Examples of what people say or potentially say to be the year music died:

1959-The plane carrying Buddy Holly, Lionel Richie and Big Bopper crashes killing all 3.
1977-Elvis Presley dies
1980-John Lennon is shot and killed.
1990-The end of the 1980s, which is a fondly remembered as a musically sound decade.
1994-Kurt Cobain is found dead, Justin Bieber is born
1995-Eazy E succumbs to AIDS
1996-Tupac Shakur is shot dead.
2000-Big Pun and DJ Screw die, Justin Bieber opens his mouth and starts singing for the first time
2001-Aaliyah's plane crashes
2009-Michael Jackson dies, Justin Bieber starts his career.