Pick a Day

Music History Events: Releases

September 4, 2015 Travis Scott, already known for his mixtapes, releases his debut album, Rodeo, a psychedelic trap record with a guest list that includes Kanye West, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Future and Swae Lee.

August 14, 2015 Grace Potter releases her solo album Midnight, signaling the end of her group Grace Potter And The Nocturnals. Her current and future husband both play on it: Matt Burr, whom she married in 2013, and Eric Valentine, who becomes her husband in 2017.

July 31, 2015 Drake releases "Hotline Bling," the first single from his album Views. He doesn't rap in the song, but it still wins Grammy Awards in two rap categories, which Drake doesn't show up to accept because he feels it's really a pop song.

May 29, 2015 Florence + the Machine release their third album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. With songs like "What Kind Of Man" and "Ship To Wreck," it leans more into rock than their first two albums. It becomes their first #1 album in America and third in their native UK.

May 5, 2015 After years working in Nashville as a songwriter and as a member of the bands The SteelDrivers and The Jompson Brothers, Chris Stapleton, 37, releases his debut album, Traveller, with a rootsy sound that harkens back to the days of Hank Williams. It wins the Grammy for Best Country Album and both the ACM and CMA awards for Album Of The Year.

February 10, 2015 Charlie Puth releases his debut single, "Marvin Gaye," which turns the soul legend's name into a verb (definition: To get it on). It's a duet with Meghan Trainor, who is coming off her hit "All About That Bass."

September 2, 2014 Less than two months after his death at age 70, Johnny Winter's album Step Back is released. The project includes an all-star cast of guest musicians, among them Eric Clapton, Aerosmith's Joe Perry and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. It earns Winter his only Grammy Award, taking the prize for Best Blues Album.

July 29, 2014 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers release their 13th and final album, Hypnotic Eye. It debuts at #1, and is the band's only album ever to top the US chart.

July 22, 2014 Weezer release "Back to the Shack," the lead single from Everything Will Be Alright in the End. The song finds the band reminiscing on their rise in the early '90s when they were the hot new band.

July 4, 2014 Sia, the hit songwriter behind Rihanna's "Diamonds" and David Guetta's "Titanium," releases her album 1000 Forms Of Fear, which goes to #1 in America. For a "layer of protection," she wears a wig that covers her face while promoting the album and doesn't appear in the videos for the singles "Chandelier" and "Elastic Heart," which instead feature interpretive dancing by Maddie Ziegler.

June 23, 2014 Ed Sheeran's sophomore album, x, is released worldwide and tops the charts in several countries, including the US and UK. The lead single, "Sing," becomes his first #1 hit in the UK, while "Thinking Out Loud" gives him his highest-charting entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at #2 - until "Shape Of You" debuts at #1 a few years later.

December 7, 2012 Bruno Mars releases his second album, Unorthodox Jukebox. Like his first (Doo-Wops & Hooligans in 2010), it's packed with hits, including two chart toppers: the ecstatic-in-love "Locked Out of Heaven" and the piano ballad "When I Was Your Man."

November 19, 2012 Rihanna releases Unapologetic, her seventh album in eight years. The lead single is the #1 hit "Diamonds," written by Sia.

November 13, 2012 Brian Eno releases his first solo album in seven years, LUX, on Warp Records. It marks his first intervention as autonomous composer, compared to his previous purely generative albums.More

September 4, 2012 Imagine Dragons release their debut album, Night Visions, which takes off thanks to bombastic rockers like "Radioactive" and "Demons."

July 17, 2012 The soundtrack album to the film The Dark Knight Rises is released, destined to debut at #8 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. It also scores #10 on the Canadian albums chart. Composer Hans Zimmer becomes an overnight sensation, frequently compared with former golden soundtrack star John Williams.

July 10, 2012 Frank Ocean releases his highly acclaimed debut album, Channel Orange, which goes on to win the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Standout tracks include "Lost" and "Thinkin About You."

April 9, 2012 Alabama Shakes release their debut album, Boys & Girls, featuring "Hold On." Led by powerhouse singer Brittany Howard, they bring a rootsy, organic sound to the landscape that helps earn them a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

April 4, 2012 The single "Boyfriend" by Justin Bieber debuts at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's the third-highest first-week sale at 600,000 copies sold. Lots of teenage girls want to be Bieber's girlfriend.

March 13, 2012 One Direction, already superstars in their native UK with the #1 single "What Makes You Beautiful," establish boy band dominance in America with the release of their debut album, Up All Night.

June 24, 2011 Beyoncé releases 4. It's her fourth album; the title also references her favorite number, as she was born on September 4 and married on April 4.

May 23, 2011 Lady Gaga, a huge and still-rising star thanks to hits like "Poker Face" and "Bad Romance," releases another hit-packed album: Born This Way. The title track becomes an anthem of inclusivity and one of her signature songs.

November 19, 2010 Nicki Minaj, already established thanks to her verse on Kanye West's "Monster" and features on tracks by Lil Wayne, Christina Aguilera and Usher, drops her debut album, Pink Friday. It includes her Eminem duet "Roman's Revenge," a meet-up of their unhinged alter egos, Slim Shady and Roman Zolanski.

November 12, 2010 Rihanna releases her fifth album, Loud. It secures her superstar status with three #1 hits: "What's My Name?" "S&M" and her Eminem collaboration "Love The Way You Lie (Part II)."

October 4, 2010 Bruno Mars releases his debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, with the #1 hits "Grenade" and "Just The Way You Are."

July 20, 2010 Bruno Mars, already known for his features on "Nothin' On You" (B.o.B) and "Billionaire" (Travie McCoy), and for co-writing the Flo Rida hit "Right Round," releases his first single as a lead artist, "Just The Way You Are." It goes to #1 and establishes him as an artist.

May 18, 2010 Janelle Monáe releases her debut album, The ArchAndroid, largely inspired by the Ray Kurzweil book The Singularity Is Near.

April 20, 2010 Swedish dance-pop star Robyn releases her signature tune, "Dancing On My Own." The electropop ballad about heartbreak on the dance floor is a prime example of her deceptively upbeat style, which pairs club friendly music with emotional lyrics.

March 19, 2010 Justin Bieber, who turned 16 three weeks earlier, releases his debut album, My World 2.0, with the hit "Baby." The album debuts at #1, setting the stage for a massive tour and 3D concert film, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.

March 3, 2010 Gorillaz' third album, Plastic Beach, is released. Featuring guest appearances from stars ranging from Snoop Dogg to Lou Reed, it is a huge worldwide hit, reaching #2 in both the US and UK.