2021 in British music
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This is a summary of the year 2021 in British music.
Events
- 11 January – The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) announces that Sir Simon Rattle is to stand down as its music director in 2023, and is scheduled subsequently to take the title of LSO conductor emeritus for life.[1]
- 21 January – The Glastonbury Festival announces the cancellation of its scheduled 2021 Festival, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
- 22 January – The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra announces that Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla is to conclude her tenure as its music director after the 2021–2022 season, and subsequently to take on the post of principal guest conductor.[3]
Television programmes
Classical works
- Hannah Kendall – 'Where is the chariot of fire?'[4]
- Jack Sheen – Hollow propranolol séance[5]
Opera
Musical theatre
Film scores and incidental music
Film
- Stefan Gregory – The Dig[6]
- Dominic Lewis – Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, directed by Will Gluck[7]
Television
British music awards
- Brit Awards – see 2021 Brit Awards
Charts and sales
Number-one singles
The singles chart includes a proportion for streaming.
| Chart date (week ending) |
Song | Artist(s) | Chart sales | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January | "Last Christmas" | Wham! | 40,149 | [8] |
| 14 January | "Sweet Melody" | Little Mix | 31,186 | [9] |
| 21 January | "Drivers License" | Olivia Rodrigo | 95,000 | [10] |
| 28 January | 117,000 | [11] | ||
| 4 February | 86,000 | [12] |
Number-one albums
The albums chart includes a proportion for streaming.
| Chart date (week ending) |
Album | Artist(s) | Chart sales | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January | Christmas | Michael Bublé | 10,202 | [13] |
| 14 January | Evermore | Taylor Swift | 7,330 | [14] |
| 21 January | Greenfields | Barry Gibb | 16,166 | [15] |
| 28 January | Suckapunch | You Me at Six | 14,298 | [16] |
| 4 February | Post Human: Survival Horror | Bring Me the Horizon | 14,904 | [17] |
Number-one compilation albums
| Chart date (week ending) |
Album | Chart sales | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January | Now 107 | [18] | |
| 14 January | The Greatest Showman | [19] | |
| 21 January | [20] | ||
| 28 January | [21] | ||
| 4 February | [22] |
Deaths
- 3 January – Gerry Marsden, singer, musician, (Gerry and the Pacemakers), 78
- 5 January – John Georgiadis, orchestral violinist and leader, and conductor, 81[23]
- 6 January – Osian Ellis, harpist, 92[24]
- 10 January – Mark Keds, singer, musician, (Senseless Things), 50
- 29 January - Hilton Valentine, musician, guitarist, (The Animals), 77
- 30 January - Sophie, Scottish musician, producer, singer-songwriter, DJ, 34
See also
References
- ^ "Sir Simon Rattle announces an extension of his contract as Music Director until 2023 and accepts lifetime position of Conductor Emeritus thereafter" (Press release). London Symphony Orchestra. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ Laura Snapes (21 January 2021). "Glastonbury 2021 officially cancelled due to Covid pandemic". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla extends contract with the CBSO" (Press release). City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ The Hallé, 14 January 2021 programme
- ^ Wigmore Hall, 18 January 2021 programme
- ^ "Stefan Gregory Scoring Simon Stone's Netflix Film 'The Dig'". Film Music Reporter. Film Music Reporter. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "Dominic Lewis Scoring Will Gluck's 'Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway'". Film Music Reporter. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ UK Singles Chart 7 January 2021
- ^ UK Singles Chart 14 January 2021
- ^ UK Singles Chart 21 January 2021
- ^ UK Singles Chart 28 January 2021
- ^ UK Singles Chart 4 February 2021
- ^ UK Albums Chart 7 January 2021
- ^ UK Albums Chart 14 January 2021
- ^ UK Albums Chart 21 January 2021
- ^ UK Albums Chart 28 January 2021
- ^ UK Albums Chart 4 february 2021
- ^ UK Compilation Chart 7 January 2021
- ^ UK Compilation Chart 14 January 2021
- ^ UK Compilation Chart 21 January 2021
- ^ UK Compilation Chart 28 January 2021
- ^ UK Compilation Chart 4 February 2021
- ^ "Obituary: John Georgiadis (1939–2021)" (Press release). London Symphony Orchestra. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "Osian Ellis, harpist known for his association with Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears – obituary". The Telegraph. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.