Timeline of music in the United States (2001–present)

This is a timeline of music in the United States from 2001 to the present, the 21st century.

2001

• The Ken Burns television documentary series Jazz is watched by an estimated 60 million people and is said to have led to a doubling of jazz sales in the United States.
• After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, television networks work together to show America: A Tribute to Heroes, a telethon to raise money for victims of the attacks. Music stars who perform include Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon.
• A concert tour featuring Hakim, Khaled and Simon Shaheen is a historic event, signaling new acceptance for Arab music in the United States. Rachid Taha and Cheb Mami had toured earlier—all five performers are popular in the Arab world. The California-based record label Arc 21/Mondo Melodia is at the heart of the Arab music boom.

2002

• George N. Thompson becomes the first African American to serve as head of the United States Navy's Musical Training Program.

2003

• The Library of Congress inaugurates the National Recording Registry, inducting fifty historically significant recordings.
• A tribute is held to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a gospel legend, at the Bottom Line Cabaret in New York, featuring performances from the Dixie Hummingbirds, Odetta, and others; the same year, a tribute album is released by MC Records, called Shout, Sister, Shout: A Tribute to Rosetta Tharpe.

2004

• Jin becomes the first Asian American rapper on a major label with the release of The Rest Is History.

2005

• Jeff Chang's Can't Stop Won't Stop is published. It will become one of the definitive histories of hip hop music.