text: 23 July – The Piano Concerto by Peter Dickinson (dedicated to the soloist Howard Shelley) has its first performance at the Cheltenham Festival with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Edward Downes.
  23 July – The first UK performance of Michael Tippett's Tee Mask of Time takes place at the Proms.
  5 August – Now 3 becomes the 300th album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart.
  24 August – Oliver Knussen’s Second Symphony receives its premiere at the Proms, with the London Sinfonietta conducted by the composer.
  23 October – A report on the Ethiopian famine by BBC journalist Michael Buerk is broadcast in the UK and receives an unprecedented public response.  Among those watching is Bob Geldof, who is inspired to release a charity record to raise money to help with famine relief.
  25 November – The Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is recorded at SARM Studios in Notting Hill, London, by a gathering of performers that includes Paul Young, Simon Le Bon, Bono, Phil Collins, Paul Weller, Sting, Boy George and Tony Hadley.
  28 November – The Bring Me Sunshine charity concert at the London Palladium, in memory of Eric Morecambe, includes musical performances by Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen, Des O'Connor, and Ernie Wise.