Taylor Swift overtook Madonna by setting a new chart record for the quickest succession of nine UK No.1 albums by a female artist after her 10th album, Midnights, topped the UK chart. The album also became the fastest-selling record of 2022.

McFly scored their 6th UK No.1 single with 'Star Girl'. The song was played in space to wake up the astronauts on the space station, after a successful twitter campaign asking NASA to play the song started by band member Tom Fletcher.

A set of waxwork heads of The Beatles from their Sgt. Pepper's album cover sold for £81,500. The "pepperheads" were auctioned off after recently being discovered in a back room at London's Madame Tussauds. They were used in 1967 by artist Sir Peter Blake in the backdrop of the "Lonely Hearts Club Band" album with the actual Beatles posing at the front.

Research in the US found that songs get stuck in our heads because they create a 'brain itch' that can only be scratched by repeating a tune over and over. Songs such as the Village People's Y.M.C.A and the Baha Men's 'Who Let The Dogs Out' owe their success to their ability to create a 'cognitive itch', according to Professor James Kellaris, of the University of Cincinnati College of Business Administration.

Winners at this years 'Q' awards included, Ash, best single for 'Burn Baby Burn', Starsailor won best new act, Travis won best album for 'The Invisible Band', Manic Street Preachers won best live act and John Lydon won the Inspiration award.

The Spice Girls went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Holler / Let Love Lead The Way'. The group made musical history by scoring their ninth No.1 making them joint fourth in the list of acts that have had nine UK No.1 singles.

UK reggae/rap performer Pato Banton (with Robin & Ali Campbell from UB40), started a four week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the 1968 Eddy Grant song and Equals hit 'Baby Come Back.'

Enya started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Orinoco Flow.' Originally with family act, Clannad, Enya went solo and specialised in Celtic and New Age recordings.

American drummer Wells Kelly who was a member of Orleans and worked with Meat Loaf died aged 45 after choking to death on his vomit. Had the 1976 US hit singles with Orleans, 'Still The One' and 'Dance with Me.'

Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon marked its 491st week on the Billboard album chart in the US, surpassing the previous record holder, 'Johnny's Greatest Hits' by Johnny Mathis. When it finally fell off of list in October 1988, 'Dark Side' had set a record of 741 weeks on the chart.

'Islands In The Stream', gave Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers a No.1 on the US singles chart. The song was written by The Bee Gees and co-produced by Barry Gibb.

The Belgian travel service issued a summons against the Sex Pistols claiming the sleeve to the bands single 'Holidays In The Sun' infringed copyright of one of its brochures.

? & the Mysterians went to No.1 on the US singles chart with '96 Tears'. Although he closely guarded his true identity at the time, the man known as Question Mark turned out to be Rudy Martinez, from Saginaw Valley, Michigan. The song was later a UK hit in the UK for The Stranglers in 1990.

The Who released the single 'My Generation' in the UK. The song was named the 11th greatest song by Rolling Stone on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and 13th on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Songs of Rock & Roll. It reached No. 2 in the UK, the Who's highest charting single in their home country but only No. 74 in America.

The Beatles made their second appearance on the Granada TV program ‘People and Places.’ Filmed in Manchester, they performed two songs, 'Love Me Do' and ‘A Taste of Honey’.

Swedish singer and songwriter Tove Lo. She rose to prominence with her debut album, Queen of the Clouds, which peaked at No.14 on the US Billboard 200 chart in October 2014. It spawned the sleeper hit single 'Habits (Stay High), which peaked at No.3 on the US Hot 100. He song 'Glad He's Gone', was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2020 for Best Music Video.

American musician Chris Baio, bassist from Vampire Weekend. The band's debut album, Vampire Weekend (2008), has been hailed as one of the greatest debut albums. Their second album, Contra (2010), was similarly acclaimed and garnered strong commercial success, debuting at No.1 on the US Billboard Chart.

Toby Smith, keyboards, with Jamiroquai who had the 1993 UK No.1 album Emergency on Planet Earth and the 1998 UK No.1 single 'Deeper Underground'. Smith died on 11 April 2017 aged 46 after he had been diagnosed with cancer six years earlier.

English DJ and record producer Roni Size. He came to prominence in 1997 as the founder and frontman of Roni Size & Reprazent, a drum and bass collective. That year, they won the Mercury Prize for their debut studio album New Forms.

Peter Timmins, drummer of the Canadian alternative country and folk rock band Cowboy Junkies, which formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1985. The band gained wide recognition with their second studio album, The Trinity Session (1988), recorded in 1987 at Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity.

American musician, singer, songwriter Randy Jackson. He is the ninth child in the Jackson family. Randy is the youngest Jackson brother and the second-youngest Jackson sibling before his sister Janet. Randy is a former member of his family band the Jacksons, which he joined after his brother Jermaine left the group (then named the Jackson 5). He was nominated for a Grammy Award for his work on the 1980 studio album Triumph.

Kevin DuBrow, singer, Quiet Riot, (1983 US No.1 album, 'Metal Health'). Found dead in his Las Vegas home at the age of 52 on 25th Nov 2007. The band's biggest hit was Cum on Feel the Noize, a cover of the Slade song which they are said to have grudgingly recorded in just one take.

Roger O'Donnell, keyboardist with English rock band The Cure who had the 1989 US No.2 single 'Love Song', the 1992 UK No.6 single 'Friday I'm In Love', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles. He has also worked with the Psychedelic Furs, the Thompson Twins and Berlin.

Steve Luscombe, from English synth-pop band Blancmange, who had the 1982 UK No.7 single 'Living On The Ceiling'. Blancmange released three studio albums in the 80s, Happy Families (1982), Mange Tout (1984) and Believe You Me (1985). Luscombe died on 13 September 2025, at the age of 70.

Scottish bassist, guitarist and singer David Paton, who with Pilot had the 1975 UK No.1 single 'January' and the No.11 hit 'Magic'. Paton is also known for his work in the original lineup of The Alan Parsons Project (1975-1985), and for working with acts such as Kate Bush, Camel and Elton John.

American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer James Williamson. He was a member of the iconic proto-punk rock band The Stooges with Iggy Pop, notably on the influential 1973 album Raw Power.

Ricky Reynolds, from American Southern rock band Black Oak Arkansas, known for their 70s US No.1 radio hit single 'Jim Dandy To The Rescue'. He died on 5 September 2021 age 72.

Rob Van Leeuwen, from the Dutch rock band Shocking Blue, who formed in The Hague in 1967. They had the 1970 US No.1 & UK No.8 single 'Venus' which topped the charts in nine countries and was the first song by a Dutch band to reach No. 1 on the US chart. Worldwide, the single has sold over 5 million copies. Bananarama covered 'Venus' in 1986, hitting No.1 in the United States, Canada, and Australia, and reaching No.8 in the UK. American rock band Nirvana recorded a cover version of the Shocking Blue song 'Love Buzz' for its 1988 debut single, released on Sub Pop in the USA.

English blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Peter Green, the founder of Fleetwood Mac. He was a member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, (replacing Eric Clapton). Fleetwood Mac scored the 1969 UK No.1 single 'Albatross' and other hits include 'Black Magic Woman', 'Oh Well' and 'Man of the World'. While touring Europe in late March 1970, Green took LSD at a party at a commune near Munich, an incident cited by Fleetwood Mac manager Clifford Davis as the crucial point in his mental decline. After a final performance on 20 May 1970, Green left Fleetwood Mac and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in psychiatric hospitals undergoing electroconvulsive therapy during the mid-1970s. Green formed the Peter Green Splinter Group in the late 1990s, releasing nine blues albums. He died in his sleep age 73 on 26 Jul 2020.

Mick Gallagher, English Hammond organ, piano and synthesizer player, best known as a member of Ian Dury and the Blockheads and Gallagher played on two of the most influential Clash albums, London Calling (1979) and Sandinista! (1980). He also played with the Animals in 1965

English musician, singer, songwriter Denny Laine who with The Moody Blues, had the 1965 UK No.1 & US No.10 single 'Go Now'. Laine was a constant member of Wings for their entire run from 1971 to 1981, playing guitar, bass, keyboards, singing backing and lead vocals, and co-writing songs with Paul McCartney including the 1977 hit 'Mull of Kintyre'. Laine died from interstitial lung disease in Naples, Florida, on 5 December 2023, at the age of 79.