1989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.
Specific locations
Specific genres
Events
- January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR. Bootleg copies sell for as much as US$1,000 in the United States.
- January 23 – James Brown is sentenced in Georgia, US, to six years in jail in connection with a police chase through two different states.
- January 27 – Michael Jackson ends the Bad World Tour in Los Angeles, US.
- February 12
- *Roy Orbison joins Elvis Presley as the only singers to ever simultaneously have two top 5 albums on the Billboard charts.
- *Tiny Tim launches an unsuccessful campaign to be elected mayor of New York City, US.
- February 17 – Whitesnake's David Coverdale marries Tawny Kitaen.
- February 22 – The 31st Annual Grammy Awards are presented in Los Angeles, hosted by Billy Crystal. George Michael's Faith wins Album of the Year, while Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy" wins both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Tracy Chapman wins Best New Artist.
- March 21 – Madonna's "Like a Prayer" music video, taped in late December 1988, attracts criticism for its use of Catholic Church iconography and for the use of cross burning imagery, but also garners praise for its interpretation of discrimination, rape, and faith. Pepsi drops Madonna as a spokesperson out of fear the video will cause religious groups to boycott the company.
- April 9 – The Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman announces that he will marry 19-year-old Mandy Smith, his girlfriend for six years.
- April 12 – Michael Jackson is named "King of Pop" after receiving the Soul Train Heritage Awards.
- April 28 – Jon Bon Jovi marries his high school sweetheart Dorothea Hurley at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada, US.
- May 1 – California, US jewelry store employees called the police reporting a suspicious person hanging around their store. The person turns out to be Michael Jackson shopping in disguise.
- May 6 — The 34th annual Eurovision Song Contest, held at Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne, is won by Yugoslavian band Riva, with the song "Rock Me". This is the first year a Balkan country has won the contest, and is also the only win for Yugoslavia as a unified state.
- July 9 – All four original members of The Monkees reunite in Los Angeles, US, for a concert performance at the Universal Amphitheatre. The following day the quartet attend an induction ceremony at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where they receive a star.
- July 23 – Former Beatle Ringo Starr forms his own band named Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.
- July 29 – The Bee Gees perform in the U.S. for the first time in 10 years as part of their One for All world tour.
- August 3 – Sergio Franchi collapses before scheduled concert; dies 9 months later of brain cancer.
- August 11-12 – The Moscow Music Peace Festival is held in the Soviet Union. The event is put together by Doc McGhee and the Make-A-Wish Foundation and headline acts include Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, Cinderella, and the Scorpions.
- August 31 – The Rolling Stones open their Steel Wheels North American tour in Philadelphia, US.
- September 9
- *The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, designed by I. M. Pei, opens in Dallas, Texas, US.
- *Madonna gives a risqué performance at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards. Clad in baggy black sweatpants and a black bustier, she shocks the audience by simulating masturbation. The version of the song used in the show would later serve as the opening number of 1990's "Blond Ambition World Tour".
- October 15 – Media Rings Corporation, the Japanese music, video game, and software publishing company, is founded in Akasaka.
- November 18 – The 18th OTI Festival, held at the theater of the James L. Knight Center in Miami, United States, is won by the song "Una canción no es suficiente", written by Jesús Monarrez, and performed by Analí representing Mexico.
- December 23 – Ice Cube leaves N.W.A after financial problems and several conflicts with their manager Jerry Heller and the group's founder Eazy-E. By this time, Cube has been recording his solo debut album, which will be released next year.
Also in 1989
- Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith leaves the band and is replaced by ex-Gillan guitarist Janick Gers who had most recently worked with Bruce Dickinson on his solo project.
- Ars Musica, an annual contemporary music international festival, founded
- The swing revival is generally agreed upon to have begun in 1989.
Bands formed
Bands disbanded
Bands reformed
Albums released
All releases are an LP record unless otherwise stated.Multiple entries for the same day are arranged alphabetically by the album's name.
Release dates may vary in different countries.
Release date unknown
- A Word from the Wise – Pennywise
- Al Denson – Al Denson
- All Aboard the Mind Train – The Modern Art
- Animal Logic - Animal Logic
- At Peace – Jade Warrior
- Big Talk – Edin-Ådahl
- Blow – Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
- Bringing It Back Home – The Clark Sisters
- Brotherly Love – Daniel Winans
- Cantemos Juntos – Lynda Thomas
- Christmas Is... – Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge
- Century Flower – Shelleyan Orphan
- The Complete Sham 69 Live – Sham 69
- Cyborgs Revisited – Simply Saucer
- Door Into Summer - Jacob's Trouble
- Down on the River - John Hartford
- Drowning in Limbo – Lydia Lunch
- Face of Despair – Mortal Sin
- Fight the Power... Live! – Public Enemy –
- First Watch – Guardian (band)
- Freedom – White Heart
- Funk-O-Metal Carpet Ride – Electric Boys
- Get Yer Jujus Out – Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & His Inter-Reformers Band
- God, Time and Causality – John Fahey
- Hard Volume – Rollins Band
- Helter Stupid – Negativland
- Here Come the Snakes – Green on Red
- Human Soul – Graham Parker
- I Can See You – Black Flag
- Imagine That - Dennis Seaton
- Immigrant's Daughter – Margaret Becker
- In Your Face – Shout
- Innocent Blood – REZ
- Irène Schweizer & Andrew Cyrille - Irène Schweizer and Andrew Cyrille
- It's a Jungle Out There! - Mastedon
- Joggers and Smoggers – The Ex
- Knights of Heaven – Leviticus
- Les Rythmes Automatiques – Telex
- Live ED – Étienne Daho
- Liberation – Bunny Wailer
- Long Way From Paradise – Allies
- Master's Command – Sacred WarriorMatrice - Gérard Manset
- Michigan Rain – Gregg Alexander
- Modern – Hijokaidan
- Mother Nature's Kitchen – Kevin McDermott
- Night of Rage – Kraut
- No More Blues – Susannah McCorkle
- No Room in the Middle – Greg X. VolzNovice - Alain Bashung
- Once We Were Scum, Now We Are God – No
- Out of the Darkness – Bloodgood
- Outdoor Elvis – The Swirling Eddies
- The Pledge – DeGarmo and Key
- Powertrip – Ludichrist
- Prime 5 – Ween
- The Prophets – Alpha Blondy
- Rasta Souvenir – Manu Dibango
- Sittin' Pretty – The Pastels
- Searchlight – Runrig
- Silence is Madness – Bride
- Smash – One Bad Pig
- Soulforce Revolution – 7 Seconds
- State of Control – Barren Cross
- Strange Cargo – David Van Tieghem
- Start Today - Gorilla Biscuits
- Strong Medicine – Bryan Duncan
- Sue – Frazier ChorusToo Long in the Wasteland - James McMurtry
- Tragedy Again – D.I.
- The Way Home – Russ Taff
- This Time Around – Green on Red
- Western Shadows – Carole LaureWords for the Dying – John Cale
- Wrong – Nomeansno
Biggest hit singles
The following songs achieved the highestin the charts of 1989.
| # | Artist | Title | Year | Country | Chart Entries |
| 1 | Madonna | Like a Prayer | 1989 |  Published popular music
Classical music
Opera
Musical theatreAspects of Love – London productionCity of Angels – Broadway production opened at the Virginia Theatre and ran for 897 performancesGrand Hotel – Broadway production opened at the Martin Beck Theatre and ran for 1017 performancesGypsy – Broadway revivalMeet Me in St. Louis – Broadway production based on the 1944 film, ran for 252 performancesMiss Saigon – London productionPacific Overtures – London productionStarmites - Broadway production opened at Criterion Center Stage Right and ran for 60 performances[Musical film]s101-Depeche ModeEddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!The Fabulous Baker BoysChaalBaazJuke-Bar The Little Mermaid — animated feature filmLittle Nemo: Adventures in SlumberlandPolly
Births
Deaths
Awards
Charts |