Pub Quiz Music Round: 50 Questions Across Every Decade

A great music round is the highlight of any pub quiz. These 50 carefully crafted pub quiz music questions span every decade from the 1960s to the 2020s, with a mix of easy crowd-pleasers and tricky head-scratchers to keep every table engaged. All answers included — no peeking until the end of the round!

Each round of 10 questions is designed to stand alone, so you can use one round or all five depending on your event format.

Round 1: 1960s Music Questions

Questions:

1. Which band had a 1963 hit with "She Loves You"?
2. Who sang "Respect" in 1967?
3. What was the name of The Rolling Stones' first UK number one single?
4. Which artist released "Purple Haze" in 1967?
5. Who sang "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" in 1966?
6. Which band released "Good Vibrations" in 1966?
7. What was the best-selling UK single of 1968?
8. Who sang "Son of a Preacher Man" in 1968?
9. Which artist is known as "The King of Soul"?
10. What year did The Beatles release "Abbey Road"?

Answers:

1. The Beatles
2. Aretha Franklin
3. "It's All Over Now" (1964)
4. Jimi Hendrix
5. Nancy Sinatra
6. The Beach Boys
7. "Hey Jude" by The Beatles
8. Dusty Springfield
9. Otis Redding
10. 1969

Round 2: 1970s & 1980s Music Questions

Questions:

11. Which band released "Bohemian Rhapsody" in 1975?
12. Who sang "I Will Survive" in 1978?
13. What was ABBA's first UK number one?
14. Which artist released "Thriller" in 1982?
15. Who sang "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1983?
16. Which band had a hit with "Don't You Want Me" in 1981?
17. What was the name of the 1985 charity concert for African famine relief?
18. Who sang "Like a Virgin" in 1984?
19. Which band released "The Joshua Tree" in 1987?
20. Who had a hit with "Take On Me" in 1985?

Answers:

11. Queen
12. Gloria Gaynor
13. "Waterloo" (1974)
14. Michael Jackson
15. Bonnie Tyler
16. The Human League
17. Live Aid
18. Madonna
19. U2
20. a-ha

Round 3: 1990s Music Questions

Questions:

21. Which band released "Nevermind" in 1991?
22. Who sang "Killing Me Softly" in 1996?
23. What was the Spice Girls' debut single?
24. Which artist had a hit with "Gangsta's Paradise" in 1995?
25. Who sang "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" in 1991?
26. Which band had a hit with "Wonderwall" in 1995?
27. What was TLC's biggest hit single?
28. Who released "Jagged Little Pill" in 1995?
29. Which boy band had hits with "Backstreet's Back" and "I Want It That Way"?
30. What was the best-selling UK single of the 1990s?

Answers:

21. Nirvana
22. Fugees
23. "Wannabe"
24. Coolio (featuring L.V.)
25. Bryan Adams
26. Oasis
27. "Waterfalls"
28. Alanis Morissette
29. Backstreet Boys
30. "Something About the Way You Look Tonight / Candle in the Wind 1997" by Elton John

Round 4: 2000s & 2010s Music Questions

Questions:

31. Which artist released "Back to Black" in 2006?
32. Who sang "Crazy in Love" in 2003?
33. What was PSY's viral hit in 2012?
34. Which band released "AM" in 2013?
35. Who had a hit with "Rolling in the Deep" in 2010?
36. What was Ed Sheeran's first UK number one single?
37. Which artist released "21" in 2011?
38. Who sang "Uptown Funk" with Bruno Mars in 2014?
39. What was the best-selling UK single of 2019?
40. Which band had a hit with "Mr. Brightside" in 2003?

Answers:

31. Amy Winehouse
32. Beyoncé (featuring Jay-Z)
33. "Gangnam Style"
34. Arctic Monkeys
35. Adele
36. "Sing" (2014)
37. Adele
38. Mark Ronson
39. "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi
40. The Killers

Round 5: 2020s & Mixed Pot Luck

Questions:

41. Which artist released "As It Was" in 2022?
42. Who sang "Easy On Me" in 2021?
43. What was Miley Cyrus's 2023 hit about self-love?
44. Which artist released "Midnights" in 2022?
45. Who had a viral hit with "Running Up That Hill" after Stranger Things in 2022?
46. Which artist is known as "The Queen of Pop"?
47. What was the first music video played on MTV in 1981?
48. Who wrote "My Way", made famous by Frank Sinatra?
49. Which band was originally called "The Pendletones"?
50. What is the best-selling album of all time?

Answers:

41. Harry Styles
42. Adele
43. "Flowers"
44. Taylor Swift
45. Kate Bush
46. Madonna
47. "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles
48. Paul Anka (based on a French song by Claude François and Jacques Revaux)
49. The Beach Boys
50. "Thriller" by Michael Jackson

How to Run a Great Pub Quiz Music Round

Format Tips:

• Read each question twice — clearly and at a steady pace
• Allow 20-30 seconds per question for teams to discuss and write answers
• Collect answer sheets at the end of each round before revealing answers
• Score between rounds to maintain flow and build anticipation
• Announce scores after each round to keep competition alive

Making It More Interesting:

• Add a music clip round — play 10-15 seconds of a song and ask teams to name the artist and title
• Include a picture round with album covers or artist photos
• Use a joker system — teams can double their points on one round of their choice
• Add a Music Bingo round between quiz sections for variety
• Offer a bonus point for the year of release on selected questions

Scoring:

• 1 point per correct answer (50 points available across all 5 rounds)
• Award half points for close answers at your discretion
• Have a tiebreaker question ready — nearest answer wins (e.g. "What year was X released?")

Combine Your Quiz with Music Bingo

The best pub music nights combine a quiz with a round of Music Bingo. It breaks up the writing, gets everyone on their feet, and gives players who aren't strong on trivia a chance to win. Our printable Music Bingo games come with ready-made Spotify playlists, so there's no extra prep needed.

Try this format for a 2-hour pub music night:

• 0:00 — Welcome & Round 1 (60s)
• 0:20 — Music Bingo Round 1
• 0:40 — Quiz Rounds 2 & 3 (70s/80s, 90s)
• 1:10 — Music Bingo Round 2
• 1:30 — Quiz Rounds 4 & 5 (2000s-2020s, Pot Luck)
• 1:55 — Final scores & prizes

Frequently Asked Questions

How many music questions should a pub quiz round have?

10 questions per round is the standard format — enough to be challenging without dragging. For a dedicated music quiz, 5 rounds of 10 gives you a full 2-hour event with breaks for scoring and refreshments.

What makes a good pub quiz music question?

The best questions have one clear, verifiable answer, cover a range of difficulty levels, and span different eras so all age groups have a chance. Avoid overly obscure questions — the goal is friendly competition, not frustration.

Can I use these questions for a free pub quiz?

Yes — these questions are free to use for non-commercial pub quiz events. For regular quiz nights, we recommend mixing in fresh questions each week to keep regulars on their toes.

How do I add music clips to my quiz?

Build a Spotify or YouTube playlist of 10-15 second clips, play them through a Bluetooth speaker, and ask teams to name the song and artist. Download the playlist offline to avoid buffering issues on the night.

Ready to Host Your Best Pub Night Yet?

These 50 questions give you a complete, ready-to-run music round for your next pub quiz. Mix and match rounds to suit your audience, add a Music Bingo session for extra entertainment, and watch your pub night become the one everyone talks about.

Related Reading

• Music Quiz Questions: 100+ Questions for the Ultimate Quiz Night
• Music Trivia Questions: 100+ Questions Across All Decades
• How to Host a Music Bingo Night: Complete Party Planning Guide
• Creative Prize Ideas for Your Music Bingo Event