See also: 2002 in music, other events of 2003 and the list of 'years in music'.
Albums Released
Top Hits
- "Baby" - Ashanti
- "Gossip Folks" - Missy Elliot
- "What We Do" - Freeway
- "Won't Back Down" - Fuel
- "All I Have" - Jennifer Lopez
- "Love Boat Captain" - Pearl Jam
- "Picture" - Kid Rock
Top 10 Selling Albums of the Year
Events
- Early January - Drowning Pool disbanded
- January - following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recovered nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people were arrested. The tapes have been used for bootleg releases for years.
- January 15 - 2003 Readers Poll for all albums and new talent of 2002.
Births
Deaths
- January 8 - Ron Goodwin, British film music composer and conductor
- January 12 - Maurice Gibb, The Bee Gees
- January 15 - Eduardo Alquinta, member of Chilean folk group Los Jaivas
Awards
- Leonard Cohen is made a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest honour.