This is a summary of 1983 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
8 January – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization. In 1984 electronic terminals will be used in selected stores to gather sales information, and the old "sales diary" method will be gradually phased out over the next few years.
20 August – The Rolling Stones sign a new $28 million contract with CBS Records, the largest recording contract in history up to this time.
1 September – Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon of The Clash issue a press statement announcing that Mick Jones has been fired from the group.
20 September – The first ARMS Charity Concert is held at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
28 November – The first Now album is released.
Note: The year-end charts published in Music Week on 7 January 1984 only covered the period 4 January to 17 December 1983 – the BPI Year Book 1984 included the complete charts to the end of 1983.
Notes:
Alun Hoddinott - Quodlibet on Welsh Nursery Tunes - arr. for brass quintet
William Mathias - Symphony No. 2, Op.90 (Summer Music)
John Pickard - Nocturne in Black and Gold
Oliver Knussen - Where the Wild Things Are
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
The Pirates of Penzance, starring Kevin Kline and Angela Lansbury
3 March - Katie White, singer (The Ting Tings)
8 May - Matt Willis, singer and musician (Busted)
16 May - Mince Fratelli, musician (The Fratellis)
23 May - Heidi Range, singer (Sugababes)
17 June - Lee Ryan, singer (Blue)
30 June
Cheryl Cole, singer
Patrick Wolf, singer/songwriter
18 August - Mika, singer
25 August - James Righton, musician (The Klaxons)
13 September - James Bourne, singer and musician (Busted), (Son Of Dork)
14 September - Amy Winehouse, singer-songwriter (died 2011)
5 January - Amy Evans, operatic soprano (born 1884)
28 January - Billy Fury, singer-songwriter (born 1940; heart attack)
22 February - Sir Adrian Boult, conductor (born 1889)
8 March - William Walton, composer (born 1902)
14 April - Pete Farndon, the Pretenders (born 1952; drug overdose)
12 July - Chris Wood, founding member of Traffic (born 1944; pneumonia)
19 November - Tom Evans, bassist of the rock group Badfinger (born 1947; suicide)
The 1983 BRIT Awards winners were:
Best British producer: Trevor Horn
Best classical recording: John Williams - "Portrait"
Best international artist: Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Best Live Act: U2
Best selling album: Barbra Streisand - Love Songs (also released as Memories in the U.S.)
British breakthrough act: Yazoo
British female solo artist: Kim Wilde
British group: Dire Straits
British male solo artist: Paul McCartney
British single: Dexys Midnight Runners - "Come On Eileen"
Life achievement award: Pete Townshend
Outstanding contribution: The Beatles
Special Award: Chris Wright
The Sony award for technical excellence: Paul McCartney
