer
December 13 – Luigi Creatore, 92, songwriter and producer
December 14 – Edmund Lyndeck, 90, singer
December 16 – Snuff Garrett, 77, record producer
December 19 – Kurt Masur, 88, conductor
December 21 – Sam Dockery, 86, jazz pianist
December 24 – William Guest, 74, R&B singer
December 28
*Joe Houston, 89, saxophonist
*Lemmy Kilmister, 70, cancer
December 31
*Natalie Cole, 65, singer-songwriter
*Marion James, 81, blues singer-songwriter