2016 in British Music

The Story of 2016

David Bowie died in January, and the world stopped. 'Blackstar', released on his birthday, two days before his death, became a masterpiece of mortality and farewell. 'Lazarus' and the title track were his final statement. The grief was overwhelming – a flood of tributes, 'Heroes' playing at vigils, and his records dominating the charts. It was the year British music confronted mortality. But it was also grime's breakthrough year. Skepta's 'Konnichiwa' won the Mercury Prize, a landmark for British rap. Stormzy released 'Gang Signs & Prayer' the following year, but in 2016 he released 'Scary' and was building toward his debut. Kano's 'Made in the Manor' was a classic. George Michael died on Christmas Day, another devastating loss. The year in pop was dominated by Drake's 'Views' and Beyoncé's 'Lemonade', but British artists held their own: Adele's '25' was still selling, Coldplay's 'A Head Full of Dreams' was touring. The deaths of Bowie, then Prince, then George Michael made 2016 feel like the year music lost its legends.