This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2008 in music. This year was the peak of record sales in the United States, with sales declining year on year since then.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Bands formed

Bands reformed

See Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2008

Returning performers

Bands disbanded

See Musical groups disestablished in 2008

Bands on hiatus

Albums released

The best-selling records in 2008 according to IFPI: The best-selling albums in the United States:

Songs released in 2008

Hit records

United States

Singles which have ranked within Top 10 within the Billboard Hot 100 Hits (excludes those that were #1 in the UK) • "4 Minutes" – Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland (#3) • "7 Things" – Miley Cyrus (#9) • "American Boy" – Estelle featuring Kanye West (#9) • "Burnin' Up" – Jonas Brothers (#5) • "Bust It Baby Part 2" – Plies featuring Ne-Yo (#7) • "Can't Believe It" – T-Pain featuring Lil Wayne (#7) • "Change" – Taylor Swift (#10) • "Circus" – Britney Spears (#3) • "Closer" – Ne-Yo (#7) • "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" – Soulja Boy Tell'em (#5 – Hit No. 1 in 2007) • "Crush" – David Archuleta (#2) • "Damaged" – Danity Kane featuring Diddy (#10) • "Dangerous" – Kardinal Offishall featuring Akon (#5) • "Dangerouz" – Sarah Burgess (#8) • "Day 'n' Nite" – Kid Cudi (#3) • "Disturbia" – Rihanna (#1) • "Fearless" – Taylor Swift (#9) • "Forever" – Chris Brown (#2) • "Gotta Be Somebody" – Nickelback (#10) • "Got Money" – Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain (#10) • "Hate That I Love You" – Rihanna featuring Ne-Yo (#10 – Hit No. 7 in 2007) • "Heartless" – Kanye West (#4) • "Hot n Cold" – Katy Perry (#3) • "I Kissed a Girl" – Katy Perry (#1) • "If I Were a Boy" – Beyoncé (#3) • "I'm Yours" – Jason Mraz (#6) • "In the Ayer" – Flo Rida featuring will.i.am (#9) • "Independent" – Webbie featuring Lil Boosie and Lil Phat (#9) • "Just Dance" – Lady Gaga featuring Colby O'Donis (#3 — Hit No. 1 in 2009) • "Keeps Gettin' Better" – Christina Aguilera (#7) • "Kiss Kiss" – Chris Brown featuring T-Pain (#4 – Hit No. 1 in 2007) • "Leavin'" – Jesse McCartney (#10) • "Let It Rock" – Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil Wayne (#5) • "Live Your Life" – T.I. featuring Rihanna (#1) • "Lollipop" – Lil Wayne featuring Static Major (#1) • "Love Lockdown" – Kanye West (#3) • "Love in This Club" – Usher featuring Jeezy (#1) • "Love Song" – Sara Bareilles (#4) • "Love Story" – Taylor Swift (#5) • "Low" – Flo Rida featuring T-Pain (#1) • "A Milli" – Lil Wayne (#6) • "Miss Independent" – Ne-Yo (#7) • "New Soul" – Yael Naïm" (#7) • "No Air" – Jordin Sparks featuring Chris Brown (#3) • "Paper Planes" – M.I.A. (#4) • "Pocketful of Sunshine" – Natasha Bedingfield (#5) • "Right Now (Na Na Na)" – Akon (#8) • "See You Again" – Miley Cyrus (#10) • "Sensual Seduction" – Snoop Dogg (#7) • "Sexy Can I" – Ray J featuring Yung Berg (#3) • "Shake It" – Metro Station (#10) • "Shawty Get Loose" – Lil Mama featuring Chris Brown and T-Pain (#10) • "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" – Beyoncé (#1) • "So What" – Pink (#1) • "Sorry" – Buckcherry (#9) • "Superstar" – Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos (#10) • "Swagga Like Us" – T.I. featuring Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne (#5) • "Take a Bow" – Rihanna (#1) • "Take You There" – Sean Kingston (#7) • "Tattoo" – Jordin Sparks (#8) • "This Is Me" – Demi Lovato featuring Joe Jonas (#9) • "The Time of My Life" – David Cook (#3) • "Tonight" – Jonas Brothers (#8) • "Touch My Body" – Mariah Carey (#1) • "Viva la Vida – Coldplay (#1) • "Whatever You Like – T.I. (#1) • "When I Grow Up" – The Pussycat Dolls (#9) • "With You" – Chris Brown (#2) • "Womanizer" – Britney Spears (#1) Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2008

United Kingdom

UK Official Top 75 No. 1 Hits

Australia

Australia Official Top 50 No. 1 Hits Australia Official Top 50 Hits – Singles which have ranked within Top 20

Other international hits

Classical music

Instrumental music

Opera

Other

Musical films

Musical television

Deaths

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December