Events in Music History in 2012

  • Jan 1 Philip Glass' Symphony No. 9 premieres with the Bruckner Orchester Linz conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, at Brucknerhaus in Linz, Austria
  • Jan 9 "Time is Love" single released by Josh Turner (Billboard Song of the Year 2012)

"Old Ideas"

Jan 31 Leonard Cohen releases his album "Old Ideas", becomes No.1 in 10 countries

Gordon Lightfoot Honored

Feb 6 Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot is presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

Grammy Awards

Feb 12 54th Grammy Awards: "Rolling In The Deep" by Adele;, Bon Iver win

Music History

Feb 28 Jason Mraz releases the live EP, 'Live Is A Four Letter Word'

Wrecking Ball

Mar 6 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen's 17th studio album "Wrecking Ball"

Rock for the Rainforest

Apr 3 Rock for the Rainforest benefit concert held at Carnegie Hall, NYC; performers include: Sting, Elton John, James Taylor, Jennifer Hudson, Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill, Esperanza Spaulding, Bruno Mars, Bryn Terfel, and Bill Clinton

  • Apr 9 "The Lion King" becomes highest grossing Broadway show, overtaking "The Phantom of the Opera"
  • Apr 13 Jason Mraz's fourth studio album, 'Love Is a Four Letter Word' is released

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Apr 14 27th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: The Beastie Boys; Donovan; Guns N' Roses; Laura Nyro; The Red Hot Chili Peppers; The (Small) Faces; The Blue Caps; The Comets; The Crickets; The Famous Flames; The Midnighters; The Miracles; Freddie King; Don Kirshner; Tom Dowd; Glyn Johns; and Cosimo Matassa

Music Concert

Apr 15 Hologram of late rapper Tupac features on stage with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre at Coachella music festival

Music History

Apr 30 UNESCO celebrates the 1st International Jazz Day with a daylong celebration in Paris; a sunrise concert in New Orleans’ Congo Square; and a sunset concert at the United Nations in NYC; performers included Tony Bennett, George Benson, Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock, Hiromi, Angelique Kidjo, Lang Lang, Shankar Mahadevan, Hugh Masekela, and Esperanza Spalding [1]

  • May 10 Peeter Vähi's "Antarctic Concerto" world première, with guitar soloist Rémi Boucher and the Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta led by Andres Mustonen, at Nordea Concert Hall in Tallinn, Estonia

Canonization

May 10 Pope Benedict XVI signs decree of canonization of Benedictine nun and composer Hildegard von Bingen, completing sainthood process started in 1228

Music History

May 12 American songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David receive Library of Congress Gershwin Prize at the White House in Washington, D.C.

  • May 20 19th Billboard Music Awards: Adele, wins 12; LMFAO, Coldplay, and Lil Wayne also win
  • May 26 57th Eurovision Song Contest: Loreen for Sweden wins singing "Euphoria" in Baku
  • Jun 10 66th Tony Awards: "Once" (musical) & "Clybourne Park" (play) win

Music Concert

Jun 14 Ringo Starr's twelfth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie, Todd Rundgren, Richard Page, Gregg Bissonette, and Mark Rivera, 2012-13 / Warren Ham, 2014-17

Music History

Jun 16 Collapse of a stage at a Radiohead concert kills one person in Toronto, Ontario

Gangnam Style

Jul 15 Korean pop singer Psy releases single "Gangnam Style"; it becomes a worldwide hit, topping the charts in over 36 countries

  • Jul 31 Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band perform their longest show ever, at Olympiastadion in Helsinki, Finland - clocking in at 4 hours and 6 minutes
  • Aug 6 "Cruise" single released by Florida Georgia Line (Billboard Song of the Year 2013)
  • Aug 9 Philip Glass' Symphony No. 10 premieres with the Orchestre Français des Jeunes conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, at the Grand Théâtre de Provence in Aix-en-Provence, France

Thrift Shop

Aug 27 "Thrift Shop" single is released by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (Billboard Song of the Year 2013, Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song 2014)

Farm Aid Concert

Sep 22 Farm Aid held in Hershey, Pennsylvania; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney, Jack Johnson, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Dale Watson, and Pegi Young [1]

  • Oct 13 'I Won't Give Up', a single by Jason Mraz, is certified 4x multi-platinum
  • Oct 22 "Red" 4th studio album by Taylor Swift is released (Billboard Album of the Year 2012/2013)
  • Nov 13 Revival of Rupert Holmes' musical "The Mystery of Edwin Drood", based on an unfinished work of Charles Dickens, opens at Studio 54, NYC; runs for 136 performances
  • Nov 19 Plymouth Crown Court clears two farmers of health and safety offenses related to giant hay bale death of ELO cellist Mike Edwards [1]

Miguel, Beyoncé Win

Nov 25 26th Soul Train Music Awards: Miguel, Beyoncé win

  • Dec 21 "Gangnam Style" by Psy becomes the first video to reach one billion views on YouTube
  • Dec 21 Rapper Flavor Flav opens Flavor Flav's Chicken & Ribs causal restaurant in Sterling Heights, Michigan - closes July 2013