Events in Music
Music History
May 2 Kanye West widely criticized for saying "slavery is a choice" in TMZ interview
Music Single
May 5 Childish Gambino [Donald Glover] releases the music video to new single "This is America" to wide acclaim
- May 12 63rd Eurovision song contest won by Netta from Israel in Lisbon, Portugal
Music History
May 16 American singer-songwriter Paul Simon begins his "Homeward Bound – The Farewell Tour" at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Music History
May 16 Painting "Past Times" by Kerry James Marshall is bought by Sean Combs for $21.1 million, most paid for a living African American artist
Billboard Music Awards
May 20 25th Billboard Music Awards: Ed Sheeran and Kendrick Lamar win 6 each; Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars also win; K-pop boy band BTS are the first Koreans to perform at the ceremony
Deaths in Music
- May 1 John "Jabo" Starks, American drummer (James Brown, The J.B.'s), dies at 79
- May 1 Max Berrú, Ecuadorian-Chilean musician, dies at 74
- May 1 Wanda Wiłkomirska, Polish violinist and teacher, dies at 89
- May 2 Herman Krebbers, Dutch violinist, concert master, and music teacher, dies at 94
- May 2 Tony Cucchiara, Italian folk singer and songwriter ("Cain and Abel"), dies at 80
- May 4 Naser Cheshm Azar, Iranian composer, dies of a heart attack at 67
- May 4 Steve Coy, British rocker and producer (Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)), dies at 56
- May 7 Maurane [Claudine Luypaerts], Belgian Francophone jazz and chanson singer, dies at 57
- May 7 Roman Toi, Estonian-Canadian composer, choral conductor and organist, dies at 101
- May 11 Scott Hutchinson, Scottish musician (Frightened Rabbit), found dead after a suffering from mental illness at 36
- May 20 Dieter Schnebel, German experimental composer (Harley-Davidson, for nine motorbikes and trumpet), dies at 88
- May 25 Piet Kee, Dutch organist and composer, dies at 90
- May 27 Russell Nype, American singer and actor (The Stuff,;Call Me Madam; Dorothy), dies at 98
- May 28 María Dolores Pradera, Spanish melodic singer and actress, dies at 93
- May 29 Rosa Briceño, Venezuelan conductor, and educator, dies of leukemia at 61
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers