This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

January–March

April–June

July–September

October–December

Also in 1980

Bands formed

See Category:Musical groups established in 1980

Bands disbanded

See Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1980

Albums released

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Release date unknown

Awards

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1980.

US and UK and Japan #1 hit singles

(in chronological order)

Top 40 Chart hit singles

Other Chart hit singles

• "Ace of Spades – Motörhead (# 15 UK) • "After the News" – The Reels (# 65 Australia) • "The Boys Light Up" – Australian Crawl (# 22 Australia) • "Cheap Wine" - Cold Chisel (# 8 Australia) • "Come Around" – Mental As Anything (# 18 Australia) • "Dirty Mind" – Prince (# 65 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles) • "Downhearted" – Australian Crawl (# 12 Australia) • "Face the Day" – The Angels (# 12 Australia) • "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" – Japan (# 60 UK) • "Happy House" – Siouxsie and the Banshees (# 17 UK) • "High School Confidential" - Rough Trade (# 12 Canada, # 1 Canadian Content charts) • "It's Only Love" - Elvis Presley (# 3 UK) • "Just Keep Walking" – INXS (# 38 Australia) • "Köppäbävisan" - Bengt Pegefelt (# 1 Sweden) • "Let's Do Rock Steady" – The Bodysnatchers (# 22 UK) • "Missing Words" – The Selecter (# 23 UK) • "Modern Girl" – James Freud and the Radio Stars (# 12 Australia) • "My Baby" – Cold Chisel (# 40 Australia, # 32 U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock) • "No Secrets" – The Angels (# 8 Australia) • "Pearlydumm" - BZN (# 1 Netherlands) • "Sanctuary" – Iron Maiden (# 29 UK) • "State of the Heart" - Mondo Rock (# 6 (Australia) • "Strangers on a Train" – The Sports (# 22 Australia) • "Space Invaders" - Player One (# 3 Australia) • "Superman's Big Sister" – Ian Dury & The Blockheads (# 51 UK, # 90 Australia) • "Three Minute Hero" – The Selecter (# 16 UK) • "Wardance" – Killing Joke (# 50 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs )

Notable singles

Other notable singles

• "After the News" – The Reels • "Girl U Want" – Devo • "I Wanna Destroy You" – The Soft Boys • "Janitor" – Suburban Lawns • "Just Keep Walking" - INXS • "Mr. Clarinet" – The Birthday Party • "Two People Per km" – Models • "Simple Simon" – INXS • "Too Many Creeps" – Bush Tetras

Classical music

Opera

Jazz

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths