Editing 1990 in music (section)

===January–March===
*[[January 8]] – Irish singer [[Sinéad O'Connor]] released her famous single "[[Nothing Compares 2 U]]" (originally written, composed and performed by [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]) which was a worldwide success, becoming one of the best selling singles in the world in 1990 and topped the charts in many countries including the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom]].
*[[January 18]] – [[Eric Clapton]] plays the first of eighteen shows in a three-week span at London's [[Royal Albert Hall]].
*[[January 21]] – MTV's ''[[MTV Unplugged|Unplugged]]'' is broadcast for the first time, on cable television, with British band [[Squeeze (band)|Squeeze]].
*[[February 6]]
**[[Billy Idol]] is involved in a serious motorcycle accident, resulting in several broken bones. Idol had been scheduled to have a major role in [[Oliver Stone]]'s film ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]'', but due to his injuries, the role was reduced almost to a bit part. The role of the [[T-1000]] in ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'', originally intended for Idol, was recast entirely as a result of the accident.
**[[Bob Marley]]'s birthday is a national holiday in [[Jamaica]] for the first time.
*[[February 14]] – 50,000 fans watch [[The Rolling Stones]] play the first of 10 concerts at Tokyo's Korakuen Dome, the beginning of the Stones' first ever tour of Japan. The group was originally scheduled to perform there in 1973 but a drug conviction prevented [[Mick Jagger]] from obtaining a visa at the time.
*[[February 16]] – [[Ike Turner]] is sentenced to four years in prison for possession of [[cocaine]].
*[[February 21]] – The [[32nd Annual Grammy Awards]] are presented in [[Los Angeles]], hosted by [[Garry Shandling]]. [[Bonnie Raitt]]'s ''[[Nick of Time (album)|Nick of Time]]'' wins [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]], while [[Bette Midler]]'s cover of "[[Wind Beneath My Wings#Bette Midler version|Wind Beneath My Wings]]" wins both [[Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]. [[Milli Vanilli]] win [[Best New Artist]].
*[[February 24]] – [[The Byrds]] ([[Roger McGuinn]], [[Chris Hillman]] and [[David Crosby]]) reunite, for the first time in 25 years, to perform at a Los Angeles tribute to [[Roy Orbison]]. The three are joined unexpectedly on stage by [[Bob Dylan]], who sings "[[Mr. Tambourine Man]]" with the band.
*[[March 15]] – [[MCA Inc.]] purchases [[Geffen Records]] for over $550 million in stock. Under the agreement, [[David Geffen]] will continue to run the record company through an employment contract.
*[[March 16]] – [[Flea (musician)|Flea]] and [[Chad Smith]] of [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] are arrested and charged for an incident two days earlier at a performance in [[Daytona Beach]] during [[MTV Spring Break|MTV's spring break]] coverage, in which they allegedly sexually assaulted and verbally abused a female audience member after jumping from the stage. They are released on $2,000 bail.
*[[March 20]]
**[[Gloria Estefan]]'s tour bus is involved in an accident. Estefan suffers several broken bones in her back.
**A riot almost breaks out in downtown Los Angeles when [[Depeche Mode]] draw a crowd of 20,000 during an in-store appearance at [[Wherehouse Entertainment]] to sign copies of their new album ''[[Violator (album)|Violator]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Ultimate Classic Rock |title=When Depeche Mode's 'Violator' Nearly Caused a Riot: Book Excerpt |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/depeche-mode-violator-riot/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=22 December 2020}}</ref>
*[[March 25]] – [[Mötley Crüe]]'s [[Tommy Lee]] is arrested for allegedly exposing his buttocks during a performance in [[Augusta, Georgia]].
*[[March 28]] – [[The Go-Go's]] reunite to play a benefit concert for the California Environmental Protection Act. They play several more reunion shows later in the year.