Y
1983
1983 in British Music
Thriller conquers, The Smiths emerge, and British pop dominates the world.
Key Events
- •Michael Jackson's Thriller album and video redefine pop spectacle forever
- •The Smiths release Hand in Glove — indie rock gets its poet laureate
- •Culture Club's Colour By Numbers becomes a global phenomenon
Dominant Genres
PopNew WaveIndieSynthpop
Notable Trends
- →British pop acts dominate the American charts — second British Invasion peaks
- →The CD format launches — the beginning of the digital music era
- →Indie guitar music finds its voice against synthpop dominance