1989 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.

Specific locations

 * 1989 in British music
 * 1989 in Norwegian music
 * 1989 in South Korean music

Specific genres

 * 1989 in country music
 * 1989 in heavy metal music
 * 1989 in hip hop music
 * 1989 in Christian

Events

 * January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР (Back in the USSR) exclusively in the USSR. Bootleg copies sell for as much as US$1,000 in the United States.
 * January 23 – James Brown is sentenced in Georgia, US, to six years in jail in connection with a police chase through two different states.
 * January 27 – Michael Jackson ends the Bad World Tour in Los Angeles, US.
 * February 12
 * Roy Orbison joins Elvis Presley as the only singers to ever simultaneously have two top 5 albums on the Billboard charts.
 * Tiny Tim launches an unsuccessful campaign to be elected mayor of New York City, US.
 * February 17 – Whitesnake's David Coverdale marries Tawny Kitaen.
 * February 22 – The 31st Annual Grammy Awards are presented in Los Angeles, hosted by Billy Crystal. George Michael's Faith wins Album of the Year, while Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy" wins both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Tracy Chapman wins Best New Artist.
 * March 21 – Madonna's "Like a Prayer" music video, taped in late December 1988, attracts criticism for its use of Catholic Church iconography and for the use of cross burning imagery, but also garners praise for its interpretation of discrimination, rape, and faith. Pepsi drops Madonna as a spokesperson out of fear the video will cause religious groups to boycott the company.
 * April 9 – The Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman announces that he will marry 19-year-old Mandy Smith, his girlfriend for six years.
 * April 12 – Michael Jackson is named "King of Pop" after receiving the Soul Train Heritage Awards.
 * April 28 – Jon Bon Jovi marries his high school sweetheart Dorothea Hurley at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada, US.
 * May 1 – California, US jewelry store employees called the police reporting a suspicious person hanging around their store. The person turns out to be Michael Jackson shopping in disguise.
 * May 6 — The 34th annual Eurovision Song Contest, held at Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne, is won by Yugoslavian band Riva, with the song "Rock Me". This is the first year a Balkan country has won the contest, and is also the only win for Yugoslavia as a unified state.
 * July 9 – All four original members of The Monkees reunite in Los Angeles, US, for a concert performance at the Universal Amphitheatre. The following day the quartet attend an induction ceremony at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where they receive a star.
 * July 23 – Former Beatle Ringo Starr forms his own band named Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.
 * July 29 – The Bee Gees perform in the U.S. for the first time in 10 years as part of their One for All world tour.
 * August 3 – Sergio Franchi collapses before scheduled concert; dies 9 months later of brain cancer.
 * August 11-12 – The Moscow Music Peace Festival is held in the Soviet Union. The event is put together by Doc McGhee and the Make-A-Wish Foundation and headline acts include Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, Cinderella, and the Scorpions.
 * August 31 – The Rolling Stones open their Steel Wheels North American tour in Philadelphia, US.
 * September 9
 * The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, designed by I. M. Pei, opens in Dallas, Texas, US.
 * Madonna gives a risqué performance at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards. Clad in baggy black sweatpants and a black bustier, she shocks the audience by simulating masturbation. The version of the song used in the show would later serve as the opening number of 1990's "Blond Ambition World Tour".
 * October 15 – Media Rings Corporation, the Japanese music, video game, and software publishing company, is founded in Akasaka.
 * December 23 – Ice Cube leaves N.W.A after financial problems and several conflicts with their manager Jerry Heller and the group's founder Eazy-E. By this time, Cube has been recording his solo debut album, which will be released next year.

Also in 1989

 * Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith leaves the band and is replaced by ex-Gillan guitarist Janick Gers who had most recently worked with Bruce Dickinson on his solo project.
 * Ars Musica, an annual contemporary music international festival, founded
 * The swing revival is generally agreed upon to have begun in 1989.

Bands formed

 * Dark Tranquillity
 * The Osborn Sisters

Bands disbanded

 * Felt
 * Survivor

Bands reformed

 * Cluster
 * Luv'
 * Plasmatics

Albums released
All releases are an LP record unless otherwise stated. Multiple entries for the same day are arranged alphabetically by the album's name. Release dates may vary in different countries.

Release date unknown

 * A Word from the Wise – Pennywise (EP)
 * Al Denson – Al Denson
 * All Aboard the Mind Train – The Modern Art
 * All or Nothing – Milli Vanilli
 * All That Jazz – Ella Fitzgerald
 * Animal Logic - Animal Logic
 * At Peace – Jade Warrior
 * Beyond Hell's Gate – Final Axe
 * Big Talk – Edin-Ådahl
 * Blow – Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
 * Bringing It Back Home – The Clark Sisters
 * Brotherly Love – Daniel Winans
 * Cantemos Juntos – Lynda Thomas (EP)
 * Christmas Is... – Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge
 * Complete Discography – Minor Threat
 * Century Flower – Shelleyan Orphan
 * The Complete Sham 69 Live – Sham 69
 * Cyborgs Revisited – Simply Saucer
 * Don't Dance with Danger - Scarlet Red
 * Door Into Summer - Jacob's Trouble
 * Down on the River - John Hartford
 * Drowning in Limbo – Lydia Lunch
 * Early Music – Santana
 * Enter the Realm – Iced Earth (demo EP)
 * Face of Despair – Mortal Sin
 * Fight the Power... Live! – Public Enemy – (live, released on VHS)
 * First Watch – Guardian (band)
 * Freedom – White Heart
 * Funk-O-Metal Carpet Ride – Electric Boys
 * Get Yer Jujus Out – Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & His Inter-Reformers Band
 * Godhead – Lowlife
 * Hard Volume – Rollins Band
 * Heroes – New Jersey Mass Choir
 * Helter Stupid – Negativland
 * Human Soul - Graham Parker
 * I Can See You – Black Flag
 * Immigrant's Daughter – Margaret Becker
 * In Your Face – Shout
 * Innocent Blood – REZ
 * Imagine That - Dennis Seaton
 * It's a Jungle Out There! - Mastedon
 * Knights of Heaven – Leviticus
 * Les Rythmes Automatiques (fr) – Telex
 * Liaison – Liaison
 * Live ED – Étienne Daho
 * Liberation – Bunny Wailer
 * Long Way From Paradise – Allies
 * Master's Command – Sacred Warrior
 * Michigan Rain – Gregg Alexander (debut)
 * Modern – Hijokaidan
 * Mother Nature's Kitchen – Kevin McDermott
 * Night of Rage – Kraut
 * No More Blues – Susannah McCorkle
 * No Room in the Middle – Greg X. Volz
 * Once We Were Scum, Now We Are God – No
 * Out of the Darkness – Bloodgood
 * Outdoor Elvis – The Swirling Eddies
 * The Pledge – DeGarmo and Key
 * Powertrip – Ludichrist (final album)
 * Prime 5 – Ween
 * Rasta Souvenir – Manu Dibango
 * Rage of Angels – Rage of Angels
 * Sittin' Pretty – The Pastels
 * Samiam – Samiam
 * Searchlight – Runrig
 * Silence is Madness – Bride
 * The Singular Adventures of The Style Council: Greatest Hits Vol.1 – The Style Council – (Compilation)
 * Smash – One Bad Pig
 * Some Disenchanted Evening – The Verlaines
 * State of Control – Barren Cross
 * Strange Cargo – David Van Tieghem
 * Start Today - Gorilla Biscuits
 * Strong Medicine – Bryan Duncan
 * Tragedy Again – D.I.
 * Veuillez rendre l'âme (à qui elle appartient) – Noir Désir
 * The Way Home – Russ Taff
 * Western Shadows – Carole Laure
 * Workbook (album) - Bob Mould
 * Wrong – Nomeansno
 * You Can Fly – Steven Prince Band

Biggest hit singles
The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1989.

Other Chart hit singles
• "And the Night Stood Still" – Dion (# 75 US)

• "Belye Rozy" – Laskoviy Mai

• "Blush" - The Hummingbirds (# 19 Australia)

• "Carma (Omen 2)" – Mysterious Art

• "Casser la voix" - Patrick Bruel

• "C Day" - Confetti's

• "Cœur de loup" - Philippe Lafontaine

• "The Crack-Up" – The Black Sorrows (# 40 Australia)

• "Come Anytime" - Hoodoo Gurus (# 27 Australia) - (# 1 US Modern Rock Tracks - Billboard)

• "Communication" – John Farnham and Danni'Elle (# 13 Australia)

• "Compulsory Hero" – 1927 (# 14 Australia)

• "Cry in Shame" – Johnny Diesel and the Injectors (# 10 Australia)

• "Das Omen (Teil 1)" – Mysterious Art

• "Dumb Things" - Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls (# 36 Australia - # 17 US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks)

• "Eve of the War" (Ben Liebrand Remix)" - Jeff Wayne

• French Kiss" - Honesty 69

• "House of Cards" - James Reyne (# 17 Australia)

• "If I Ever Fall in Love Again" – Anne Murray (# 6 Canada Adult Contemporary - # 9 Canada Country Tracks - # 28 US Hot Country Songs Billboard)

• "I Get the Job Done" – Big Daddy Kane

• "It's Alright" - Gyan (# 49 Australia)

• "It's Only Love" - Simply Red

• "Killin' Time" – Clint Black (# 1 Canada Country Tracks - # 1 US Hot Country Songs Billboard)

• "Let Me Be" - Daryl Braithwaite (# 26 Australia)

• "London Kid" – Jean Michel Jarre & Hank Marvin

• "Lookin' for Love" – Johnny Diesel and the Injectors (# 28 Australia)

• "Nothing Has Been Proved" – Dusty Springfield (# 16 UK)

• "Onion Skin" – Boom Crash Opera (# 11 Australia)

• "Rich in Paradise" - FPI Project

• "Say Goodbye" - Indecent Obsession (# 6 Australia)

• "Simple Man" - Noiseworks (# 47 Australia)

• "Soldier of Love" – Donny Osmond (# 57 US - # 66 Canada)

• "Soul Revival" – Johnny Diesel and the Injectors (# 9 Australia)

• "The World Seems Difficult" – Mental As Anything (# 19 Australia)

• "Wait" - Gyan (# 14 Australia)

• "What the World Is Waiting For" - The Stone Roses

• "Where are you now" - Jimmy Harnen w/ Synch (# 10 United States, # 3 US Adult Contemporary [Billboard])

• "Winning It All" - The Outfield (# 94 Canada - # 104 US Cash Box Top 100)

• "You'll Never Know" – 1927 (# 15 Australia)

• "You're History" - Shakespears Sister

Other Notable singles
• "Another World" - Hoodoo Gurus

• "Blush" - The Hummingbirds

• "Falling Over You" – The Triffids

• "Goodbye Little Boy" – The Triffids

• "Purple Toupee" - They Might Be Giants

• "Sweet Guy" - Paul Kelly and The Messengers

• "They'll Need a Crane" - They Might Be Giants

• "V for Vendetta" - Bughouse

• "Word Gets Around" - The Hummingbirds

• "You Happy Puppet" - 10,000 Maniacs

Published popular music

 * "Kiss the Girl" m. Alan Menken, w. Howard Ashman, from The Little Mermaid
 * "Part of Your World" m. Alan Menken, w. Howard Ashman, from The Little Mermaid
 * "Under the Sea" m. Alan Menken, w. Howard Ashman, from The Little Mermaid
 * "We Didn't Start the Fire" w.m. Billy Joel
 * "You Got It"    w.m. Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne & Tom Petty

Classical music

 * Elliott Carter
 * Three Occasions for Orchestra (1986–89)
 * Violin Concerto
 * Peter Maxwell Davies – Symphony No. 4
 * Kaija Saariaho - Du cristal...
 * Anders Eliasson – Symphony No. 3, for alto saxophone and orchestra
 * Einar Englund – Wind Quintet
 * Karel Goeyvaerts
 * Aquarius, stage cantata, for eight sopranos and 15 instrumentalists
 * ...want de tijd is nabij (Because the Time Is Near), for male chorus and strings
 * Ingram Marshall – Sinfonia Dolce far Niente
 * Toshirô Mayuzumi
 * Mukyūdō, for orchestra
 * Rokudan, for harp
 * John McCabe – String Quartet No. 5
 * Einojuhani Rautavaara – Piano Concerto No. 2
 * Robert Simpson
 * String Quartet No. 13
 * Vortex for Brass Band
 * John Tavener – The Protecting Veil
 * I Nyoman Windha – Puspanjali

Opera

 * Conrad Cummings – Photo-Op
 * Anthony Davis – Under the Double Moon
 * Lorenzo Ferrero
 * Charlotte Corday
 * Le Bleu-blanc-rouge et le noir
 * Alexander Vustin – The Devil in Love (opera) (not performed)

Musical theatre

 * Aspects of Love (Andrew Lloyd Webber) – London production
 * City of Angels – Broadway production opened at the Virginia Theatre and ran for 897 performances
 * Grand Hotel – Broadway production opened at the Martin Beck Theatre and ran for 1017 performances
 * Gypsy (Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim) – Broadway revival
 * Meet Me in St. Louis – Broadway production based on the 1944 film, ran for 252 performances
 * Miss Saigon (Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil) – London production
 * Pacific Overtures (Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman) – London production
 * Starmites (Stuart Ross and Barry Keating) - Broadway production opened at Criterion Center Stage Right and ran for 60 performances

Musical films

 * 101-Depeche Mode
 * Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!
 * The Fabulous Baker Boys
 * ChaalBaaz
 * Juke-Bar (animation)
 * The Little Mermaid — animated feature film
 * Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
 * Polly (TV film)
 * Sons of Steel

Births

 * January 3 – Julia Nunes, American singer-songwriter
 * January 4 – Labrinth, English singer-songwriter, musician, rapper and record producer
 * January 6 – James Durbin, American singer
 * January 7 – Wrabel, American singer-songwriter
 * January 9 – Kyle Craft, American southern blues glam rock singer-songwriter and musician
 * January 13 – Triinu Kivilaan, Estonian singer and model
 * January 14 – Frankie Sandford, British singer-songwriter (S Club Juniors, The Saturdays)
 * January 16 – Kiesza, Canadian singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist
 * January 20 – Joel Pott, English musician (Shura)
 * January 24
 * Calvin Goldspink, British singer (S Club Juniors)
 * Trace Cyrus, American musician (The Cyrus Family (Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Noah Cyrus)) (Metro Station)
 * January 25 – Yasmien Kurdi, Filipina singer and actress
 * January 28 – Carly Paoli, British mezzo-soprano
 * February 2 – Southside, American record producer, songwriter and rapper
 * February 3 – Ryne Sanborn, American actor, singer and dancer
 * February 7 – Jihae, South Korean singer and actress
 * February 8 – Matias Tellez, Norwegian singer-songwriter, composer and record producer
 * February 10 – Olga Korsak, Latvian singer-songwriter, actress, and former competitive figure skater
 * February 16
 * Danielle Haim, American multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter (Haim)
 * Bry, Irish singer-songwriter
 * February 17
 * Stacey McClean, British singer (S Club Juniors)
 * Chord Overstreet, American actor, Glee cast member, singer, musician and composer
 * February 22 – Anna Sundstrand, Swedish singer and model
 * February 24 – Lauren Brant, South African-Australian television personality, singer-dancer and actress
 * February 27
 * Stefano Langone, American singer
 * Sam Sweeney, English folk musician
 * Shota Shimizu, Japanese singer
 * March 1
 * Sonya Kitchell, American jazz singer-songwriter
 * Karl-Erik Taukar, Estonian singer, bass guitarist and television host
 * March 9 – TaeYeon, member of South Korean pop girl group Girls' Generation
 * March 11
 * Shin Soohyun, member of South Korean pop boy group U-KISS
 * Rainey Qualley, American actress and singer who works under the name Rainsford
 * March 13 – Yemi Alade, Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress and activist
 * March 14 – Yutaka Yamada, Japanese composer, arranger and orchestrator
 * March 19 – Ben Briley, American singer
 * March 20 – Sam de Jong, record producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Auckland, New Zealand based in Los Angeles, California. (Ella Henderson, Amy Shark)
 * March 21 – Rochelle Wiseman, British singer (S Club Juniors & The Saturdays)
 * March 23 – Mike Will Made It, American record producer, rapper, singer and songwriter (Miley Cyrus, Kendrick Lamar)
 * March 25 – Alyson Michalka, American singer-songwriter and actress
 * March 26 – Josiah Leming, American singer-songwriter
 * March 29 – Michelle Zauner, Korean-American singer, musician, director, and author.
 * March 30 – Eden xo, American singer-songwriter and actress
 * April 8
 * Alexander DeLeon, American singer-songwriter (The Cab)
 * Matty Healy, British singer-songwriter, musician, producer, performance artist of The 1975 with George Daniel, (worked with: halsey, Taylor Swift, The Japanese House, Beabadoobee, Holly Humberstone, FKA twigs)
 * Hitomi Takahashi, Japanese rock singer
 * April 11 – Zola Jesus, American singer/songwriter
 * April 18 – Jessica, member of Girls' Generation
 * April 19 – Simu Liu, Canadian actor and singer
 * April 20
 * Han Hee-jun, South Korean singer
 * Carlos Valdes (actor), Independance singer-songwriter and a Colombian-American actor
 * April 24 – Thomas Sanders, American singer, songwriter, YouTuber, playwright, scriptwriter and internet personality (Dodie, Joan, Ben J Pierce)
 * May 1 – Tim Urban, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * May 3 – Mary Lambert, American country singer/songwriter and poet
 * May 5 – Chris Brown, American singer and rapper
 * May 9 – Katy B, English singer and songwriter
 * May 15 – Sunny, member of Girls' Generation
 * May 24 – G-Eazy, American rapper, producer, singer (Worked with: Britney Spears, Bebe Rexha, Halsey)
 * May 28 – Asuca Hayashi, J-pop singer
 * May 30 – Kevin Covais, American Idol finalist
 * June 3 – Jillette Johnson, American singer/songwriter, musician
 * June 8 – Miya Folick, American musician
 * June 9 – Chloë Agnew, Irish multi lingual singer and songwriter (Celtic Women)
 * June 13 – Lisa Tucker, American singer
 * June 14 – Lucy Hale, American actress and singer
 * June 17 – Simone Battle, American actress, singer and dancer (G.R.L) (died 2014)
 * June 18 – Renee Olstead, American actress and jazz singer
 * June 20
 * Benyamin Nuss, German pianist
 * Christopher Mintz-Plasse, American actor, comedian and musician
 * June 25 – Sam Ryder, British singer-songwriter
 * June 27 – Kelley Jakle, American actress and singer-songwriter
 * July 2 – Dev, American singer-songwriter, rapper, model, musician and radio host
 * July 3
 * Aisel, Azerbaijani singer
 * Elle King, American singer-songwriter
 * July 5 – Joseph King, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (Canvas and Deadbeat Darling)
 * July 6 – Laith Ashley, American model, actor, activist, singer-songwriter and entertainer of Dominican descent. (Taylor Swift,
 * July 10 – Jennifer Åkerman, Swedish, blogger, model and singer-songwriter
 * July 11 – Hana Pestle, American singer, songwriter and record producer (HANA) (Collaborator with Grimes and band member)
 * TĀLĀ – musician, singer-songwriter, record producer
 * July 13 – Sayumi Michishige, Japanese musician and longest running member of Morning Musume
 * July 14 – Isaiah Sharkey, American guitarist and singer
 * July 20 – Brooke Candy, American rapper, singer-songwriter, director, activist, and dancer
 * July 21 – Jasmine Cephas Jones, American stage and screen actress-singer
 * July 26 – Travis Garland, American singer and dancer
 * July 31 – Alexis Knapp, American actress and singer
 * August 1 – Tiffany, member of Girls' Generation
 * August 2
 * Priscilla Betti, French singer
 * Jonas Blue, English DJ, record producer, songwriter and remixer
 * Relja Popović, Serbian rapper and actor
 * August 4 – Jessica Mauboy, Australian singer, songwriter and actress (Young Divas)
 * August 9 – Tainy, Puetro Rico record producer
 * August 15
 * Belinda Peregrin, Spanish Mexican singer, songwriter and actress
 * Joe Jonas, American vocalist, singer/songwriter, musician (DNCE, Jonas Brothers) {dated: AJ Michalka, Taylor Swift, and married Sophie Turner, brother of Nick Jonas}
 * August 17 – Mitchell Tenpenny, American country pop singer and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee.
 * August 18 – Anna Akana, American actress, musician, filmmaker, author, YouTuber and comedian.
 * August 19
 * Lil' Romeo, American entertainer
 * Runtown, Nigerian singer
 * August 21 – Hayden Panettiere, American actress, model, singer and activist
 * August 23 – Lianne La Havas, British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
 * August 27 – Jessica Lea Mayfield, American singer-songwriter and musician from OHIO
 * August 30 – Bebe Rexha, American singer/songwriter, record producer
 * September 1
 * Mohammed Assaf, Palestinian singer
 * Bill and Tom Kaulitz of Tokio Hotel
 * September 2 – Zedd, Russian-German record producer, DJ, musician, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter (Foxes, Hayley Williams, Selena Gomez, Kesha)
 * September 3 – Gusttavo Lima, Brazilian singer
 * September 4 – Ryota Kohama, Japanese musician (One Ok Rock)
 * September 5 – Kat Graham, American actress, singer, dancer and model
 * September 7 – Loren Allred, American musician
 * September 8 – Avicii, Swedish musician, DJ, remixer and record producer (d. 2018)
 * September 10 – Sanjaya Malakar, American Idol finalist
 * September 14 – Logan Henderson, Actor, singer (Big Time Rush)
 * September 21
 * Jason Derulo, American singer/songwriter/dancer
 * Emma Watkins, Australian singer, actress, and dancer
 * September 22
 * HyoYeon, member of Girls' Generation
 * Cœur de pirate, Canadian bilingual singer-songwriter and musician
 * September 24 – Kreayshawn, American rapper, creative director of OK 1984 and music video director
 * September 25 – Vick Hope, British TV and radio presenter, journalist and published author.
 * October 4
 * Rich Homie Quan, American singer, songwriter and rapper
 * Tei Shi, Colombian-Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer
 * October 14 – Arca, Venezuelan musician and record producer
 * October 15 – Fedez, Italian rapper and musician (Zara Larsson)
 * October 20 – Jess Glynne, English soul-pop singer/songwriter
 * October 22 – JPEGMafia, American rapper, songwriter, and producer
 * October 30 – Jay Asforis, British singer (S Club Juniors)
 * November 2 – Katelyn Tarver, American singer-songwriter and actress
 * November 3 – Paula DeAnda, American singer-songwriter
 * November 11 – Reina Tanaka, Japanese pop singer (Morning Musume)
 * November 17 – Ali Tamposi, American songwriter
 * November 22 – Candice Glover, American R&B singer and actress
 * November 30 – Daisy Evans, British singer (S Club Juniors)
 * December 5 – Yuri, member of Girls' Generation
 * December 12
 * Janelle Arthur, American singer
 * Marcel "Shin" Gothow of Cinema Bizarre, German drummer
 * December 13 – Taylor Swift, American singer-songwriter, musician, multi instrumentalist, director, and businesswoman (sometimes actress)
 * December 17 – Taylor York, American musician, songwriter and guitarist (Member of band:Paramore, collaborator with Hayley Williams)
 * December 18 – Ashley Benson, American model, singer and actress
 * December 22 – Jordin Sparks, American Idol Season 6 winner
 * December 27 – Calyssa Davidson, American violinist
 * December 29 – Pardison Fontaine, American rapper and songwriter (Cardi B, Megan thee Stallion)
 * December 31 – Andrew Taggart, producer and vocal (The Chainsmokers)
 * Unknown:
 * Danny L Harle, British Music producer
 * Jai Paul, English songwriter, record producer and recording artist

Deaths

 * January 12 – Satyam, Indian film music director, 65
 * January 20 – Beatrice Lillie, Canadian actress and singer, 94
 * January 21 – Billy Tipton, American jazz musician, 74
 * February 5 – Joe Raposo, composer and lyricist, "Bein' Green", 51 (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma)
 * February 6 – King Tubby Jamaican DJ and composer, father of dub reggae, 48 (gunshot wounds)
 * February 14 – Vincent Crane (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown), 45 (drug overdose)
 * February 23 – Florencio Morales Ramos, singer and composer, 72
 * March 19 – Alan Civil, horn player, 59
 * March 20 – Archie Bleyer, US arranger and bandleader, 79
 * April 8 – A. M. Rajah, Indian playback singer and composer, 59 (rail accident)
 * April 26 – Lucille Ball, US actress and singer, 77
 * May 9 – Keith Whitley, American singer, guitarist, and producer, 34
 * May 10 – Woody Shaw, jazz musician, 44 (kidney failure)
 * May 15 – Johnny Green, composer, conductor and arranger, 80
 * May 30 – Zinka Milanov, operatic soprano, 83
 * June 2 – Guido Agosti, Italian pianist and piano teacher, 87
 * June 14 – Pete de Freitas, drummer with Echo & the Bunnymen, 27 (motorcycle accident)
 * June 22 – Henri Sauguet, composer, 88
 * June 24 – Hibari Misora, Japanese enka singer, 52 (hepatitis)
 * July 5 – Ernesto Halffter, Spanish composer and conductor, 84
 * July 16 – Herbert von Karajan, conductor, 81
 * July 21 – Mushtaq Ali Khan, Indian sitar, surbahar and pakhawaj player, 78
 * August 1 – John Ogdon, pianist, 52 (diabetes-related)
 * August 2 – Luiz Gonzaga, Brazilian musician, 76
 * August 21 – Raul Seixas, singer and songwriter, 44 (diabetes-related)
 * August 25 – Gunnar Berg, Danish composer
 * September 7 – Mikhail Goldstein, violinist and composer, 71
 * September 14 – Perez Prado, Cuban bandleader and composer, 72
 * September 15 – Jan DeGaetani, mezzo-soprano, 56 (leukemia)
 * September 22 – Irving Berlin, composer, lyricist, 101
 * September 24 – Jean Perrin, pianist and composer, 79
 * September 30 – Virgil Thomson, composer, 92
 * October 17 – Morteza Hannaneh, composer, 66
 * October 19 – Alan Murphy, guitarist, member of Level 42 and Go West, 35 (AIDS-related)
 * October 22 – Ewan MacColl, folk singer, 74
 * October 31 – Conrad Beck, Swiss composer, 88
 * November 5 – Vladimir Horowitz, pianist, 86
 * November 15 – Alejo Durán, composer of vallenatos, 80
 * November 29 – Yam Kim-fai, cantonese opera singer, 76
 * December 6
 * Billy Lyall, keyboardist of Pilot and Bay City Rollers, 46 (AIDS-related)
 * Sammy Fain, US composer, 87
 * December 21 – Ján Cikker, Slovak composer, 78
 * December 26 – Sir Lennox Berkeley, composer, 86

Awards

 * The following artists are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Dion, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder
 * Grammy Awards of 1989
 * 1989 Country Music Association Awards
 * Eurovision Song Contest 1989
 * 31st Japan Record Awards

Charts

 * List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1989 (U.S.)