This is a list of notable events in Latin music (i.e. Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking music from Latin America, Europe, and the United States) that took place in 2012.
Events October 20 – Billboard updates their methodology for several of their charts including the Hot Latin Songs. The new methodology for the Hot Latin Songs chart includes sales of digital downloads and streaming activity of Spanish-language songs as well as airplay of Spanish-language songs on all radio stations in the United States. Billboard also imposes a linguistic rule of a song being predominantly sung in Spanish to be eligible to rank on the Hot Latin Songs. Previously, the Hot Latin Songs chart ranked the most-played songs on Spanish-language radio states regardless of language or genre. The Latin Airplay, which was also established, is based on the Hot Latin Song's former methodology. November 15 — The 13th Annual Latin Grammy Awards are held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. "¡Corre!" by Jesse & Joy wins Record the Year and Song of the Year Juanes: MTV Unplugged by Juanes wins Album of the Year 3Ball MTY wins Best New Artist Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso was honored as the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year December 9 — A plane carrying Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera and six other passengers crashes near Iturbide, Nuevo León, killing everyone on board.
Number-one albums and singles by country List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 2012 (Brazil) List of number-one songs of 2012 (Colombia) List of number-one albums of 2012 (Mexico) List of number-one albums of 2012 (Portugal) List of number-one albums of 2012 (Spain) List of number-one singles of 2012 (Spain) List of number-one Billboard Latin Albums from the 2010s List of number-one Billboard Top Latin Songs of 2012
Awards 2012 Premio Lo Nuestro 2012 Billboard Latin Music Awards 2012 Latin Grammy Awards 2012 Tejano Music Awards
Albums released First quarter January Day Title Artist Genre(s) Singles Label140 Anos Depois João Bosco MPB Universal, MPB Discos María Teresa Chacín Canta Cuentos María Teresa Chacín 3Brasileiro: Works of Francisco Mignone Cuarteto Latinoamericano Modern Sono Luminus17Sembrando Flores Los Cojolites Round Whirled RecordsFurther Explorations Chick Corea, Eddie Gómez and Paul Motian Post Bop, Modal, Cool Jazz "Alice In Wonderland""Turn Out The Stars" Concord Jazz24Irreversible ... 2012 La Arrolladora Banda El Limón Banda "No La Voy A Engañar""Irreversible""Llamada De Mi Ex""No Me Vengas A Decir" Disa28El Imperio Nazza Musicologo y Menes Reggaeton El Cartel Records31365 Días Los Tucanes de Tijuana "Amor Compartido""365 Días""Salió Del Closet (Banda Sinaloense Version)""365 Días (Banda Sinaloense Version)" Tempo Eddie Gomez, Tania Maria Bossa Nova, Latin Jazz Naive
February Day Title Artist Genre(s) Singles Label6Yo Soy Generasion Generasion Hard Rock Rejoice Music7Un Pokito de Rocanrol Bebe Latin Pop, Rock En Espanol "Joyas/ABC""Compra Paga""K.I.E.R.E.M.E." EMI9Canto da SereiaRegina Benedetti 11El Tango Lo Siento Así Carlos Bosio 20Acústico na Ópera de Arame Fernando & Sorocaba Brazilian Traditions Som Livre21Un Hombre Normal Espinoza Paz Mexican Traditions, Latin Pop, Banda, Norteno "Un Hombre Normal,""El Proximo Viernes,""24 Horas (Version Balada),""Nina Bien,""Lo Intentamos (DJ Pelos Radio Mix)" Disa, Universal Music Group24Masters Of Bandoneon Cuartetango String Quartet Chamber Music, Tango, South American Traditions 28Diciembre Leiva Pop rock Sony MusicAmor En Tiempos de GuerraRegulo Caro Mexican Traditions DEL Records, Sony Music Latin El Buen Ejemplo Calibre 50 Banda, Norteno, Mexican Traditions "Mujer De Todos, Mujer De Nadie""Bohemio Loco""Gente Batallosa""El Buen Ejemplo" Disa, Universal Music Latin Entertainment Imaginaries Quetzal Folk Rock Smithsonian Folkways
March Day Title Artist Genre(s) Singles Label1 Quando Chega a Noite Luan Santana Forro Som Livre4 Mi Tributo al Festival: Zona Preferente Yuri Warner Music Mexico8 Público No Te Va Gustar Alternative Rock, Reggae, Ska Bizarro Records13 Flamenco Sketches Chano Domínguez Post-Bop, Global Jazz, Latin Jazz, Piano Jazz "Flamenco Sketches""Freddie Freeloader""Nardis" Blue Note Algo Esta Pasando Joe Posada Mexican Traditions, Tejano 16 Bonanza Panda Alternative Rock Movie Records, EMI, Bunker Producciones20 Los Reyes del Tribal El Pelon del Mikrophone 22 Muerte Canserbero 24 Los Duros: The Mixtape Baby Rasta & Gringo 27 Dvorak Symphony No. 7; In Nature's Realm, Scherzo Capriccioso José Serebrier Symphony Sinaloense Hasta Las Cachas Fidel Rueda Mexican Traditions, Norteno, Ranchera Disa La Gritera Los Inquietos del Norte Mexican Traditions, Norteno, Corrido Déjenme Llorar Carla Morrison Desnuda Ednita Nazario Dance-Pop, Dominican Traditions, Latin Pop, Merengue, Tropical, Salsa "Para El Peor Amante""Tocame""Sin Pensar""Caida Libre" Sony Music Latin
Second quarter April Day Title Artist Genre(s) Singles Label1Anfibio Lisandro Aristimuño Alternative Rock Viento Azul Discos3Enamorada de Ti Selena Adult Contemporary, Dance-Pop, Latin Pop, Mexican Traditions, Tejano "No Me Queda Mas""Amor Prohibido" Capitol LatinCaravana Sereia Bloom Céu Downtempo, MPB, Bossa Nova Six Degrees Records5Guarachando Miguel García Salsa, Son, Rumba, Guaracha Miguel Garcia Music9La Conexión Black Guayaba 10Phase II Prince Royce Bachata, Mariachi, Ballad "Las Cosas Pequeñas""Incondicional""Te Me Vas" Top Stop MusicPiano y CharangoChuchito Valdés and Eddy Navia Não Tente ComprenderMart'náliaSamba, MPB Biscoito Fino11TromborangaTromborangaSalsa"Amigo El Raton" "Agua Que Va Caer"17Electro-Jarocho Sistema Bomb Son, Afro-Cuban, Experimental Round Whirrled Records, Zepada Bros, Dragora Grupo Comercial, S.A. De C.V.20Treme Gaby Amarantos MPB, Axe, Lambada Som Livre24Especial Ivete, Gil E Caetano Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Ivete Sangalo Axe, MPB, Samba, Bossa Nova Lo Que El Viento Me Enseñó Tercer Cielo Bachata Kasa ProdduccionesCalle Soledad José Luis Perales Chanson, Vocal, Ballad Reza Rita Lee MPB Biscoito Fino25 Realidad En Vivo Buena Vista Social Club Tropical, Salsa "Guajira En FM" TerrascapePorfiado El Cuarteto de Nos Pop rock, Classic Rock Warner Music ArgentinaInstinto Maía Ballad, Bossa Nova Sony Music, Columbia, Day 1 Entertainment30Un Bolero Para Tí Eliades Ochoa Bolero
May Day Title Artist Genre(s) Singles Label1Don Omar Presents MTO²: New Generation Don Omar Reggaeton, Euro House "Dutty Love""Hasta Que Salga el Sol""Zumba" Machete MusicLos Monsters Elvis Crespo Hip-House, Merengue, Vallenato "Yo No Soy un Monstro" Vene Music, Flash Music, Universal Music Latin EntertainmentRetro Marlow Rosado & La Riqueña Salsa, Bolero Pink Chaos Productions2Vamos Pa' La FiestaSepteto SantiagueroSon, Bolero, Cumbia, GuarachaPicap425 Concierto ConmemorativoMarcos WittCanZionRompe El SilencioPaulina AguirreClásicos – El Pecado OriginalLos NocherosBallad, Folk, VocalS-Music, Sony Music8Fiesta Tribal DJ GeloDear Diz (Every Day I Think of You)Arturo SandovalConcord JazzBack On TrackLos Hermanos Farías Tejano, Bolero, CumbiaRo' Records14 Oásis de Bethânia Maria Bethânia Brazilian Traditions Biscoito Fino15Desde Rusia con Amor Molotov Alternative Rock Universal Music19Barra Da SaiaKaryme Hass20AmorágioIvan LinsMPBSom Livre21Trio EllasTrio Ellas22Un Lujo Lucero and Joan Sebastian Latin pop, mariachi "Caminar Contigo""Diséñame" Skalona RecordsThe Most Powerful RookieFarrukoReggaeton28MTV Unplugged Juanes Pop rock, Latin Pop "La Señal""Me Enamora" Universal Music LatinoLive in Chicago Chuchito Valdes Music Roots Records29Eba Say Ajá Rubén Blades and Cheo Feliciano Salsa Ariel Rivas MusicMas de Un Camino Pepe Aguilar Ranchara Vene Music, Universal Music Latin Entertainment, Equinoccio, CisnerosMeus Encantos Paula Fernandes SertanejoUniversal Music
June Day Title Artist Genre(s) Singles Label120 Años Gian Marco Zignago 2El Imperio Nazza: Gold Edition Musicologo y Menes Reggaeton El Cartel Records5New Cuban Express Manuel Valera New Cuban Express El Mar de Mi Ventana Niño Josele Flamenco DRO9Le Canta A San Jacinto Juan Piña 15Experimentango Susana Rinaldi Experimental, Tango DBN19Oye Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea The Original Gallo Del País – O.G. El Mixtape Tego Calderón Jiggiri Records, Empire26Una Noche de Luna Marco Antonio Solís Latin Fonovisa RecordsA Corazón Abierto El Trono de MexicoLa Salsa Vive N'KlabeSalsa"Mi Vida Eres Tú"Sony Music Latin, Nulife Entertainment
Third quarter July Day Title Artist Genre(s) Singles Label1Cambié de Nombre Viniloversus Indie Rock Altamira Artists3Líderes Wisin & Yandel Reggaeton "Follow the Leader""Algo Me Gusta de Ti" Machete Music, Universal Music Latin EntertainmentEstilo Italiano Jesus Ojea & Sus ParientesOndatrópica Cumbia Soundway6Lo Mejor Que Hay En Mi Vida Andrés Cepeda FM Entretenimiento S.A.S.9Día y Medio Paquito D'Rivera and Berta RojasAo Vivo: Rock in Rio Jota Quest Pop rock10De Miles Maneras... Sin Límites Conjunto AtardecerChambao ChambaoOusadia & Alegria Thiaguinho Samba16Eletrosamba – Ao Vivo Alexandre Pires Samba Sony Music17Cosas Perdidas Ulises Hadjis Alternative Rock, Indie PopSueño de la Máquina Kinky Alternative Rock, Latin19A Lo Under, Vol. 1 - Perreo Nico Canada Reggaeton White Lion RecordsA Lo Under, Vol. 2 - Zona De Perreo Nico Canada Reggaeton White Lion Records20Tango Como Yo Te Siento Arturo Sandoval23Canciones de Agua Rita Rosa y AmigosAo Vivo em Floripa Victor & Leo Country Sony Music26Estoy FelizKarito 24El Muchacho Roberto Tapia Fonovisa Records30Kany Garcia Kany Garcia31Texas Towns & Tex-Mex Sounds Los Texmaniacs Smithsonian Folkways
August Day Title Artist Genre(s) Singles Label3Diogo Nogueira Ao Vivo em Cuba Diogo Nogueira Brazilian Traditions, Samba EMI6BrasileiroNelson Freire Decca7Ves Lo Que Quieres VerBareto Cumbia, Alternative Rock, Reggae, Dub, Merengue, Son Play Music & VideoRegreso A TiAlex Campos 14Multiverse Bobby Sanabria La MúsicaMariachi Sol de México de José Hernández con La Sinfónica de Las Américas Ao Vivo: Rock in RioSkank 21La Fórmula Various artists Reggaeton, latin pop "Te Dijeron""Cuando Te Enamores""Flow Violento""La Formula Sigue""Diosa De Los Corazones""More""Ella Me Dice" PinaMusa Ivy Queen Reggaeton "Peligro de Extinción""Cupido""Cuando Las Mujeres""No Hay" Siente Music, Universal Music Latin EntertainmentSolstis Leon Larregui Alternative Rock Mi PromesaPesado Norteno DisaCon el Corazón AbiertoHéctor Acosta "el Torito" Bachata, Merengue, Ballad "Tu Veneno""No Soy un Hombre Malo""No Moriré" Vene Music, D.A.M. Production Inc., Universal Music Latin Entertainment22Irrevente Kvrass 27 Alice Caymmi Alice Caymmi Vocal, Ballad, Cubano Kuarup, Sony Music28Exiliados en la Bahía: Lo Mejor de Maná Maná Soft Rock Music, Ballad "Hasta Que Te Conocí" Warner Music LatinaDesde Nueva York a Puerto Rico Eddie Montalvo Salsa "Amor En Serio""Ensillala""Leccion Rumbera" Select-O-Hits, Senor Marcha RecordsDuos IIILuciana Souza Samba SunnysideNossa VerdadeVowe Alternative Rock Midas Music, Universal MusicMe Atizo Macizo TourCartel de Santa Sony Music, Culebra, Babilonia Music30 Cubano Soy Rauúl Lara & Sus Soneros
September