Editing 1980 in music (section)

===January–March===
*[[January 1]]
**[[Cliff Richard]] is appointed an [[British honours system|MBE]] by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] of the United Kingdom.
*[[January 5]] – [[Donna Summer]]'s third double album in a 14-month period, ''[[On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II]]'', released on 15 October 1979, reaches the top spot on the Billboard Albums charts.
*[[January 7]] – At the age of 44, songwriter [[Larry Williams]] is found dead in his [[Los Angeles, California]], home of a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators are never able to determine whether his death was a murder or suicide.
*[[January 13]] – [[The Beach Boys]], [[Grateful Dead]], and [[Jefferson Starship]] perform at a [[benefit concert]] at Oakland Coliseum for the people of [[Kampuchea]].
*[[January 14]] – [[Rush (band)|Rush]] release ''[[Permanent Waves]]'', which eventually becomes the band's fifth platinum album.
*[[January 16]] – [[Paul McCartney]] is arrested in Tokyo for possession of a half pound of [[cannabis (drug)|marijuana]]. The remaining part of McCartney's and [[Wings (band)|Wings]]' tour was subsequently canceled.
*[[January 19]] – The first [[UK Indie Chart]] is published in ''Record Week'', with [[Spizzenergi]]'s "[[Where's Captain Kirk]]" topping the singles chart, and [[Adam and the Ants]]' ''Dirk Wears White Sox'' topping the album chart.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lazell|first1=Barry|title=Indie hits, 1980–1989: the complete U.K. independent charts (singles & albums)|year=1997|publisher=[[Cherry Red Records|Cherry Red]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-9517206-9-1|oclc=38292499}}</ref>
*[[January 25]] – [[Paul McCartney]] is released from jail in Japan and ejected from the country by Japanese authorities.
*[[February 7]] – [[Pink Floyd]]'s [[The Wall Tour]] opens at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena]].
*[[February 19]] – [[Bon Scott]], lead singer of [[AC/DC]], dies in London. Although common folklore cites [[pulmonary aspiration]] of vomit as the cause of his death, the official cause is listed as "Acute alcohol poisoning" and "Death by Misadventure".
*[[February 27]] – The [[22nd Annual Grammy Awards]] are presented in [[Los Angeles]], hosted by [[Kenny Rogers]]. [[Billy Joel]]'s ''[[52nd Street (album)|52nd Street]]'' wins [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]], while [[the Doobie Brothers]]' "[[What a Fool Believes]]" wins both [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]. [[Rickie Lee Jones]] wins [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]].
*[[February 29]] – [[Buddy Holly]]'s trademark glasses and [[the Big Bopper]]'s wristwatch are "rediscovered" in old police files by the [[Mason City, Iowa]], sheriff (both were killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959, along with singer [[Ritchie Valens]]).
*[[March 3]] – [[Sotheby's]] auction house in London auctions off a Rivera Hotel, Las Vegas, napkin signed by [[Elvis Presley]] for £500. Other items auctioned included four American dollar bills autographed by [[the Beatles]], for £220 and a collection of personal letters belonging to the Rolling Stones, also for £220.
*[[March 8]]–16 – [[Tbilisi Rock Festival (1980)]]: the first state-sanctioned [[rock music]] festival in the Soviet Union.
*[[March 14]] – [[Record producer]] [[Quincy Jones]] receives a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].
*[[March 19]] – Elvis Presley's autopsy was subpoenaed during the trial of Dr. George Nichopoulous, who would later be found guilty of over-prescribing drugs to Presley, [[Jerry Lee Lewis]] and other clients.
*[[March 20]] – [[Radio Caroline]] shuts down in the UK after radio ship ''[[MV Mi Amigo|Mi Amigo]]'' sinks in a storm.