2002 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.

Specific locations

 * 2002 in British music
 * 2002 in Norwegian music
 * 2002 in South Korean music

Specific genres

 * 2002 in classical music
 * 2002 in country music
 * 2002 in heavy metal music
 * 2002 in hip hop music
 * 2002 in Latin music
 * 2002 in jazz

January–February

 * January 1 – Eric Clapton marries his 25-year-old American girlfriend in a surprise wedding ceremony at a church in the English village of Ripley, Surrey.
 * January 8 – The Black Crowes announce they are taking a hiatus.
 * January 14 – Adam Ant is committed to a psychiatric hospital two days after being arrested for carrying a firearm into a London pub that Ant claims was fake.
 * January 18 – Rapper C-Murder is arrested and charged with second-degree murder over a fatal shooting in a Harvey, Louisiana nightclub on January 12.
 * January 18–February 3 – The Big Day Out festival takes place in Australia and New Zealand, headlined by The Prodigy.
 * January 23 – Virgin Records buys out its contract with Mariah Carey for $28 million, essentially paying her to not record any more music for the label.
 * February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI. U2's performance becomes a tribute to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack.
 * February 4 – Kiss bassist Gene Simmons has a notoriously antagonistic interview with Terry Gross on National Public Radio. Simmons continuously baits the host with sexual come-ons throughout the interview while Gross repeatedly calls Simmons "obnoxious." Simmons refuses to grant NPR permission to post the interview online, but unauthorized transcripts and audio exist.
 * February 13 – Jennifer Lopez becomes the first singer to have a remix album, J to tha L–O! The Remixes, debut at number one, selling over 156,000 copies.
 * February 15 – US singer Britney Spears takes her first starring role in Crossroads, a teen drama road film alongside Zoe Saldana. Although the film is largely panned, it is commercially successful, grossing $61.1 million worldwide against a $12 million budget.
 * February 27 – The 44th Annual Grammy Awards are presented in Los Angeles, hosted by Jon Stewart. The soundtrack for the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? wins Album of the Year, while U2's "Walk On" wins Record of the Year. Alicia Keys wins Song of the Year (for "Fallin'") and Best New Artist.

March–April

 * March 7 – Burton C. Bell leaves Fear Factory after falling out with Dino Cazares. Fear Factory soon disband.
 * March 12 – Silverchair withdraw from the Gone South festival in Australia after Daniel Johns contracts reactive arthritis.
 * March 15 – Liverpool Airport is rechristened Liverpool John Lennon Airport in an official ceremony.
 * March 24 – Takahiro Nishikawa leaves Dreams Come True.
 * March 25 – Celine Dion returns to the music scene after a four-year absence with the album A New Day Has Come.
 * April 17 – Pop-punk giants Blink-182 and Green Day co-headline the two-month Pop Disaster Tour.
 * April 22 – Sugababes release their first UK Number 1 single, a cover of Adina Howard's 1995 single Freak Like Me.
 * April 25 – Member of R&B group TLC, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes dies in car accident in Honduras
 * April 27-28 – The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival takes place in California. Headlined by Björk and Oasis, the lineup also features The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Cake, Foo Fighters, Jack Johnson, Queens of the Stone Age, The Strokes, The Vines and Belle and Sebastian. This year marks the festival's return to its original two-day format.

May–June

 * May 8 – Mariah Carey signs a new record contract with Island Def Jam Music Group.
 * May 12 – We Will Rock You, a jukebox musical based on the songs of Queen, opens at the Dominion Theatre in London, England.
 * May 21 - Blink-182 guitarist Tom DeLonge forms post-hardcore side-project band Box Car Racer. Their album Box Car Racer is released.
 * May 22 – Members of Alien Ant Farm are injured in an early morning tour bus crash in Spain that claimed the life of the driver.
 * May 25 – The 47th Eurovision Song Contest, held at Saku Suurhall in Tallinn, Estonia, is won by Latvian singer Marie N with the song "I Wanna".
 * May 26 - Eminem releases The Eminem Show, one of the bestselling hip-hop album of 2002
 * June 4
 * Avril Lavigne releases her debut album Let Go.
 * The Prom at the Palace is held in London to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II. Performers include the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus, Kiri Te Kanawa, Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna.
 * June 5 – U.S. soul and R&B singer R. Kelly, is charged with 21 counts of having sexual intercourse with a minor after a videotape allegedly showing him engaged in sexual acts with an underage girl is broadcast on the internet.
 * June 11
 * Paul McCartney marries second wife Heather Mills in a lavish ceremony at Castle Leslie in Ireland.
 * American Idol premieres on Fox.
 * Korn releases fifth-studio album, Untouchables.
 * David Bowie releases his twenty-second studio album, Heathen. The album marks a commercial comeback for Bowie in the US, becoming his highest-charting album in the country since 1984's Tonight.
 * June 12 – BMG Music agrees to acquire the rest of Zomba Music Group in a deal reportedly worth $3 billion.
 * June 15 – The Los Angeles, California, USA, radio station KROQ-FM airs the 10th Annual Weenie Roast show with Bad Religion, Hoobastank, Jack Johnson, Jimmy Eat World, Moby, New Found Glory, P.O.D., Papa Roach, Puddle of Mudd, The Strokes, System of a Down, Unwritten Law, The Vines, The Violent Femmes and Rob Zombie.
 * June 18 – Mexican Pop-Singer Paulina Rubio, releases her sixth studio album and debut-English crossover album in the U.S., titled Border Girl through Universal Records, she performed for the very first time live her hit single Don't Say Goodbye on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the album debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 56,000 copies becoming Rubio's highest-charting album in the U.S. It was eventually certified gold by RIAA, indicating sales of over 500,000 units.
 * June 19 – Hikaru Utada releases the album Deep River, which sold 2,350,170 copies in a week, debuting at number 1 on the weekly, monthly, and annual Oricon album chart. This would be her third time at number 1 on the year-end rankings of that particular chart, a record for any Japanese musical act or worldwide.
 * June 20 – Pop star Britney Spears, at only 20 years of age, is ranked by Forbes as the world's most powerful celebrity.
 * June 21-23 – The first Bonnaroo Music Festival is held in Tennessee. Performers include Widespread Panic, Gov't Mule and Norah Jones.
 * June 25 – The Prague Philharmonic Orchestra releases an arrangement of the Romeo and Juliet 1968 film soundtrack on the Silva America label. Will Smith also comes back with the release of his third solo studio album Born to Reign.
 * June 27 – The Who bassist John Entwistle is found dead in a Las Vegas hotel room on the eve of the band's new tour, aged 57.
 * June 30 – The Glastonbury Festival features headline acts Coldplay, Garbage, Stereophonics, Orbital, Roger Waters, Rod Stewart, and Air.

July–August

 * July 6 – Michael Jackson stages a public protest against Sony Music chairman Tommy Mottola, accusing him of taking part in a racist conspiracy within the music industry to exploit black recording artists. Sony responds with a statement calling Jackson's remarks "ludicrous, spiteful and hurtful."
 * July 9 – Red Hot Chili Peppers's 8th studio album By The Way is released. It sold 286,000 copies in the United States during the first week, peaking at #2 on Billboard 200. It went on to sell over 2 million copies in the US, being certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
 * July 12 – Buckcherry breaks up on the heels of lead singer Josh Todd's decision to quit the group. They would reunite in 2005.
 * July 20–21 – The Splendour in the Grass music festival takes place in Byron Bay, Australia, headlined by Gomez and Supergrass.
 * July 23 – My Chemical Romance's first album, "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love" is released to the public.
 * July 28 – The Area2 Festival, featuring headline acts Moby, David Bowie, Busta Rhymes, Ash, and Blue Man Group, begins a three-week tour in Washington, DC.
 * August 17 – The Snow Mountain Music Festival opens in Lijiang, China.
 * August 19 – Nickelback leaves the stage during the second song of their performance at the Ilha do Ermal festival in Portugal after being relentlessly pelted with rocks and bottles by the crowd.
 * August 27 – Queens of the Stone Age release their critically acclaimed album Songs for the Deaf, featuring Dave Grohl on drums. The album earned the band their first Gold certification in the United States on January 27, 2003, selling over 500,000 copies.

September–October

 * September 3 – Napster is shut down for good after a judge denies a bid from Bertelsmann to purchase its assets.
 * September 4 – Kelly Clarkson becomes the first winner of the television talent contest, American Idol.
 * September 11 – Marie Fredriksson of Roxette is injured in a domestic accident, leading to the discovery of a brain tumor.
 * September 20 – Courtney Love announces that her legal dispute with the surviving members of Nirvana has been resolved, paving the way for the unreleased track "You Know You're Right" to be included on an upcoming compilation.
 * September 25 – Radio Disney Jams, Vol. 5 gets released onto CD.
 * September 28 – A stretch of Tennessee State Route 19 is officially named for Tina Turner, who was born and raised in nearby Nutbush, Tennessee.
 * October 2
 * Robbie Williams signs a new six-album deal with EMI for £80 million, the most lucrative contract ever signed by a UK musician.
 * Christina Aguilera releases her controversial music video for the song, "Dirrty", the lead single from her second album Stripped.
 * October 13 – The fifth Terrastock festival is held in Boston, USA.
 * October 23 - While driving home from a studio session, Kanye West falls asleep at the wheel and gets in a head-on crash, causing his jaw to be wired shut.
 * October 24 – Mikey "Bug" Cox is fired from Coal Chamber after disputes with other members about his drug addiction.
 * October 29 – Christina Aguilera releases her controversial second studio album Stripped, which enters the Billboard 200 at number 2, selling 330,000 copies in its first week. Stripped is the first studio album in three years since Christina Aguilera (1999).
 * October 30
 * Jam Master Jay is shot dead at a studio in Queens. Run-D.M.C. disbands.
 * Warren Zevon, who has recently been diagnosed with cancer, is the sole guest for the entire hour of Late Show with David Letterman. It would be his final public performance.
 * Stone Temple Pilots play their last show for six years at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas.

November–December

 * November 7 – Guns N' Roses fans in Vancouver riot after a concert, which was to kick off the band's first tour in nine years, is canceled due to Axl Rose's flight getting delayed.
 * November 10 – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Elvis Costello, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Petty and Brian Setzer guest-star on an episode of The Simpsons set at a Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp.
 * November 12 – rap rock band Crazy Town release their second studio album Darkhorse.
 * November 19 – Michael Jackson dangles his nine-month-old son, "Blanket", over the balcony of his Berlin hotel room in an apparent attempt to connect with the fans below. He releases a statement later that day calling the incident a "terrible mistake".
 * November 26 – Will Smith releases his first compilation album (last under Columbia Records) Greatest Hits.
 * November 29 – Concert For George is held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, as a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his death, under the musical direction of friend Eric Clapton. Performers included surviving Beatles members Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Clapton, Jeff Lynne, Ravi Shankar, and Billy Preston. The event benefitted the Material World Charitable Foundation.
 * November 30 – British girl group Girls Aloud is formed on the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals.
 * December 2 – Peter Garrett leaves Midnight Oil.
 * December 3 – Mariah Carey releases her ninth studio album Charmbracelet.
 * December 6 – Another riot over a canceled Guns N' Roses concert breaks out, this time in Philadelphia, after Axl Rose is a no-show. The band cancels the remaining dates of the tour without explanation.
 * December 22 – Joe Strummer lead singer, guitarist and founder of Punk Rock band The Clash dies of a congenital heart defect at the age of 50.
 * December 29 – A Creed concert in Chicago angers fans in attendance when lead singer Scott Stapp forgets many lyrics, takes a lengthy leave of absence in the middle of the show and lies down on the stage for part of the performance. The band's manager issues a written apology that includes the statement "we hope that you can take some solace in the fact that you definitely experienced the most unique of all Creed shows and may have become part of the unusual world of rock 'n' roll history!"
 * December 31 – Phish end their two-year hiatus with a New Year's Eve concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Also in 2002

 * Fergie joins The Black Eyed Peas during their recording of the Elephunk album.
 * Salt-n-Pepa disbands.

Bands formed

 * See Musical groups established in 2002

Bands disbanded

 * See Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2002

Bands reformed

 * D.I. (after 1995 hiatus)
 * Fear Factory
 * Little River Band original members reform as Birtles Shorrock Goble
 * KMFDM
 * Phish (after 2000 hiatus)
 * Stabbing Westward
 * Suffocation

Release date unknown

 * Be Still – Donna Lewis
 * Guitar Player – Hank Marvin
 * Hollinndagain – Avey Tare, Panda Bear and Geologist
 * Lovesick, Broke and Driftin' – Hank Williams III
 * Memory – La – Constantin Veis
 * The Moan – The Black Keys
 * N.I.N.A. – Lisa Lopes
 * Peace On Earth – Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge
 * Purely Evil – The Rogers Sisters
 * Steam Powered Aereo-Takes - John Hartford
 * ’’Azusa Praise 2 - We Cry Out!’’ - Carlton Pearson

Popular songs
• "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" – Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé

• "Addictive" – Truth Hurts feat. R.A.K.I.M.

• "Aerials" – System of a Down

• "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" – Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule and Caddillac Tah

• "All I Have" – Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J

• "All My Life" – Foo Fighters

• "All the Things She Said" – t.A.T.u.

• "All You Wanted" – Michelle Branch

• "Always On Time" – Ja Rule featuring Ashanti

• "Are You In?" – Incubus

• "Amber" – 311

• "Aserejé" – Monkey Circus

• "Beautiful" – Christina Aguilera

• "Blurry" – Puddle of Mudd

• "Born to Try" – Delta Goodrem

• "Boom" – P.O.D.

• "Bop Bop Baby" – Westlife (UK)

• "Boys" – Britney Spears

• "Break Ya Neck" – Busta Rhymes

• "Buried Myself Alive" – The Used

• "By the Way" – Red Hot Chili Peppers

• "Can't Believe" – Faith Evans, Carl Thomas, and Shyne

• "Can't Get You Out of My Head" – Kylie Minogue

• "Can't Stop" – Red Hot Chili Peppers

• "Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)" – Garbage

• "Cleanin' Out My Closet" – Eminem

• "Clocks" – Coldplay

• "Come into My World" – Kylie Minogue

• "Complicated" – Avril Lavigne

• "Crawling in the Dark" – Hoobastank

• "Days Go By" – Dirty Vegas

• "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" – The White Stripes

• "Defy You" – The Offspring

• "Désenchantée" – Kate Ryan

• "Die Another Day" – Madonna

• "Dilemma" – Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland

• "Dirrty" – Christina Aguilera featuring Redman

• "Disease" – Matchbox Twenty

• "Do You Realize??" – The Flaming Lips

• "Don't Let Me Get Me" – Pink

• "Don't Stop" – The Rolling Stones

• "Don't You Want Me" – Alcazar

• "Downfall" – Trust Company

• "Electrical Storm" – U2

• "Emily" – Bowling for Soup

• "Epiphany" – Staind

• "Escape" – Enrique Iglesias

• "Everyday" – Bon Jovi

• "Everything" – M2M

• "Feel" – Robbie Williams

• "Fell in Love with a Girl" – The White Stripes

• "Flowers in the Window" – Travis

• "Foolish" – Ashanti

• "For You" – Staind

• "Full Moon" – Brandy

• "The Game of Love" – Santana ft. Michelle Branch

• "Gangsta Lovin'" – Eve

• "Get Over You" – Sophie Ellis-Bextor

• "Get the Party Started" – Pink

• "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" – Star Academy France

• "Girl All the Bad Guys Want" – Bowling for Soup

• "Girl Talk" – TLC

• "Girlfriend" – 'N Sync featuring Nelly

• "Goodbye to You" – Michelle Branch

• "Good Times" – Styles P

• "Grace" – Supergrass

• "Handle This" – Sum 41

• "Hands Clean" – Alanis Morissette

• "Head On Collision" – New Found Glory

• "Headstrong" – Trapt

• "Hearts on Fire" – HammerFall

• "Hella Good" – No Doubt

• "Help Me" – Nick Carter

• "Here I Am" – Bryan Adams

• "Here Is Gone" – Goo Goo Dolls

• "Here to Stay" – KoЯn

• "Hero" – Chad Kroeger and Josey Scott

• "Hero" – Enrique Iglesias

• "Hey Baby" – No Doubt

• "Hikari" – Hikaru Utada

• "The Hindu Times" – Oasis

• "Hot in Herre" – Nelly

• "Hundred Million" – Treble Charger

• "I Care 4 U" – Aaliyah

• "I Feel So" – Box Car Racer

• "I Need a Girl (Part Two)" – P. Diddy, Ginuwine, Loon and Mario Winans

• "I Think I Love You" – Kaci Battaglia

• "I'd Do Anything" – Simple Plan

• "If I Could Go" – Angie Martinez featuring Sacario & Lil Mo

• "I'm a Slave 4 U" – Britney Spears

• "I'm Alive" – Céline Dion

• "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!" – Shania Twain

• "I'm Just a Kid" – Simple Plan

• "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman" – Britney Spears

• "In My Place" – Coldplay

• "In the End" – Linkin Park

• "In Your Eyes" – Kylie Minogue

• "independent" – Ayumi Hamasaki

• "It's Goin' Down" – The X-Ecutioners featuring Mike Shinoda and Mr. Hahn

• "Jenny from the Block" – Jennifer Lopez featuring Jadakiss and Styles P

• "Just like a Pill" – Pink

• "Keep Fishin'" – Weezer

• "The Ketchup Song (Asereje)" – Las Ketchup

• "Les Mots" – Mylène Farmer and Seal

• "Letters to You" – Finch

• "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" – Good Charlotte

• "Like I Love You" – Justin Timberlake

• "Little By Little" – Oasis

• "A Little Less Conversation" – Elvis Presley vs. JXL

• "Lose Yourself" – Eminem

• "Love at First Sight" – Kylie Minogue

• "Love Don't Let Me Go" – David Guetta

• "Marie" – Johnny Hallyday

• "Miss You" – Aaliyah

• "A Moment Like This" – Kelly Clarkson

• "Motivation" – Sum 41

• "Move Bitch" – Ludacris featuring Mystikal and I-20

• "Murder on the Dancefloor" – Sophie Ellis Bextor

• "My Friends Over You" – New Found Glory

• "My Sacrifice" – Creed

• "My Neck, My Back" – Khia

• "Never Again" – Nickelback

• "A New Day Has Come" – Celine Dion

• "No One Knows" – Queens of the Stone Age

• "Not Gonna Get Us" – t.A.T.u.

• "One Last Breath" – Creed

• "Overprotected" – Britney Spears

• "Prayer" – Disturbed

• "Precious Illusions" – Alanis Morissette

• "Put the Needle on It" – Dannii Minogue

• "Rapture" – iiO

• "The Red" – Chevelle

• "The Rising" – Bruce Springsteen

• "Running Away" – Hoobastank

• "Satisfaction" – Benny Benassi

• "The Scientist" – Coldplay

• "Seein' Red" – Unwritten Law

• "She Hates Me" – Puddle of Mudd

• "She Loves Me Not" – Papa Roach

• "Sk8er Boi" – Avril Lavigne

• "Slow Burn" – David Bowie

• "Soak Up the Sun" – Sheryl Crow

• "Something to Talk About" – Badly Drawn Boy

• "Sound of the Underground" – Girls Aloud

• "Southern Sun/Ready Steady Go" – Paul Oakenfold

• "Spin" – Lifehouse

• "Stach Stach" – Bratisla Boys

• "Star" – Yamboo

• "Stay Together for the Kids" – Blink-182

• "Steve McQueen" – Sheryl Crow

• "Still Waiting" – Sum 41

• "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" – Oasis

• "Swing Swing" – All American Rejects

• "Take Me Away" – 4 Strings

• "The Taste of Ink" – The Used

• "There Is" – Box Car Racer

• "A Thousand Miles" – Vanessa Carlton

• "Through the Rain" – Mariah Carey

• "The Tide Is High" – Atomic Kitten

• "Too Bad" - Nickelback

• "Toxicity" – System of a Down

• "Tous ensemble" – Johnny Hallyday

• "Trackin'" – Billy Crawford

• "Tu trouveras" – Natasha St-Pier

• "Un Enfant de toi" – Phil Barney and Marlène Duval

• "Unbreakable" – Westlife

• "Underneath Your Clothes" – Shakira

• "Voyage" – Ayumi Hamasaki

• "We Are All Made of Stars" – Moby

• "What About Us?" – Brandy

• "What I Go To School For" – Busted

• "Where's Your Head At?" – Basement Jaxx

• "Wherever You Will Go" – The Calling

• "Without Me" – Eminem

• "Without You" – Silverchair

• "Work It" – Missy Elliott

• "World of Our Own" – Westlife (UK)

• "You Know You're Right" – Nirvana

• "Your Body Is A Wonderland" – John Mayer

• "Youth of the Nation" – P.O.D.

• "The Zephyr Song" – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Top 10 selling albums of the year in the US

 * 1) The Eminem Show – Eminem
 * 2) Nellyville – Nelly
 * 3) Let Go – Avril Lavigne
 * 4) Britney – Britney Spears
 * 5) Laundry Service – Shakira
 * 6) Silver Side Up – Nickelback
 * 7) A New Day Has Come – Celine Dion
 * 8) 8701 – Usher
 * 9) Home – Dixie Chicks
 * 10) Missundaztood – Pink

Classical music

 * Kalevi Aho – Flute Concerto
 * Leonardo Balada – Passacaglia for Orchestra
 * Derek Bourgeois – Symphony No. 9
 * George Crumb – Eine Kleine Mitternachtmusik (A Little Midnight Music) for piano
 * Peter Maxwell Davies – Naxos Quartet No. 1
 * Beat Furrer – Phasma, for piano
 * Philip Glass – Concerto for Harpsichord and Chamber Orchestra
 * Patrick Hawes – Blue in Blue
 * Toshio Hosokawa –Slow Motion
 * Tolga Kashif – Queen Symphony
 * Theo Loevendie – Clarinet Concerto
 * Somei Satoh – Violin Concerto
 * Salvatore Sciarrino – Altre schegge di canto, symphonic work
 * John Serry Sr. –
 * American Rhapsody (piano transcription)
 * Concerto for Free Bass Accordion (piano transcription)
 * Johannes Maria Staud
 * Esquisse retouchée (Incipit 2), for trombone (with bass drum)
 * Configurations / Reflet, for 8 players
 * Polygon, for piano and orchestra
 * Karlheinz Stockhausen –
 * Europa-Gruss (revised version, for minimum ensemble)
 * Strahlen ("Rays"), for a percussionist and ten-channel sound recording
 * Ye Xiaogang – Great Wall Symphony

Opera

 * Friedrich Cerha – Der Riese vom Steinfeld
 * Steve Reich – Three Tales
 * Salvatore Sciarrino – Macbeth
 * Michel van der Aa – One
 * Rodney Waschka II – Saint Ambrose (recording only)

Musical theater

 * Bombay Dreams – London production
 * Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – London production
 * Hairspray – Broadway production opened at the Neil Simon Theatre on August 15 and ran for over 2500 performances
 * Movin' Out – Broadway production opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and ran for 1303 performances
 * Sweet Smell of Success: The Musical – Broadway production opened on March 14 at the Martin Beck Theatre and ran for 109 performances
 * Taboo – London production opened January 29
 * Thoroughly Modern Millie (musical) – Broadway production opened at the Marquis Theatre and ran for 903 performances
 * We Will Rock You – London production

Musical films

 * 8 Mile a drama starring Eminem as a rapper. Features many rap battles.
 * 8 Women
 * 24 Hour Party People
 * Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage
 * April Maadhathil, starring Srikanth and Sneha
 * Bala, starring Shaam and Meera Jasmine
 * Biggie & Tupac
 * Chicago, starring Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere
 * Filles perdues, cheveux gras
 * Green Lights
 * I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco
 * Return to Never Land (animated feature)
 * Standing in the Shadows of Motown
 * Unconditional Love

Births

 * January 2 – Jorja Douglas, English born Germany singer, member of Flo
 * January 11 - Dro Kenji, American rapper
 * January 16 - Eddie Benjamin, Australian singer-songwriter and music producer based in Los Angeles, California
 * January 25 – Lil Mosey, American rapper and Internet personality
 * January 30 – Tyla, South African singer, songwriter and dancer
 * February 5 – Taehyun, Korean singer and dancer, member of TXT
 * February 21
 * Duwap Kaine, American rapper
 * Marcus & Martinus, Norwegian brothers duo
 * February 23 - Emilia Jones, English actress, singer, and songwriter
 * February 26 - Nikita Kering, Kenyan musician, actress and media personality
 * February 28 - Ylona Garcia, Filipino-Australian singer, songwriter and actress
 * March 2 – Wonbin, Korean singer, member of Riize
 * March 17 - Budjerah, Australian singer, from a Coodjinburra man from the Bundjalung nation.
 * April 9 - Loren Gray, American singer
 * April 5 – Golden Cañedo, Filipina singer and entertainer, winner of The Clash season 1
 * April 18 – Noah Thompson, American singer
 * April 24 – Skylar Stecker, American singer-songwriter and actress
 * May 13 – Zoe Wees, German singer
 * May 15
 * Lil Huddy, American social media personality, singer, and actor
 * Hala Al Turk, Jordanian-Syrian Bahraini singer
 * June 4 – Day, Hong Kong singer, member of COLLAR
 * June 11 – Marf Yau, Hong Kong singer and actress, member of COLLAR
 * June 14 – Ayra Starr, Beninese-born Nigerian singer
 * June 25 – Benson Boone, American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
 * June 29 – Marlhy Murphy, American musician, actress, television personality, and internet personality
 * July 4 - Yailin La Más Viral, Dominican rapper and singer
 * July 7 – Caity Baser, British singer
 * July 14 – Kian, Australian singer-songwriter and musician
 * July 23 – Lil' P-Nut, American rapper and actor
 * July 25 – Shunsuke Michieda, Japanese singer and actor, member of Naniwa Danshi
 * July 31
 * Abi Carter, American singer
 * João Gomes, Brazilian singer and songwriter
 * August 6
 * Nessa Barrett, American singer and songwriter
 * Bailey May, Filipino-British singer, model, actor, dancer, and television personality
 * August 14 – Hueningkai, American-Korean singer, member of TXT
 * August 15 – Kento Nagao, Japanese singer, member of Naniwa Danshi
 * August 23 – Indiana Massara, Australian actress and singer
 * August 25 – BoyWithUke, Korean-American alt-pop singer, musician
 * August 26 – Lil Tecca, American rapper
 * August 30 – Bktherula, American rapper
 * September 3 – Kyline Alcantara, Filipina singer and TV personality
 * September 5
 * Alika Milova, Estonian singer
 * Alessandra Mele, Italian-Norwegian singer
 * September 7 – Ericdoa, American singer, songwriter, and record producer
 * September 17 – ArrDee, English rapper
 * September 20 – Gabriel LaBelle, Canadian singer
 * September 23 – Maddie Ziegler, American dancer and actress
 * September 25 – Renée Downer, English singer, member of Flo
 * September 29 – Chloe Moriondo, American singer-songwriter and YouTuber
 * October 2 – Jacob Sartorius, American singer
 * October 9
 * Any Gabrielly, Brazilian singer and dancer
 * Elka Cheng, Hong Kong singer, member of Lolly Talk
 * October 15 – Malu Trevejo, Cuban singer and media personality
 * October 23 – Ningning, Chinese singer, member of aespa
 * October 24
 * Ado, Japanese singer
 * Lyn Lapid, American singer and instrumentist
 * October 29 – Ruel, English born Australian soul R&B singer-songwriter
 * November 1 – NLE Choppa, American rapper
 * November 5 - Jawsh 685, New Zealand beat maker and music producer
 * November 26 - Baylee Littrell, American country singer (son of Leighanne Wallace and Brian Littrell (Member of Backstreet Boys))
 * December 13 - AC Bonifacio, Canadian dancer, singer, vlogger and actress
 * December 16
 * Zera, Serbian-Austrian rapper and songwriter
 * Double Lz, British rapper and songwriter
 * December 30 - Lina Kuduzović, Slovenian singer

Deaths

 * January 2 – Zac Foley (33), bassist of EMF (drug overdose)
 * January 3 – Juan García Esquivel (83) Mexican band leader, pianist and composer
 * January 7 – Jon Lee (33), Feeder drummer (suicide)
 * January 20 – Ivan Karabyts (57), Ukrainian conductor and composer
 * January 21 – Peggy Lee (81), jazz singer and songwriter
 * January 22
 * Peter Bardens, (56), keyboardist of Camel
 * Sheldon Allman, (77)
 * February 1 – Hildegard Knef (76), actress, singer, writer
 * February 10 – Dave Van Ronk (65)
 * February 13 – Waylon Jennings (64), country musician
 * February 14 – Günter Wand (90), conductor
 * February 24 – Leo Ornstein (106), composer
 * March 1 – Doreen Waddell (36), singer who had worked with Soul II Soul and The KLF
 * March 13 – Marc Moreland (44), guitarist (Wall of Voodoo, The Skulls) (liver failure)
 * March 19 – John Patton (66), jazz and soul organist
 * March 23 – Eileen Farrell (82), operatic soprano
 * March 24 – Dorothy DeLay (84), Juilliard School violin teacher of Itzhak Perlman and Midori
 * March 26 – Randy Castillo (51), drummer for Ozzy Osbourne & Mötley Crüe
 * March 27 – Dudley Moore (66), English composer, pianist and actor
 * March 31 – Lucio San Pedro (89), Filipino composer and teacher
 * April 2 – Levi Celerio (91), Filipino composer and lyricist
 * April 5 – Layne Staley (34), lead vocalist of Alice in Chains and Mad Season
 * April 13 – Alex Baroni (35), singer
 * April 15 – Ram Singh Thakur (87), Indian freedom fighter, musician and composer
 * April 17 – Tak Shindo (79), musician, composer and arranger
 * April 25 – Lisa Lopes (30), singer (car accident)
 * April 27 – Hillous Butrum (74), country musician
 * May 3 – Evgeny Svetlanov (73), composer and conductor
 * May 6
 * Otis Blackwell (71), songwriter and pianist
 * Editing Bjørn Johansen (61), Norwegian saxophonist
 * May 7 – Xavier Montsalvatge (90), composer
 * May 9 – Leon Stein (91), composer, conductor and musicologist (born September 18, 1910)
 * June 5 – Dee Dee Ramone (50), of The Ramones (heroin overdose)
 * June 6 – Robbin Crosby (42), guitarist (Ratt)
 * June 13 – Ralph Shapey (81), American composer and conductor
 * June 15 – Big Mello (33), rapper (car accident)
 * June 27 – John Entwistle (57), bassist of The Who (heart attack)
 * June 29 – Rosemary Clooney (74), US singer and actress
 * July 2
 * Ray Brown (75), jazz bassist
 * Earle Brown (75), composer
 * July 4 – Gerald Bales (83), Canadian organist and composer
 * July 11 – Rosco Gordon (74), blues singer and songwriter
 * July 19
 * Dave Carter (49), American singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * Alan Lomax (87), American folklorist, ethnomusicologist and musician
 * July 21 – Gus Dudgeon (59), English music producer
 * August 2
 * Joe Allison (77), songwriter
 * Magda László, operatic soprano
 * August 9 – Bertold Hummel (76), German composer
 * August 10 – Michael Houser (40), guitarist (Widespread Panic) (pancreatic cancer)
 * August 14 – Dave Williams (30), vocalist of Drowning Pool
 * August 31 – Lionel Hampton (94), vibraphone virtuoso
 * September 7 – Erma Franklin (64), gospel singer
 * September 20 – Joan Littlewood (87), impresario
 * September 24 – Tim Rose, (62), singer-songwriter
 * September 29 – Mickey Newbury (62), singer, songwriter
 * October 3 – Darryl DeLoach (55), guitarist (Iron Butterfly)
 * October 17 – Derek Bell (66), harpist (The Chieftains)
 * October 18 – Roman Tam (57), singer
 * October 24 – Adolph Green (87), lyricist
 * October 25 – Richard Harris (72), actor and singer
 * October 27 – Tom Dowd (77), recording engineer and producer
 * October 30 – Jam-Master Jay (37), member of Run-D.M.C.
 * November 3 – Lonnie Donegan (71), skiffle musician
 * November 5 – Billy Guy (66), singer (The Coasters)
 * November 21 – Hadda Brooks (86), U.S. jazz singer, pianist and composer
 * November 28 – Dave "Snaker" Ray (59), blues singer and guitarist
 * November 30 – Minuetta Kessler (88), concert pianist, classical composer and music educator
 * December 9 – Mary Hansen (36), member of Stereolab (road accident)
 * December 13 – Zal Yanovsky (57), rock singer and guitarist (The Lovin' Spoonful)
 * December 22 – Joe Strummer (50), singer and guitarist of The Clash
 * December 31 – Kevin MacMichael (51), Canadian guitarist of British band Cutting Crew

Awards

 * The following artists are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Isaac Hayes, Brenda Lee, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Gene Pitney, Ramones and Talking Heads
 * Inductees of the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame include Pat Boone, and Amy Grant

ARIA Music Awards

 * ARIA Music Awards of 2002

Grammy Awards

 * Grammy Awards of 2002

Country Music Association Awards

 * 2002 Country Music Association Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

 * Eurovision Song Contest 2002

Mercury Music Prize

 * A Little Deeper – Ms. Dynamite wins.

Glenn Gould Prize

 * Pierre Boulez (laureate), Jean-Guihen Queyras (protégé)

Charts

 * Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2002

Triple J Hottest 100

 * Triple J Hottest 100, 2002