1981 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in 1981. == Specific locations == 1981 in British music 1981 in Japanese music 1981 in Norwegian music 1981 in Scandinavian music == Specific genres == 1981 in country music 1981 in heavy metal music 1981 in hip-hop music 1981 in jazz 1981 in progressive rock == Events == === January–April === January – Nearly a year after the suicide of Ian Curtis, the surviving members of Joy Division plus Gillian Gilbert, now under the name New Order, release their debut single "Ceremony"; the single and its B-side, "In a Lonely Place", are both re-recordings of songs originally written and performed by Curtis.