American-British actor and singer David Soul died age 80. Soul was a three-pack-a-day cigarette smoker for 50 years and was seriously affected by COPD and had also had a lung removed due to cancer. He was known for his role as Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in the television series Starsky & Hutch from 1975 to 1979 and had the 1976 UK No.1 'Silver Lady' and the 1977 UK & US No.1 single 'Don't Give Up On Us'.

The biggest-selling vinyl album of 2023 by a British act was Rolling Stones' Hackney Diamonds. Released in October 2023, it became the Stones’ 14th No.1 album and enjoyed a second week at the top as 2023’s Official Christmas No. 1 album. The first album of original material by the Rolling Stones since 2005's A Bigger Bang, Hackney Diamonds reached No.1 in 20 countries and features guest contributions from Elton John, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, and former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman.

Miley Cyrus settled the $300 million copyright infringement lawsuit that accused the singer of stealing her 2013 hit 'We Can’t Stop.' The lawsuit, filed in 2018, was made by Jamaican songwriter Michael May, who alleged that 'We Can’t Stop' replicated his 1988 track 'We Run Things.'

Scottish singer songwriter Gerry Rafferty died aged 63 after a long illness. Rafferty had been a member of Stealers Wheel, who had the 1973 US No.3 & UK No.8 single 'Stuck In The Middle With You' and had the solo 1978 UK No.3 and US No.2 single 'Baker Street.'

Beyoncé won a long-running legal wrangle over claims her hit song 'Baby Boy' infringed the copyright of another artist's work. The appeals court in Houston, Texas upheld a 2006 decision which dismissed musician Jennifer Armour's claims that its lyrics were based on her work. Ms Armour claimed she had posted 'I Got A Little Bit Of Love For You' to Beyonce's manager and record company in early 2003.

The owner of a recording studio where Eminem recorded his 'Slim Shady' LP was found shot dead. AJ Abdallah, who was 36, was discovered by a business colleague at the Detroit studio, it was thought he had been dead for at least two days. Police suggested that a robbery may also have taken place. Mr Abdallah had lived in a apartment above the studio on Eight Mile Road, the Detroit street which inspired the title of Eminem's 2002 film '8 Mile.'

Irish singer, songwriter and bassist Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy died of heart failure and pneumonia after being in a coma for eight days following a drug overdose. With Thin Lizzy he had the 1973 hit 'Whiskey in the Jar', (their version of the traditional Irish song) and hits with ‘The Boys Are Back in Town’, ‘Jailbreak’ and ‘Waiting for an Alibi’. The groups 1978 album 'Live and Dangerous' spent 62 weeks on the UK chart. Lynott fronted several bands as a lead vocalist, including Skid Row alongside Gary Moore. A life-size bronze statue of Phil Lynott was unveiled on Harry Street in Dublin Ireland in 2005.

Elton John started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with his version of The Beatles 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'. His third US No.1, the song featured John Lennon on guitar.

The Beatles (without John Lennon) re-record vocals and a new guitar solo on the Paul McCartney song 'Let It Be' at Studio Two, EMI Studios, London. This session will be the final studio appearance for The Beatles, as a group. (The final date that all four of The Beatles were in the studio together is August 20, 1969).

The Doors released their self-titled debut album The Doors. The album features their breakthrough single 'Light My Fire' and the lengthy song 'The End' with its Oedipal spoken word section. The album was recorded at Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, California over six days and unique packaging of the album included each band members bio.

Four days before his 20th birthday Elvis Presley made his second visit to the Memphis Recording service and cut two songs onto a 10 acetate, 'Casual Love Affair 'and 'I'll Never Stand In Your Way'. Studio boss Sam Phillips asked Presley to leave his phone number.

English musician Lola Young, who had the 2024 UK No.1 single 'Messy'. Her third studio album I'm Only F**king Myself peaked at No.3 on the UK chart in 2025.

Timothy McKenzie, better known by his stage name Labrinth, British musician, singer, songwriter, rapper who had the 2012 UK No.1 single with Emeli Sandé ‘Beneath Your Beautiful’.

Ben Spivak singer and musician from Canadian reggae fusion band Magic! that had the 2014 US and UK No.1 hit single ‘Rude’, from their 2014 US Top 10 album Don't Kill the Magic.

Tim Wheeler, Northern Irish guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist from alternative rock band Ash who scored the 1995 UK No.11 single 'Girl From Mars' and the 1996 UK No.1 album 1977.

American record producer, songwriter, Christopher Alan "Tricky" Stewart, who is noted for producing many hip hop, R&B and pop chart topping singles, often with The-Dream. Some of Stewart's record breaking singles are: Beyoncé's 'Ladies (Put a Ring On It)', Rihanna 'Umbrella', Justin Bieber 'Baby', Britney Spears 'Me Against the Music', Mariah Carey's 'Touch My Body' and Nicole Scherzinger's 'Your Love'.

Ben Darvill, harmonica, with Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies best known internationally for their 1993 single 'Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm'.

English singer and songwriter Beth Gibbons from Portishead who had the 1995 UK No.13 single 'Glory Box'. Portishead's debut album, Dummy (1994) won the 1995 Mercury Music Prize and Melody Maker ranked the album the number one album of the year.

Cait O'Riordan, from Irish-British Celtic punk band The Pogues who scored the 1987 UK No.8 single 'The Irish Rover' and the 1987 UK No.2 single with Kirsty MaCcoll, 'Fairytale Of New York'.

David Glasper, singer from English pop band Breathe, who had the 1988 UK No.4 and US No.2 single 'Hands To Heaven'.

Martin Mcaloon, bassist from English English pop band Prefab Sprout who had the 1988 UK No.7 single 'The King Of Rock 'n' Roll'.

Scottish musician, songwriter Robin Guthrie, from Cocteau Twins. The group released the album Heaven or Las Vegas in late 1990 which became the most commercially successful of their many recordings.

Michael Stipe, American singer, songwriter, musician, from R.E.M., who were pivotal in the creation and development of the alternative rock genre. He formed R.E.M. after meeting his bandmates at University in Georgia in Athens, and soon dropped out to pursue music with them. The band issued its debut single, 'Radio Free Europe' (1981) and subsequently signed to I.R.S. Records, meeting wide acclaim and soon great commercial success. They had the 1991 UK No.6 & US No.10 single 'Shiny Happy People', plus over 20 Top 40 UK singles and the 1992 UK No.1 & US No.2 album Automatic For The People.

Macel King, singer from British soul group Sweet Sensation who scored the 1974 UK No.1 and US No.14 single 'Sad Sweet Dreamer'.

Nels Cline, guitarist from American alternative rock band Wilco who released the albums Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost Is Born, Sky Blue Sky and Wilco (The Album).

Bernard Sumner, the founding member of the bands Joy Division, New Order, Electronic, and Bad Lieutenant. Sumner was an early force in several areas, including the post-punk, synth-pop, and techno music scenes. Joy Division had the 1980 UK No.13 single 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and New Order had the 1983 UK No.9 single 'Blue Monday' and with Electronic, (with Johnny Marr), the 1991 UK No.8 single 'Get The Message'.

Mark Hollis, English musician and singer-songwriter. He achieved commercial success and critical acclaim in the 1980s and 1990s as the co-founder, lead singer and principal songwriter of the band Talk Talk. Hollis wrote or co-wrote most of Talk Talk's music, including hits like 'It's My Life' (1984) and 'Life's What You Make It' (1986). He died aged 64 on 25 February 2019.

Arthur Conley, US soul singer, known for the 1967 US No.2 & UK No.7 single 'Sweet Soul Music. He first recorded in 1959 as the lead singer of Arthur & the Corvets. Conley died of cancer on 17th November 2003.

John Gorman, singer, with the comedy, poetry and music trio The Scaffold. They are best known for their 1967 hit 'Thank U Very Much' and the 1968 Christmas UK No.1 single 'Lily The Pink'.