Y
2004

2004 in British Music

Franz Ferdinand, Keane, and the year indie landfill began.

Key Events

  • Franz Ferdinand's debut — art-school post-punk conquers the charts
  • Keane's Hopes and Fears becomes the year's best-selling UK album
  • Kanye West's The College Dropout reshapes hip hop production

Dominant Genres

Indie RockPopGrimeHip Hop

Notable Trends

  • Indie rock dominates the album charts
  • MySpace begins changing how bands find audiences
  • The 'indie landfill' era: every band has angular guitars and skinny jeans

Key Artists of 2004

200320042005