1980
John Lennon -- singer, songwriter and guitarist for the Beatles -- is shot and fatally wounded in front of his residence in New York City on Dec. 8.

1981
MTV (Music Television) launches Aug. 1, airing its first music video, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles, permanently altering the pop music industry.

1982
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five releases "The Message," an early demonstration of technical innovation that would forever change hip hop.

Michael Jackson releases "Thriller," the world's all-time best selling album, with roughly 51 million albums sold.

1983
The Smiths, one of the most influential alternative-rock bands in Britain in the '80s, releases its first album, "The Smiths."

U2 plays Red Rocks in Colorado -- a concert that arguably launches the Irish group's career.

1984
Michael Jackson receives hospital treatment after a filming accident on the set of a Pepsi commercial causes his hair to catch fire.

Madonna performs "Like a Virgin" at the first MTV Video Music Awards.

1985
Parental Advisory stickers, affixed to album covers to warn listeners of explicit language, introduced.

Live Aid, a multi-city rock concert, is held for the first time to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia.

1986
Beastie Boys releases "Licensed to Ill," the first rap album to top Billboard's Pop Albums chart.

1987
Prince releases "Sign 'O' the Times," an eclectic double-album and a symbol of pop music in the late 1980s.

1988
Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine releases "Let It Loose," which helps pave the way for subsequent Latin pop stars, such as Ricky Martin.

New Kids on the Block releases "Hangin' Tough," and junior high schoolers everywhere are pleased.

N.W.A., a hip hop group from the West Coast, releases "Straight Outta Compton," a controversial album due to subject matter and profane language, but profoundly influential on gangsta rap.

1989
2 Live Crew's album, "As Nasty as They Wanna Be" is banned, sparking a major debate over free speech in music.

1990
Milli Vanilli (Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus) is exposed for lip syncing.

Curtis Mayfield is paralyzed when lighting equipment falls on him while playing on stage in Brooklyn. He dies in 1999.

Garth Brooks releases country music classic "No Fences," which sells 30 million copies.

Judas Priest, a heavy metal band from England, is accused by parents of promoting suicide in songs.

1991
Massive Attack releases "Blue Lines," the first of numerous albums to heavily influence the trip-hop genre.

Nirvana releases "Nevermind" and projects grunge rock into the mainstream.

1993
Michael Jackson is accused of sexual abuse.

1994
Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana, commits suicide.

Dave Matthews Band releases "Under the Table and Dreaming" -- and helps bridge the gap between mainstream and hippy music (Phish).

1995
Guitar great Jerry Garcia, leader of the rock-blues band Grateful Dead, dies from a heart attack.

1996
2Pac, gangsta-rap symbol revered for his album "Me Against the World," is murdered in Las Vegas.

1997
Rap legend Notorious B.I.G. (Business Instead of Game) is shot and killed in Los Angeles.

Michael Hutchence, singer for Australian-Canadian rock group INXS, is found dead in his hotel room.

1999
Britney Spears, a former member of the Mickey Mouse Club, releases "…Baby One More Time," launching her pop music -- and pop culture -- career.

2000
Napster, a music file-sharing platform, sends waves through the industry by allowing people to download music to their computers for free.

2001
Following a public dispute over the rapper's use of the word "fag," Eminem (Marshall Mathers) and Elton John play together at the Grammy Awards.

2002
American Idol, the hugely popular music talent contest television show, airs for the first time. Kelly Clarkson wins!

2003
Beyonce Knowles releases the album, "Dangerously in Love," launching her solo R&B career.

Britney Spears and Madonna kiss on stage while performing at the Grammy Awards.