This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2012 in music. This year was the peak of music downloads sales in the United States, with sales declining year on year since then.

Specific locations

* 2012 in African music * 2012 in American music * 2012 in Asian music * 2012 in Australian music * 2012 in British music * 2012 in Canadian music * 2012 in Chinese music * 2012 in European music (

Continental Europe Continental Europe or mainland Europe is the contiguous mainland of Europe, excluding its surrounding islands. It can also be referred to ambiguously as the European continent, – which can conversely mean the whole of Europe – and, by som ...

) * 2012 in French music * 2012 in German music * 2012 in Irish music * 2012 in Japanese music * 2012 in Norwegian music *

2012 in South Korean music The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in 2012 in music in South Korea. Notable events and achievements * January 11–12 – the 26th Golden Disc Awards take place, the first time it was held in January. Super ...

* 2012 in Swedish music * 2012 in Taiwanese music

Specific genres

2012 in alternative music 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to s ...

* 2012 in classical music *

2012 in country music 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...

* 2012 in heavy metal music * 2012 in hip hop music *

2012 in jazz 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...

* 2012 in Latin music * 2012 in opera * 2012 in rock music *

* 2012 in Philippine music

Albums released

Classical music

Hans Abrahamsen Hans Abrahamsen (born 23 December 1952) is a Danish composer born in Kongens Lyngby near Copenhagen. His ''Let me tell you (Abrahamsen), Let me tell you'' (2013), a song cycle for soprano and orchestra, was ranked by music critics at ''The Guard ...

– String Quartet No. 4 *

John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before Presidency of John Adams, his presidency, he was a leader of ...

– '' Absolute Jest'', for string quartet and orchestra *

Harrison Birtwistle Sir Harrison Birtwistle (15 July 1934 – 18 April 2022) was an English composer of contemporary classical music best known for his operas, often based on mythological subjects. Among his many compositions, his better known works include '' T ...

– ''The Moth Requiem'', for twelve female voices, three harps and alto flute *

Elliott Carter Elliott Cook Carter Jr. (December 11, 1908 – November 5, 2012) was an American modernist composer who was one of the most respected composers of the second half of the 20th century. He combined elements of European modernism and American " ...

**'' Dialogues II'', for piano and chamber orchestra **''Epigrams'', for violin, cello, and piano **''Instances'', for chamber orchestra *

Unsuk Chin Unsuk Chin ( ; born July 14, 1961) is a South Korean composer of contemporary classical music, who is based in Berlin, Germany. Chin was a self-taught pianist from a young age and studied composition at Seoul National University as well as with ...

– ''cosmigimmicks. A musical pantomime for seven instrumentalists'' *

Peter Maxwell Davies Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (8 September 1934 – 14 March 2016) was an English composer and conductor, who in 2004 was made Master of the Queen's Music. As a student at both the University of Manchester and the Royal Manchester College of Music ...

– Symphony No. 9 * Clemens Gadenstätter **''Bersten/Platzen (Paramyth 4)'', for cello and piano **''Haüten/Paramyth 1'', for string quartet **''Sad Songs'', for quartet with saxophone, electric guitar, percussion, piano and integrated electronics * Magnus Lindberg – ''Acequia Madre'', for clarinet and piano * Bruno Mantovani – ''Concerto pour deux pianos'', for two pianos and orchestra * Tristan Murail **''The Bronze Age'', for flute, clarinet, trombone, violin, cello and piano **''Le Désenchantement du Monde'', piano concerto * Matthias Pintscher **''Bereshit'', for large ensemble **''Uriel'', for cello and piano * Alberto Posadas - ''Sombras'', for soprano, clarinet and string quartet * Eva Reiter – ''Irrlicht'', for ensemble and electronics * Kaija Saariaho **''

Circle Map In mathematics, particularly in dynamical systems, Arnold tongues (named after Vladimir Arnold) Section 12 in page 78 has a figure showing Arnold tongues. are a pictorial phenomenon that occur when visualizing how the rotation number of a dynamic ...

'', for orchestra and electronics **''Duft'', for clarinet **''Sombre'', for voice, bass flute, percussion, harp, and double bass *

Erkki-Sven Tüür Erkki-Sven Tüür (; born 16 October 1959) is an Estonian composer. Life and career Tüür was born in Kärdla on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. He studied flute and percussion at the Tallinn Music School from 1976 to 1980 and composition wi ...

– String Quartet No. 2 ''Lost Prayers'' * Pēteris Vasks – Cello concerto No. 2 ''Klātbūtne'' ('Presence')

Opera

* George Benjamin - '' Written on Skin''

Singles

* Who Are You (Emine Sari song), released: 6 June 2012

Deaths

;January * 3 – Daniel Peil (69), American rock singer ( The Corporation) * 4 – Totti Bergh (76), Norwegian jazz saxophonist ** Ruthilde Boesch (94), Austrian soprano ** John Levy (99), American jazz upright-bassist * 26 –

Clare Fischer Douglas Clare Fischer (October 22, 1928 – January 26, 2012) was an American keyboardist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. After graduating from Michigan State University (from which, five decades later, he would receive an honorary doctorat ...

(83), American jazz keyboardist, composer, arranger and bandleader ;February *11 –

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, film producer, model, and philanthropist. Commonly referred to as "Honorific nicknames in popular music, the Voice", she is List of awards and no ...

(48), American pop/R&B singer * 22 – Eivin One Pedersen (55), Norwegian jazz accordionist and pianist * 25 – Red Holloway (84), American jazz tenor saxophonist * 29 - Davy Jones (66), English singer (

The Monkees The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. Spurred by the success of ''The Monkees (TV series), Th ...

) ;March * 1 –

Lucio Dalla Lucio Dalla (; 4 March 1943 – 1 March 2012) was an Italian singer-songwriter, musician and actor. He also played clarinet and keyboards. Dalla was the composer of "Caruso (song), Caruso" (1986), a song dedicated to Italian opera tenor Enri ...

(68), Italian jazz singer, clarinetist and actor * 3 – Frank Marocco (81), American jazz piano-accordionist, arranger and composer * 6 – Robert B. Sherman, 86, American songwriter, brother of Richard M. Sherman ( Sherman Brothers) * 15 – Edvard Hagerup Bull (89), Norwegian composer. ;April * 19 – Greg Ham (58), Australian musician

Men at Work Men at Work are an Australian rock band that was formed in Melbourne, 1979. They were best known for breakthrough hits such as " Down Under", " Who Can It Be Now?", " Be Good Johnny", " Overkill", and " It's a Mistake". Its founding member and ...

;May * 4 –

Adam Yauch Adam Nathaniel Yauch ( ; August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012), also known by the stage name MCA, was an American rapper, bassist, filmmaker and a founding member of the Hip-hop, hip hop group Beastie Boys. Besides his musical work, he also directed m ...

(47), American rapper (

Beastie Boys The Beastie Boys were an American Hip-hop, hip hop and Rap rock, rap rock group formed in New York City in 1979. They were composed of Ad-Rock, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar), Adam Yauch, Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass), and Mike D, ...

) * 10 – Bernardo Sassetti (41), Portuguese jazz pianist and composer * 13 – Trond Bråthen alias "Trondr Nefas" (35), Norwegian singer and guitarist of black metal band Urgehal * 14 – Belita Woods (63), American R&B singer ( Brainstorm) * 17 ** Warda Al-Jazairia (72), French-Algerian singer, in Egypt **

Donna Summer Donna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948May 17, 2012), known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the "Queen of Disco", while her music ...

(63). American singer * 20 – Robin Gibb (62), British singer (

Bee Gees The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry Gibb, Barry, Robin Gibb, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in ...

) * 30 – Pete Cosey (68), American jazz guitarist ;June * 8 – Wilf Doyle (87), Canadian accordionist * 17 – Brian Hibbard (65), ( The Flying Pickets) * 26 – Harry W. Kvebæk (87), Norwegian classical trumpeter and academic ;July * 7 – Alf Pearson (102), British singer and variety performer (Bob and Alf Pearson) * 27 – Darryl Cotton (62), Australian pop-rock singer-songwriter ( Zoot, Cotton, Lloyd & Christian) * 31 -

Tony Sly Anthony James Sly (November 4, 1970 – July 31, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the front man of the punk rock band No Use for a Name. In his later years he also gained attention for his acoustic mu ...

(41), Singer, guitarist for punk rock band No Use For a Name ;August * 11 –

Von Freeman Earle Lavon "Von" Freeman Sr. (October 3, 1923 – August 11, 2012) was an American hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography Born in Chicago, Illinois, Freeman was exposed as a young child to jazz. His father, George, a city policeman, was a ...

(88), American jazz saxophonist * 18 – Scott McKenzie (73), American singer ;September * 25 –

Andy Williams Howard Andrew Williams (December 3, 1927 – September 25, 2012) was an American singer. He recorded 43 albums in his career, of which 15 have been gold certified and three platinum certified. He was also nominated for six Grammy Awards. He hos ...

(84), American singer * 26 – Marty Fortson (67), American rock and roll singer ( The Rivieras) * 29 – Johnny Sanders (66), American rock guitarist ( The Gants) ;October * 8 –

John Tchicai John Martin Tchicai ( ; 28 April 1936 – 8 October 2012) was a Danish free jazz saxophonist and composer. Biography Tchicai was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to a Danish mother and a Congolese father. The family moved to Aarhus, where he s ...

(76), Danish jazz saxophonist and composer * 26 – Louis Nunley (81), American pop singer ( The Anita Kerr Quartet) ;November * 3 ** Anne-Lise Berntsen (69), Norwegian soprano singer ** Odd Børretzen (85), Norwegian author and folk singer (pneumonia) * 15 – Frode Thingnæs (72), Norwegian jazz trombonist and bandleader (complications from heart attack) ;December * 5 –

Dave Brubeck David Warren Brubeck (; December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Often regarded as a foremost exponent of cool jazz, Brubeck's work is characterized by unusual time signatures and superimposing contrasti ...

(91), American jazz pianist and composer

Births

January 7 Events Pre-1600 *49 BC – The Senate of the Roman Republic, Senate of Rome says that Caesar will be declared a public enemy unless he disbands his army, prompting the tribunes who support him to flee to where Caesar is waiting in Ravenna ...

- Blue Ivy Carter, first born daughter of

Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...

and

Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American Rapping, rapper, businessman, and record executive. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he was named Billboard and Vibe's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, the ...

, dancer, singer and activist (Member of greater Knowles family including Grand parents:

Mathew Knowles Mathew Knowles (born January 9, 1952)Knowles in is an American record executive, businessman and university lecturer. He is best known for being the manager of Destiny's Child. He also once managed the solo careers of his daughters Beyoncé a ...

, Tina Knowles, First cousin once removed: Angela Beyincé and Aunt:

Solange Knowles Solange Piaget Knowles (; born June 24, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She expressed an interest in music from an early age and had temporary stints as a backup dancer for Destiny's Child, which featured her older sister ...

)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2012 In Music 2012-related lists Music by year