It's always startling to look back at the sheer amount of daily music news Billboard.com reports during a given year. But despite that intense volume of information about the professional lives of artists as well as their activities in the public eye, there are a handful of bigger stories by which any given year will be remembered.
Some of those touchstone events are uplifting, like Mary J. Blige's major comeback and Taylor Hicks' victory on "American Idol." Other stories are less attractive, including those of numerous artists who were arrested or sued. Then there is the loss of music figures throughout the year, the impact of which is immeasurable.
Music and the people who make it continue to fascinate us. As we look back at the year that was, we thank those who give us a glimpse of the creative process all the while standing in the alternately flattering and harsh celebrity spotlight.
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January
Arctic Monkeys achieve the fastest-selling debut album in British chart history with "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" (Domino), which moved 360,000 copies.
Mary J. Blige and Jamie Foxx trade the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on The Billboard 200 throughout the month, while Beyonce, Nelly and Chris Brown battle it out for No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Kelly Clarkson, Tim McGraw and Green Day are the top music winners at the 32nd People's Choice Awards.
The Strokes earn their first No. 1 U.K. album with their third Rough Trade set, "First Impressions of Earth."
Eminem protege Obie Trice is shot and wounded while driving on a city highway.
Bryan Harvey, former guitarist with the early 1990s duo House Of Freaks, is found murdered along with his family in Richmond, Va.
The Johnny Cash biography "Walk the Line" wins the Golden Globe for best musical or comedy film and earns acting honors for stars Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.
"American Idol" posts its highest opening-night numbers with more than 35 million viewers.
Rapper Nas signs with Def Jam and creates his own imprint, the Jones Experience.
LEGALITIES:
Cassidy is convicted of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault in Philadelphia, after prosecutors accused the rapper of planning an ambush of a man who had argued with him. The 23-year-old Cassidy, whose real name is Barry Reese, supplied guns to the friends that killed Desmond Hawkins and wounded two of his companions.
A judge orders the city of Los Angeles to pay $1.1 million to the family of murdered rapper Notorious B.I.G. as sanctions for intentionally withholding evidence during the family's civil lawsuit trial.
Rapper Beanie Sigel is convicted of assault on Jan. 10 in Philadelphia, stemming from a fight in 2003. He is sentenced to two years probation plus $180 in court costs.
Hip-hop singer Ms. Dynamite is charged with assaulting an officer after punching a policewoman in the face when authorities arrested her for allegedly kicking the door of a west London nightclub.
Michael Jackson is sued for unpaid bills by the veterinarian who tends to the pop star's exotic animals at his Neverland ranch.
Rap artist Juvenile is arrested in central Florida on a warrant related to a child support case.
Babyshambles lead singer Pete Doherty is arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs, days after pleading guilty in a London court to possessing heroin and cocaine.
Tom Waits wins a landmark legal intellectual property case in Spain brought against car manufacturer Volkswagen-Audi and production firm Tandem Campany Guasch.
Multi-platinum artist Ashanti files a federal lawsuit over the unauthorized release of demos recorded more than eight years ago.
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