In music

Composers

• Richard Dybeck (1811-1877), Swedish lyricist who wrote the national anthem of Sweden
• Richard Heuberger (1850-1924), Austrian composer of operas and operettas, music critic, and teacher
• Richard D. James (born 1971), British composer and electronic musician, records music as Aphex Twin, among other monikers.
• Richard Mohaupt (1904-1957), German-American composer and conductor
• Richard Strauss (1864–1949), German composer and conductor
• Richard Wagner (1813–1883), German composer, writer, conductor and theatre director
• Rich Batsford pianist, composer and singer songwriter

Singers and musicians

• Richard "Big Daddy Ritch" Anderson, lead vocalist for American red dirt metal band Texas Hippie Coalition
• Richard Ashcroft (born 1971), former singer with The Verve
• Richard Butler (born 1956), lead singer of the Psychedelic Furs
• Richard Carpenter (born 1946), one half of The Carpenters
• Richard Henshall (born 1984), main composer, guitarist and keyboardist of Haken (band)
• Richard Manuel (1943–1986), pianist and vocalist of The Band
• Richard Wayne Penniman, known as "Little Richard" (born 1932), American Rock and Roll singer
• Richard Kruspe (born 1967), lead guitarist of Rammstein
• Richard Starkey, known as "Ringo Starr" (born 1940), drummer of The Beatles
• Richard Tauber (1891-1948), Austrian tenor
• Richard Wright (1943–2008), keyboard player for Pink Floyd