United Kingdom

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of the United Kingdom}}
<!----Caution should be taken to ensure that the sections are not simply a listing of names or mini biographies of individuals accomplishments.---->
[[File:Royal Albert Hall, BBC Proms 2017.jpg|thumb|[[The Proms]] is a classical music festival, most closely associated with [[Henry Wood]] and held at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], which regularly plays music by [[Edward Elgar]] and other British composers.]]
Various styles of music have become popular in the UK, including the indigenous [[folk music]] of [[Folk music of England|England]], [[Music of Wales#Folk music|Wales]], [[Folk music of Scotland|Scotland]] and [[Folk music of Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]]. Historically, there has been exceptional Renaissance music from the [[Tudor period]], with masses, madrigals and lute music by [[Thomas Tallis]], [[John Taverner]], [[William Byrd]], [[Orlando Gibbons]] and [[John Dowland]]. After the [[Stuart Restoration]], an English tradition of dramatic masques, anthems and airs became established, led by [[Henry Purcell]], followed by [[Thomas Arne]] and others. The German-born composer [[George Frideric Handel]] became a [[Naturalization|naturalised]] [[British nationality law|British citizen]] in 1727, when he composed the anthem ''[[Zadok the Priest]]'' for the [[coronation of George II]]; it became the traditional ceremonial music for anointing all future monarchs. Handel's many oratorios, such as his famous ''[[Messiah (Handel)|Messiah]]'', were written in the English language.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 July 2009 |title=British Citizen by Act of Parliament: George Frideric Handel |url=http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_publications_and_archives/parliamentary_archives/handel_and_naturalisation.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326164147/http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_publications_and_archives/parliamentary_archives/handel_and_naturalisation.cfm |archive-date=26 March 2010 |access-date=9 March 2015 |publisher=UK Parliament}}; {{Cite news |last=Andrews |first=John |date=14 April 2006 |title=Handel all'inglese |work=Playbill |location=New York |url=http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/4236.html |access-date=11 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516210558/http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/4236.html |archive-date=16 May 2008}}</ref> In the second half of the 19th century, as [[Arthur Sullivan]] and his librettist [[W. S. Gilbert]] wrote their popular [[Savoy opera]]s, [[Edward Elgar]]'s wide range of music rivalled that of his contemporaries on the continent. Increasingly, however, composers became inspired by the English countryside and its [[folk music]], notably [[Gustav Holst]], [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]], and [[Benjamin Britten]], a pioneer of modern British opera. Among the many post-war composers, some of the most notable have made their own personal choice of musical identity: [[Peter Maxwell Davies]] (Orkney), [[Harrison Birtwistle]] (mythological), and [[John Tavener]] (religious).<ref>{{Cite Grove|title=Great Britain|first1=Nicholas|last1=Iemperley|date = 2002| url =https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.O006236 |url-access=subscription}}; {{Cite Grove|title=England (i)|date = 2001| url = https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.40044|url-access= subscription|first1=Stephen|last1= Banfield|first2= Ian|last2= Russell}}; {{Cite Grove|title=Wales| date=2001|first1=Geraint|last1= Lewis|first2= Lyn|last2= Davies|first3= Phyllis|last3= Kinney| url =
https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.41108 | url-access=subscription}}; {{Cite Grove|title=Scotland| first1=Kenneth |last1= Elliott| first2= Francis|last2= Collinson| first3= Peggy |last3= Duesenberry |url = https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.40113 | url-access = subscription | date = 2001}}; {{Cite Grove|title= Ireland| first1 = Harry |last1=White |first2 = Nicholas| last2= Carolan|
url= https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.13901|url-access= subscription| date = 2011}}; {{Cite web |title=British 20th century composers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zdjw7p3/revision/1 |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=[[BBC]]}}</ref> Today, recent classical singers include: [[Alfie Boe]], [[Bryn Terfel]], [[Katherine Jenkins]], [[Michael Ball]], [[Roderick Williams]], [[Russell Watson]] and [[Sarah Brightman]], while [[Nicola Benedetti]] and [[Nigel Kennedy]] are renowned for their violin ability.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 June 2022 |title=30 of the greatest violinists on record |url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/30-of-the-greatest-violinists-on-record |access-date=4 March 2024 |website=Gramophone}};{{Cite web |date=1 January 2020 |title=Katherine Jenkins has officially sold the most classical albums this century |url=https://www.classicfm.com/radio/shows-presenters/classic-fm-chart/katherine-jenkins-most-classical-albums/ |access-date=4 March 2024 |website=Classic FM}};{{Cite web |date=6 May 2023 |title=Who is Roderick Williams, the British baritone and composer at the King's coronation? |url=https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/roderick-williams-composer-baritone-singing-roles/ |access-date=4 March 2024 |website=Classic FM}};{{Cite web |date=23 February 2024 |title=Michael Ball |url=https://www.eno.org/artists/michael-ball-2/ |access-date=4 March 2024 |website=English National Opera}};{{Cite web |title=Alfie Bow |url=https://www.classicfm.com/artists/alfie-boe/ |access-date=4 March 2024 |website=Classic FM}};{{Cite web |date=11 July 2023|title=Sarah Brightman facts |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/sarah-brightman-age-husband-songs/ |access-date=4 March 2024 |website=Smooth Radio}}</ref>

According to ''[[The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians]]'', the term "[[pop music]]" originated in Britain in the mid-1950s to describe [[rock and roll]]'s fusion with the "new youth music".<ref>R. Middleton, et al., [http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/public/book/omo_gmo "Pop"], ''Grove music online'', retrieved 14 March 2010. {{Subscription required}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113160329/http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/public/book/omo_gmo|date=13 January 2011}}</ref> ''The Oxford Dictionary of Music'' states that artists such as [[the Beatles]] and [[the Rolling Stones]] drove pop music to the forefront of popular music in the early 1960s.<ref>"Pop", [http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/public/book/omo_t237 ''The Oxford Dictionary of Music''], retrieved 9 March 2010.{{Subscription required}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112170116/http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/public/book/omo_t237|date=12 November 2017}}</ref> Birmingham became known as the birthplace of [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]], with the band [[Black Sabbath]] starting there in the 1960s.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Birmingham, England ... the unlikely birthplace of heavy metal |language=en |work=CNN |date=1 July 2011 |first1=Laura |last1=Allsop |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/07/01/birmingham.home.of.metal/index.html |access-date=28 February 2022 |postscript=;}} {{Cite web |last=Bentley |first=David |date=4 June 2013 |title=Midlands rocks! How Birmingham's industrial heritage made it the birthplace of heavy metal |url=http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/whats-on/music/birmingham-birthplace-of-heavy-metal-4031445 |access-date=28 February 2022 |website=[[Birmingham Post]] |language=en}}</ref> In the following years, Britain widely occupied a part in the development of [[rock music]], with British acts pioneering [[hard rock]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Rolling Stones {{!}} Biography & History |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-rolling-stones-mn0000894465/biography |access-date=22 July 2020 |website=AllMusic |language=en-us}}</ref> [[raga rock]]; [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]];<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tom Larson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vGJ7XmA8rjIC&pg=PA183 |title=History of Rock and Roll |publisher=Kendall/Hunt Pub. |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7872-9969-9 |pages=183–187}}</ref> [[space rock]]; [[glam rock]];<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Glam Rock |url=http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_561509274/glam_rock.html |access-date=21 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828224412/http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_561509274/glam_rock.html |archive-date=28 August 2009 |encyclopedia=[[Encarta]] }}</ref> [[Gothic rock]],<ref>{{Cite web |year=2004 |title=NME Originals: Goth |url=https://www.nme.com/originals/4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080126150121/http://www.nme.com/originals/4 |archive-date=26 January 2008 |access-date=30 September 2013 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref> [[psychedelic rock]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pop/Rock » Psychedelic/Garage |url=https://www.allmusic.com/subgenre/psychedelic-garage-ma0000002800 |access-date=6 August 2020 |publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> and [[punk rock]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |year=2001 |title=The Sex Pistols |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/TheSexPistols/;kw=%5Bnews,artists,9620,40534,40572%5D |magazine=RollingStone.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201183919/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/TheSexPistols/;kw=%5Bnews,artists,9620,40534,40572%5D |archive-date=1 February 2013 |access-date=24 May 2010}}</ref> British acts also developed [[neo soul]] and created [[dubstep]].<ref>Henderson, Alex (1 August 2003). [https://web.archive.org/web/20101104165122/http://allmusic.com/explore/essay/british-soul-t2160 British Soul]. Allmusic. Retrieved 6 March 2011.; [http://www.allmusic.com/style/dubstep-ma0000004465 AllMusic – Dubstep] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923151236/http://www.allmusic.com/style/dubstep-ma0000004465|date=23 September 2017}} "Absorbed and transfigured elements of techno, drum'n' bass and dub"; {{Cite news |last=Goldman |first=Vivien |date=31 January 2012 |title=Local Groove Does Good: The Story Of Trip-Hop's Rise From Bristol |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2012/01/31/142607358/local-groove-does-good-the-story-of-trip-hops-rise-from-bristol}}</ref> The modern UK is known to produce some of the most prominent English-speaking rappers along with the United States, including [[Stormzy]], [[Kano (rapper)|Kano]], [[Yxng Bane]], [[Ramz (rapper)|Ramz]], [[Little Simz]] and [[Skepta]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=5 U.K. Rappers Primed to Take Over America in 2018 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8097878/uk-rappers-to-watch-2018 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=18 June 2018}}</ref>

[[File:The Fabs.JPG|thumb|[[The Beatles]] are the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed band in popular music, selling over a billion records.<ref name="Beatles sales">{{Cite web |title=1960–1969 |url=http://www.emimusic.com/about/history/1960-1969/# |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425011032/http://www.emimusic.com/about/history/1960-1969 |archive-date=25 April 2014 |access-date=9 March 2015 |publisher=EMI Group}}</ref><ref name="McCartney">{{Cite magazine |date=8 June 1992 |title=Paul At Fifty |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,975715-2,00.html |magazine=Time |location=New York |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206120350/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,975715-2,00.html |archive-date=6 February 2009}}</ref><ref name="Guinness">[https://books.google.com/books?id=rdU1xtIWJz0C Most Successful Group] ''[[The Guinness Book of Records]]'' 1999, p. 230. Retrieved 19 March 2011.</ref>]]
The Beatles have international sales of over 1&nbsp;billion units and are the [[List of best-selling music artists|biggest-selling]] and [[Cultural impact of the Beatles|most influential band in the history of popular music]].<ref name="Beatles sales"/><ref name="McCartney"/><ref name="Guinness"/><ref>{{Cite news |date=25 November 2010 |title=Beatles a big hit with downloads |work=Belfast Telegraph |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/beatles-a-big-hit-with-downloads-15013117.html |access-date=16 May 2011}}</ref> Other prominent British contributors to have influenced popular music over the last 50 years include the Rolling Stones, [[Pink Floyd]], [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[Led Zeppelin]], the [[Bee Gees]], and [[Elton John]], all of whom have worldwide record sales of 200&nbsp;million or more.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=British rock legends get their own music title for PlayStation3 and PlayStation2 |date=2 February 2009 |publisher=[[EMI]] |url=http://www.emimusic.com/news/2009/singstar®-queen-to-be-launched-by-sony-computer-entertainment-europe |access-date=9 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423012539/http://www.emimusic.com/news/2009/singstar%C2%AE-queen-to-be-launched-by-sony-computer-entertainment-europe |archive-date=23 April 2014}}; {{Cite news |last=Khan |first=Urmee |date=17 July 2008 |title=Sir Elton John honoured in Ben and Jerry ice cream |work=The Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2305273/Sir-Elton-John-honoured-in-Ben-and-Jerry-ice-cream.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730164432/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2305273/Sir-Elton-John-honoured-in-Ben-and-Jerry-ice-cream.html |archive-date=30 July 2008}}; {{Cite news |last=Alleyne |first=Richard |date=19 April 2008 |title=Rock group Led Zeppelin to reunite |work=The Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1562875/Rock-group-Led-Zeppelin-to-reunite.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=31 March 2010 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1562875/Rock-group-Led-Zeppelin-to-reunite.html |archive-date=10 January 2022}}{{Cbignore}}; {{Cite news |date=11 July 2006 |title=Floyd 'true to Barrett's legacy' |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5170644.stm}}; {{Cite news |last=Holton |first=Kate |date=17 January 2008 |title=Rolling Stones sign Universal album deal |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSL1767761020080117 |access-date=26 October 2008}}; {{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Tim |date=12 May 2008 |title=Jive talkin': Why Robin Gibb wants more respect for the Bee Gees |work=Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/jive-talkin-why-robin-gibb-wants-more-respect-for-the-bee-gees-826116.html |access-date=26 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013215157/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/jive-talkin-why-robin-gibb-wants-more-respect-for-the-bee-gees-826116.html |archive-date=13 October 2011}}</ref> The [[Brit Awards]] are the [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI's]] annual music awards, and some of the British recipients of the [[Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music|Outstanding Contribution to Music]] award include [[the Who]], [[David Bowie]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Rod Stewart]], [[the Police]], and [[Fleetwood Mac]] (who are a British-American band).<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/feb/22/brit-awards-winners-list-2012 "Brit awards winners list 2012: every winner since 1977"]. ''The Guardian'' (London). Retrieved 28 February 2012.</ref> <!-- Please note that the following list of recent musicians and groups includes only those selling more than 30&nbsp;million records. -->More recent UK music acts that have had international success include [[George Michael]], [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]], [[Spice Girls]], [[Radiohead]], [[Coldplay]], [[Arctic Monkeys]], [[Robbie Williams]], [[Amy Winehouse]], [[Susan Boyle]], [[Adele]], [[Ed Sheeran]], [[Lewis Capaldi]], [[One Direction]] and [[Harry Styles]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 January 2020 |title=Harry Styles Has Weathered the Post-Boy Band Storm Better Than Most |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/01/harry-styles-solo-career |access-date=15 September 2020 |website=Consequence of Sound |language=en-US}}; {{Cite magazine |date=16 July 2020 |title=10 Years of One Direction: The Story of the World's Biggest Boy Band, Told With the Fans Who Made It Happen |magazine=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9419436/one-direction-ten-year-anniversary-fan-interviews |access-date=15 September 2020}}; {{Cite news |last=Corner, Lewis |date=16 February 2012 |title=Adele, Coldplay biggest-selling UK artists worldwide in 2011 |work=Digital Spy |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a366130/adele-coldplay-biggest-selling-uk-artists-worldwide-in-2011.html |access-date=22 March 2012}}; {{Cite web |title=Ed Sheeran's career journey: From street busker to global superstar |url=https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/entertainment/celebrity/ed-sheeran-career-timeline/ |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=PlanetRadio.co.uk |last=Magliola |first=Anna Sky |date=30 November 2022}}</ref>

A number of UK cities are known for their music. Acts from Liverpool have had 54 UK chart number 1 hit singles, more per capita than any other city worldwide.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=Mark |date=14 January 2008 |title=A tale of two cities of culture: Liverpool vs Stavanger |work=Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/a-tale-of-two-cities-of-culture-liverpool-vs-stavanger-770076.html?r=RSS |access-date=2 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618175425/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/a-tale-of-two-cities-of-culture-liverpool-vs-stavanger-770076.html?r=RSS |archive-date=18 June 2018}}</ref> Glasgow's contribution to music was recognised in 2008 when it was named a [[UNESCO]] [[City of Music (UNESCO)|City of Music]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 August 2008 |title=Glasgow gets city of music honour |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7570915.stm |access-date=2 August 2009}}</ref> Manchester played a role in the spread of dance music such as [[acid house]], and from the mid-1990s, [[Britpop]]. London and Bristol are closely associated with the origins of [[electronic music]] sub-genres such as [[drum and bass]] and [[trip hop]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Out of the melting pot: The origins and evolution of drum'n'bass |url=https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/history-of-drum-and-bass-music |access-date=1 August 2021 |website=Red Bull|date=25 June 2020 }}</ref>

UK dance music traces its roots back to the Black British [[Sound system (Jamaican)|Sound System Culture]] and the [[New Age travellers|New Age Traveller]] movement of the 60s and 70s,<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 August 2023 |title=Parties, protest and police: the neglected histories of UK dance music |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/60511/1/ed-gillet-new-book-party-lines-politics-history-uk-dance-music-clubbing |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=Dazed}}</ref> it also has influences from [[New Wave music|New Wave]] and [[Synth-pop]] such as from bands [[New Order (band)|New Order]] and [[Depeche Mode]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 August 2022 |title=Depeche Mode — Pioneers In Electronic Music |url=https://medium.com/hd-pro/depeche-mode-pioneers-in-electronic-music-1f0e4a984fff |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=Medium}}</ref> and also has influences from the [[House music|Chicago House]] and [[Detroit techno|Detroit Techno]] scenes. In the late 80's, dance music exploded with [[Rave]] culture mainly [[Acid House]] tracks which were made mainstream with novelty records (such as Smart E's [[Sesame's Treet]] and the Prodigy's [[Charly (song)|Charly]])<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 January 2001 |title=Rave |url=https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/search?q=rave |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=Oxford Music Online}}</ref> and the [[Balearic beat|Balearic sound]] brought back from the Ibiza club scene. This led on to genres such as [[UK Garage]], [[Speed Garage]], [[Drum and bass]], [[Jungle music|Jungle]], [[Trance music|Trance]] and [[Dubstep]]. Influential UK dance acts past and present include [[808 State]], [[Orbital (band)|Orbital]], [[the Prodigy]], [[Underworld (band)|Underworld]], [[Roni Size]], [[Leftfield]], [[Massive Attack]], [[Groove Armada]], [[Fatboy Slim]], [[Faithless]], [[Basement Jaxx]], [[Chemical Brothers]], [[Sub Focus]], [[Chase & Status]], [[Disclosure (band)|Disclosure]], [[Calvin Harris]] and [[Fred Again]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mixmag's Greatest Dance Act of all Time Revealed |date=19 January 2012|url=http://www.mixmag.net/words/news/mixmags-greatest-dance-act-revealed |archive-date=14 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414045620/http://www.mixmag.net/words/news/mixmags-greatest-dance-act-revealed}};{{Cite web |date=26 February 2024 |title=Fred Again: who is the DJ who has thousands queuing for a 'secret rave' at the Sydney Opera House? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/27/fred-again-dj-sydney-opera-house-secret-show-tickets-sell-out-profile-bio-details |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> Other influential UK DJs include [[Judge Jules]], [[Pete Tong]], [[Carl Cox]], [[Paul Oakenfold]], [[John Digweed]] and [[Sasha (dj)|Sasha]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top 100 DJs Poll results 2003|url=http://djmag.com/top100chart.asp|archive-date=7 December 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031207071739/http://djmag.com/top100chart.asp}}</ref>