- Dec 1 Galina Vishnevskaya, Russian soprano opera singer (Britten's "War Requiem"), dies at 85
- Dec 4 Jonathan Harvey, British composer (Bhakti; Wheel of Emptiness),educator, and musicologist (Music of Stockhausen), dies at 73
- Dec 5 Dave Brubeck, American jazz pianist ("Take Five") and composer (Gates of Justice), dies from heart failure at 91
Jenni Rivera (1969-2012)
Dec 9 Mexican-American singer-songwriter (Jenni, 2008), dies in a plane crash at 43
Ravi Shankar (1920-2012)
Dec 11 Bengali Brahmin sitar master and Indian classical music composer (West Meets East; Concert for Bangladesh), dies at 92
- Dec 13 Otto Ketting, Dutch trumpeter and composer (Passacaglia), dies at 77
- Dec 20 Jimmy McCracklin, American pianist, dies from diabetes and hypertension at 91
- Dec 21 Lee Dorman, American rock bassist (Iron Butterfly; Captain Beyond), dies at 70
- Dec 24 Hugh Atkin, American composer, dies at 88
- Dec 24 Ray Collins, American rock vocalist (Mothers of Invention), dies at 76
- Dec 24 Richard Rodney Bennett, English pianist, classical and film score composer (Four Weddings And A Funeral), dies at 76
- Dec 26 Fontella Bass, American R&B and soul singer and songwriter (Rescue Me), dies from a heart attack at 72
Kendrick Lamar
Eminem
XXXTentacion
Tupac Shakur
Nicki Minaj
Coolio