This is a summary of 2011 in music in the United Kingdom.
Events 1 January – Musicians honoured in the Queen's New Year Honours list include mezzo-soprano Felicity Palmer (CBE) and composer Howard Goodall (CBE), Richard Thompson (OBE) and Annie Lennox (OBE). 14 April – On his sixtieth birthday, Julian Lloyd Webber gives the première of American composer Eric Whitacre's "The River Cam", written specially for the occasion. 29 April – The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton includes original music by Paul Mealor and John Rutter as well as traditional works by British composers such as Hubert Parry's setting of the anthem "I was glad" and William Walton's "Crown Imperial". 10–12 June – The Download Festival 2011 takes place at Donington Park. The main stage is headlined by Def Leppard, System of a Down and Linkin Park, the second stage by Pendulum, Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie, the Pepsi Max stage by Danzig, Funeral for a Friend and Frank Turner, the Red Bull Bedroom Jam stage by Modestep, Dangerous! and H.E.A.T., and the Jägermeister Acoustic stage by Skindred, Bowling for Soup and Dave McPherson. 11 June – Musicians honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours list include Bryan Ferry (CBE), broadcaster Bob Harris (OBE) and jazz singer Claire Martin (OBE). 6 September – PJ Harvey wins the Mercury Prize for her album Let England Shake, becoming the first (and to date, only) artist to win the accolade twice. 10 September – Edward Gardner conducts the Last Night of the Proms for the first time. The programme includes works by Béla Bartók and Franz Liszt as well as the traditional Elgar, and the soloist for "Rule Britannia" was Susan Bullock. A highlight is the première of Peter Maxwell Davies's Musica benevolens.BBC Two – BBC Proms, 2011. Accessed 14 April 2013 9 October – Sir Paul McCartney marries Nancy Shevell. 18 October – Ian Brown, John Squire, Mani and Reni announce the reformation of the Stone Roses at London's Soho Hotel. 11 December – Little Mix emerge as winners of the 2011 X Factor series. They are the first group to win in the programme's eight-year history. Marcus Collins is named runner-up, while Amelia Lily and Misha B finish in third and fourth place, respectively.
Publications Ian Bostridge – A Singer's Notebook
Classical music
New works Karl Jenkins – The Bards of Wales (cantata) Paul Mealor – Ubi Caritas et Amor Graham Waterhouse – Rhapsodie Macabre Eric Whitacre – The River Cam
Opera Peter Maxwell Davies – Kommilitonen! Jonathan Dove – Mansfield Park Mark-Anthony Turnage – Anna Nicole
Albums Nicola Benedetti – Italia Alfie Boe – Alfie Bond – Play Katherine Jenkins – Daydream Paul Lewis – Schubert: Piano Sonatas Julian Lloyd Webber – The Art of Julian Lloyd Webber (compilation)
Field recordings Chris Watson – El Tren Fantasma
Film and incidental music Lorne Balfe – Ironclad Neil Brand – Underground'Neil Brand’s score for Underground: a preview' (28 September 2011) Silent London, silentlondon.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2011. Jonny Greenwood – We Need to Talk About Kevin
British music awards
BRIT Awards The 2011 BRIT Awards were hosted by James Corden on 15 February 2011. The most notable winners were Tinie Tempah and Arcade Fire, both winning two awards.
British Male Solo Artist: Plan B British Female Solo Artist: Laura Marling British Breakthrough Act: Tinie Tempah British Group: Take That MasterCard British Album: Sigh No More – Mumford & Sons British Single: "Pass Out" – Tinie Tempah International Male Solo Artist: Cee Lo Green International Female Solo Artist: Rihanna International Breakthrough Act: Justin Bieber International Group: Arcade Fire International Album: The Suburbs – Arcade Fire British Producer: Markus Dravs Critics' Choice: Jessie J
Classical BRIT Awards The 2011 Classical BRIT Awards were held on 12 May 2011 at the Royal Albert Hall, London and hosted by Myleene Klass.
Male Artist of the Year: Antonio Pappano Female Artist of the Year: Alison Balsom Newcomer Award: Vilde Frang Composer of the Year: Arvo Pärt Critics' Award: Tasmin Little Artist of the Decade: Il Divo Album of the Year: Moonlight Serenade – André Rieu and His Johann Strauss Orchestra Outstanding Contribution to Music: John Barry (posthumous)
Ivor Novello Awards The 56th Ivor Novello Awards were held on 19 May 2011 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
Best Song Musically and Lyrically: "Becoming a Jackal" – Villagers (written by Conor O'Brien) Best Contemporary Song: "Pass Out" – Tinie Tempah (written by Timothy McKenzie, Patrick Okogwu and Marc Williams) Album Award: The Defamation of Strickland Banks – Plan B Best Original Film Score: How to Train Your Dragon (composed by John Powell) Best Original Video Game Score: Napoleon: Total War (composed by Richard Beddow, Richard Birdsall and Ian Livingstone) Best Television Soundtrack: Any Human Heart (composed by Dan Jones) Songwriter of the Year: Benjamin Drew Most Performed Work: "She Said" – Plan B (written by Eric Appapoulay, Richard Cassell, Benjamin Drew and Tom Wright-Goss) Classical Music Award: Michael Nyman Inspiration Award: Dizzee Rascal Outstanding Song Collection: Steve Winwood Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Paul Rodgers International Achievement: Matthew Bellamy, Dominic Howard & Christopher Wolstenholme (Muse) Special International Award: Stephen Sondheim
Mercury Prize The 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize was awarded on 6 September 2011 to PJ Harvey for her album Let England Shake. Harvey became the first artist to win the Mercury Prize twice.
Popjustice £20 Music Prize The 2011 Popjustice £20 Music Prize was awarded on 6 September 2011 to The Saturdays for their song "Higher".
British Composer Awards The 2011 British Composer Awards were held on 30 November 2011 at Stationers' Hall, London and hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Sara Mohr-Pietsch and Andrew McGregor, with the awards presented by Michael Berkeley. There was no award in the Sonic Art category in 2011.
Instrumental Solo or Duo: Sonata for Cello & Piano – William Sweeney Chamber: String Quartet No. 2 – Anthony Payne Vocal: Five Larkin Songs – Huw Watkins Choral: Allele – Michael Zev Gordon Wind Band or Brass Band: In Pitch Black – Lucy Pankhurst Orchestral: Fantasias – Julian Anderson Stage Works: A Ring A Lamp A Thing – Orlando Gough Liturgical: Bell Mass – Julian Anderson Contemporary Jazz Composition: The Green Seagull – Tommy Evans Community or Educational Project: Consider the Lilies – John Barber Making Music Award: I can't find brumm... – Richard Bullen International Award: La Mattina – Bent Sørensen Outreach: PK – Graham Fitkin
The Record of the Year The 2011 Record of the Year was awarded on 10 December 2011 to Lady Gaga for her song "Born This Way".
Charts and sales
Number-one singles Chart date(week ending) Song Artist Sales 1 January "When We Collide" Matt Cardle 262,953 8 January 113,037 15 January "What's My Name?" Rihanna featuring Drake 53,018 22 January "Grenade" Bruno Mars 149,834 29 January 109,960 5 February "We R Who We R" Ke$ha 90,139 12 February "Price Tag" Jessie J featuring B.o.B 84,076 19 February 95,697 26 February "Someone Like You" Adele 111,739 5 March 114,792 12 March 116,347 19 March 95,654 26 March "Don't Hold Your Breath" Nicole Scherzinger 98,090 2 April "Someone Like You" Adele 82,357 9 April "On the Floor" Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull 133,179 16 April 91,749 23 April "Party Rock Anthem" LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock 91,421 30 April 85,744 7 May 73,076 14 May 64,508 21 May "The Lazy Song" Bruno Mars 67,837 28 May "Give Me Everything" Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer 71,309 4 June 95,848 11 June 82,210 18 June "Changed the Way You Kiss Me" Example 115,046 25 June 75,252 2 July "Don't Wanna Go Home" Jason Derülo 76,581 9 July 60,316 16 July "Louder" DJ Fresh featuring Sian Evans 140,750 23 July "Glad You Came" The Wanted 117,165 30 July 73,769 6 August "She Makes Me Wanna" JLS featuring Dev 98,016 13 August "Swagger Jagger" Cher Lloyd 66,316 20 August "Promises" Nero 46,700 27 August "Don't Go" Wretch 32 featuring Josh Kumra 76,495 3 September "Heart Skips a Beat" Olly Murs featuring Rizzle Kicks 109,151 10 September "Stay Awake" Example 73,402 17 September "All About Tonight" Pixie Lott 88,893 24 September "What Makes You Beautiful" One Direction 153,965 1 October "No Regrets" Dappy 96,639 8 October "Loca People" Sak Noel 75,161 15 October "We Found Love" Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris 87,573 22 October 106,553 29 October 92,689 5 November "Read All About It" Professor Green featuring Emeli Sandé 153,007 12 November 85,302 19 November "We Found Love" Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris 79,834 26 November 66,941 3 December 79,804 10 December "Wishing on a Star" X Factor Finalists 2011 featuring JLS & One Direction 98,932 17 December "Dance with Me Tonight" Olly Murs 46,584 24 December "Cannonball" Little Mix 210,129 31 December "Wherever You Are" Military Wives & Gareth Malone 555,622
Number-one albums Chart date(week ending) Album Artist Sales 1 January Progress Take That 350,328 8 January Loud Rihanna 76,237 15 January 50,088 22 January 44,827 29 January Doo-Wops & Hooligans Bruno Mars 86,243 5 February 21 Adele 208,090 12 February 135,585 19 February 134,241 26 February 188,764 5 March 173,718 12 March 180,493 19 March 161,580 26 March 159,895 2 April 156,162 9 April 257,731 16 April 114,476 23 April Wasting Light Foo Fighters 114,557 30 April 21 Adele 91,803 7 May 73,771 14 May 80,922 21 May 70,362 28 May 51,183 4 June Born This Way Lady Gaga 215,639 11 June 67,615 18 June Suck It and See Arctic Monkeys 82,424 25 June Progress Take That 77,720 2 July Born This Way Lady Gaga 47,150 9 July 4 Beyoncé 89,211 16 July 44,929 23 July 21 Adele 43,555 30 July 46,648 6 August Back to Black Amy Winehouse 44,076 13 August 63,070 20 August 43,726 27 August Welcome Reality Nero 30,640 3 September Echoes Will Young 65,773 10 September I'm With You Red Hot Chili Peppers 71,858 17 September Playing in the Shadows Example 56,224 24 September + Ed Sheeran 102,350 1 October Velociraptor! Kasabian 94,088 8 October The Awakening James Morrison 62,181 15 October 36,411 22 October The Ultimate Collection Steps 34,200 29 October Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 122,530 5 November Mylo Xyloto Coldplay 208,343 12 November Ceremonials Florence and the Machine 94,050 19 November Someone To Watch Over Me Susan Boyle 72,745 26 November Christmas Michael Bublé 85,787 3 December Talk That Talk Rihanna 163,819 10 December In Case You Didn't Know Olly Murs 148,532 17 December Lioness: Hidden Treasures Amy Winehouse 194,966 24 December Christmas Michael Bublé 269,665 31 December 317,114
Number-one compilation albums Chart date(week ending) Album 1 January Now 77 8 January 15 January 22 January 29 January 5 February 12 February 19 February Love Songs – The Ultimate Collection 26 February BRIT Awards 2011 With MasterCard 5 March 12 March Anthems Hip Hop 19 March 26 March Massive R&B – Spring 2011 2 April 9 April 16 April Ultimate Floorfillers 23 April Now 78 30 April 7 May 14 May 21 May 28 May 4 June 11 June 18 June 25 June The Old Grey Whistle Test – 40th 2 July Now 78 9 July Clubland 19 16 July 23 July 30 July 6 August Now 79 13 August 20 August 27 August 3 September 10 September 17 September 24 September 1 October 8 October Now R&B 15 October 22 October Now 79 29 October 5 November Pop Party 9 12 November BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge – Vol 6 19 November Clubland 20 26 November Pop Party 9 3 December Now 80 10 December 17 December 24 December 31 December
Best-selling singles of 2011