​​Synthpop emerges with success for UK acts including Soft Cell, Human League and others. Rockabilly and ska enjoy brief revivals.
Reggae star Bob Marley dies of cancer.
Diana Ross leaves Motown for RCA making her the highest paid artist of the time.
Country artists enjoy crossover success on the US Top 100.
The album Double Fantasy by John Lennon and Yoko Ono jumps to #1 in both the US and UK.
The debut solo album from Phil Collins goes to #1 UK, #7 US featuring the moody lead single "In The Air Tonight"
Kim Carnes hits #1 US with her cover of the Jackie DeShannon song "Bette Davis Eyes". The song would spend nine weeks at #1 in the US and become the best selling single of 1981.

Australian musician and actor Rick Springfield has a US #1 hit with the song "Jessie's Girl"

Diana Ross teams up with Lionel Richie on the single "Endless Love" #1 US
Rick James finds crossover success with his song "Super Freak"
Escape is the seventh studio album from Journey and is their first #1 US album. The album generates three US Top Ten hits "Who's Crying Now, "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Open Arms"