# 2012 in Latin music

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-ones 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 | Label |
| 1 | 40 Anos Depois | João Bosco | Brazilian Traditions | | MPB Discos, Universal Music |
| 1 | María Teresa Chacín Canta Cuentos | María Teresa Chacín | | | |
| 3 | Brasileiro: Works of Francisco Mignone | Cuarteto Latinoamericano | Chamber Music | | Sono Luminus |
| 17 | Sembrando Flores | Los Cojolites | Latin | | Round Whirled Records |
| 17 | Further Explorations | Chick Corea, Eddie Gómez and Paul Motian | Post Bop, Modern Creative, Piano Jazz | "Alice In Wonderland" "Turn Out The Stars" | Concord Jazz |
| 24 | Irreversible ... 2012 | La Arrolladora Banda El Limón | Banda, Corrido, Latin Pop, Mexican Traditions | "No La Voy A Enganar" "Irreversible" "Llamada De Mi Ex" "No Me Vengas A Decir" | Disa |
| 31 | 365 Días | Los Tucanes de Tijuana | Corrido, Mexican Traditions, Conjunto, Norteno, Tejano | "Amor Compartido" "365 Dias" "Salio Del Closet (Banda Sinaloense Version)" "365 Dias (Banda Sinaloense Version)" | |
| 31 | Tempo | Eddie Gomez, Tania Maria | Bossa Nova, Latin Jazz | | Naive |

#### February

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 6 | Yo Soy Generasion | Generasion | Hard Rock | | Rejoice Music |
| 7 | Un Pokito de Rocanrol | Bebe | Latin Pop, Rock En Espanol | "Joyas/ABC" "Compra Paga" "K.I.E.R.E.M.E." | EMI |
| 9 | Canto da Sereia | Regina Benedetti | | | |
| 11 | El Tango Lo Siento Así | Carlos Bosio | | | |
| 20 | Acústico na Ópera de Arame | Fernando & Sorocaba | Brazilian Traditions | | Som Livre |
| 21 | Un 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 Group |
| 24 | Masters Of Bandoneon | Cuartetango String Quartet | Chamber Music, Tango, South American Traditions | | |
| 28 | Colección Christiana | Juan Luis Guerra 4.40 | Bachata, Latin Pop, Dominican Traditions | | Capitol, EMI |
| 28 | Diciembre | Leiva | Pop Rock | | Sony Music |
| 28 | Amor En Tiempos de Guerra | Regulo Caro | Mexican Traditions | | DEL Records, Sony Music Latin |
| 28 | 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 |
| 28 | Imaginaries | Quetzal | Folk Rock | | Smithsonian Folkways |

#### March

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 1 | Quando Chega a Noite | Luan Santana | Forro | | Som Livre |
| 8 | Público | No Te Va Gustar | Alternative Rock, Reggae, Ska | | Bizarro Records |
| 13 | Flamenco Sketches | Chano Domínguez | Post-Bop, Global Jazz, Latin Jazz, Piano Jazz | "Flamenco Sketches" "Freddie Freeloader" "Nardis" | Blue Note |
| 13 | Algo Esta Pasando | Joe Posada | Mexican Traditions, Tejano | | |
| 16 | Bonanza | Panda | Alternative Rock | | Movie Records, EMI, Bunker Producciones |
| 20 | 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 | | |
| 27 | Sinaloense Hasta Las Cachas | Fidel Rueda | Mexican Traditions, Norteno, Ranchera | | Disa |
| 27 | La Gritera | Los Inquietos del Norte | Mexican Traditions, Norteno, Corrido | | |
| 27 | Déjenme Llorar | Carla Morrison | | | |
| 27 | 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 | Label |
| 1 | Anfibio | Lisandro Aristimuño | Alternative Rock | | Viento Azul Discos |
| 3 | Enamorada de Ti | Selena | Adult Contemporary, Dance-Pop, Latin Pop, Mexican Traditions, Tejano | "No Me Queda Mas" "Amor Prohibido" | Capitol Latin |
| 3 | Caravana Sereia Bloom | Céu | Downtempo, MPB, Bossa Nova | | Six Degrees Records |
| 5 | Guarachando | Miguel García | Salsa, Son, Rumba, Guaracha | | Miguel Garcia Music |
| 9 | La Conexión | Black Guayaba | | | |
| 10 | Phase II | Prince Royce | Bachata, Mariachi, Ballad | "Las Cosas Pequeñas" "Incondicional" "Te Me Vas" | Top Stop Music |
| 10 | Piano y Charango | Chuchito Valdés and Eddy Navia | | | |
| 10 | Não Tente Comprender | Mart'nália | Samba, MPB | | Biscoito Fino |
| 11 | Tromboranga | Tromboranga | Salsa | "Amigo El Raton" "Agua Que Va Caer" | |
| 17 | Electro-Jarocho | Sistema Bomb | Son, Afro-Cuban, Experimental | | Round Whirrled Records, Zepada Bros, Dragora Grupo Comercial, S.A. De C.V. |
| 20 | Treme | Gaby Amarantos | MPB, Axe, Lambada | | Som Livre |
| 24 | Especial Ivete, Gil E Caetano | Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Ivete Sangalo | Axe, MPB, Samba, Bossa Nova | | |
| 24 | Lo Que El Viento Me Enseñó | Tercer Cielo | Bachata | | Kasa Prodducciones |
| 24 | Calle Soledad | José Luis Perales | Chanson, Vocal, Ballad | | |
| 24 | Reza | Rita Lee | MPB | | Biscoito Fino |
| 25 | Realidad En Vivo | Buena Vista Social Club | Tropical, Salsa | "Guajira En FM" | Terrascape |
| 25 | Porfiado | El Cuarteto de Nos | Pop Rock, Classic Rock | | Warner Music Argentina |
| 25 | Instinto | Maía | Ballad, Bossa Nova | | Sony Music, Columbia, Day 1 Entertainment |
| 30 | Un Bolero Para Tí | Eliades Ochoa | Bolero | | |

#### May

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 1 | Don Omar Presents MTO²: New Generation | Don Omar | Reggaeton, Euro House | "Dutty Love" "Hasta Que Salga el Sol" "Zumba" | Machete Music |
| 1 | Los Monsters | Elvis Crespo | Hip-House, Merengue, Vallenato | "Yo No Soy un Monstro" | Vene Music, Flash Music, Universal Music Latin Entertainment |
| 1 | Retro | Marlow Rosado & La Riqueña | Salsa, Bolero | | Pink Chaos Productions |
| 2 | Vamos Pa' La Fiesta | Septeto Santiaguero | Son, Bolero, Cumbia, Guaracha | | Picap |
| 4 | 25 Concierto Conmemorativo | Marcos Witt | | | CanZion |
| 4 | Rompe El Silencio | Paulina Aguirre | | | |
| 4 | Clásicos – El Pecado Original | Los Nocheros | Ballad, Folk, Vocal | | S-Music, Sony Music |
| 8 | Fiesta Tribal | DJ Gelo | | | |
| 8 | Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You) | Arturo Sandoval | | | Concord Jazz |
| 8 | Back On Track | Los Hermanos Farías | Tejano, Bolero, Cumbia | | Ro' Records |
| 14 | Oásis de Bethânia | Maria Bethânia | Brazilian Traditions | | Biscoito Fino |
| 15 | Desde Rusia con Amor | Molotov | Alternative Rock | | Universal Music |
| 19 | Barra Da Saia | Karyme Hass | | | |
| 20 | Amorágio | Ivan Lins | MPB | | Som Livre |
| 21 | Trio Ellas | Trio Ellas | | | |
| 22 | Un Lujo | Lucero and Joan Sebastian | Latin pop, mariachi | "Caminar Contigo" "Diséñame" | Skalona Records |
| 22 | The Most Powerful Rookie | Farruko | Reggaeton | | |
| 28 | MTV Unplugged | Juanes | Pop Rock, Latin Pop | "La Señal" "Me Enamora" | Universal Music Latino |
| 28 | Live in Chicago | Chuchito Valdes | | | Music Roots Records |
| 29 | Eba Say Ajá | Rubén Blades and Cheo Feliciano | Salsa | | Ariel Rivas Music |
| 29 | Mas de Un Camino | Pepe Aguilar | Ranchara | | Vene Music, Universal Music Latin Entertainment, Equinoccio, Cisneros |
| 29 | Meus Encantos | Paula Fernandes | Sertanejo | | Universal Music |

#### June

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 1 | 20 Años | Gian Marco Zignago | | | |
| 5 | New Cuban Express | Manuel Valera New Cuban Express | | | |
| 5 | El Mar de Mi Ventana | Niño Josele | Flamenco | | DRO |
| 9 | Le Canta A San Jacinto | Juan Piña | | | |
| 15 | Experimentango | Susana Rinaldi | Experimental, Tango | | DBN |
| 19 | Oye | Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea | | | |
| 19 | The Original Gallo Del País – O.G. El Mixtape | Tego Calderón | | | Jiggiri Records, Empire |
| 26 | Una Noche de Luna | Marco Antonio Solís | Latin | | Fonovisa Records |
| 26 | A Corazón Abierto | El Trono de Mexico | | | |
| 26 | La Salsa Vive | N'Klabe | Salsa | "Mi Vida Eres Tú" | Sony Music Latin, Nulife Entertainment |

### Third quarter
#### July

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 1 | Cambié de Nombre | Viniloversus | Indie Rock | | Altamira Artists |
| 3 | Líderes | Wisin & Yandel | Reggaeton | "Follow the Leader" "Algo Me Gusta de Ti" | Machete Music, Universal Music Latin Entertainment |
| 3 | Estilo Italiano | Jesus Ojea & Sus Parientes | | | |
| 3 | Ondatrópica | Ondatrópica [es] | Cumbia | | Soundway |
| 6 | Lo Mejor Que Hay En Mi Vida | Andrés Cepeda | | | FM Entretenimiento S.A.S. |
| 9 | Día y Medio | Paquito D'Rivera and Berta Rojas | | | |
| 9 | Ao Vivo: Rock in Rio | Jota Quest | Pop Rock | | |
| 10 | De Miles Maneras... Sin Límites | Conjunto Atardecer | | | |
| 10 | Chambao | Chambao | | | |
| 10 | Ousadia & Alegria | Thiaguinho | Samba | | |
| 16 | Eletrosamba – Ao Vivo | Alexandre Pires | Samba | | Sony Music |
| 17 | Cosas Perdidas | Ulises Hadjis | Alternative Rock, Indie Pop | | |
| 17 | Sueño de la Máquina | Kinky | Alternative Rock, Latin | | |
| 20 | Tango Como Yo Te Siento | Arturo Sandoval | | | |
| 23 | Canciones de Agua | Rita Rosa y Amigos | | | |
| 23 | Ao Vivo em Floripa | Victor & Leo | Country | | Sony Music |
| 26 | Estoy Feliz | Karito | | | |
| 24 | El Muchacho | Roberto Tapia | | | Fonovisa Records |
| 30 | Kany Garcia | Kany Garcia | | | |
| 31 | Texas Towns & Tex-Mex Sounds | Los Texmaniacs | | | Smithsonian Folkways |

#### August

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 3 | Diogo Nogueira Ao Vivo em Cuba | Diogo Nogueira | Brazilian Traditions, Samba | | EMI |
| 6 | Brasileiro | Nelson Freire | | | Decca |
| 7 | Ves Lo Que Quieres Ver | Bareto | Cumbia, Alternative Rock, Reggae, Dub, Merengue, Son | | Play Music & Video |
| 7 | Regreso A Ti | Alex Campos | | | |
| 14 | Multiverse | Bobby Sanabria | | | |
| 14 | La Música | Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández con La Sinfónica de Las Américas | | | |
| 14 | Ao Vivo: Rock in Rio | Skank | | | |
| 21 | La Fórmula | Various artists | Reggaeton, latin pop | "Te Dijeron" "Cuando Te Enamores" "Flow Violento" "La Formula Sigue" "Diosa De Los Corazones" "More" "Ella Me Dice" | Pina |
| 21 | Musa | Ivy Queen | Reggaeton | "Peligro de Extinción" "Cupido" "Cuando Las Mujeres" "No Hay" | Siente Music, Universal Music Latin Entertainment |
| 21 | Solstis | Leon Larregui | Alternative Rock | | |
| 21 | Mi Promesa | Pesado | Norteno | | Disa |
| 21 | Con el Corazón Abierto | Héctor 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 Entertainment |
| 22 | Irrevente | Kvrass | | | |
| 27 | Alice Caymmi | Alice Caymmi | Vocal, Ballad, Cubano | | Kuarup, Sony Music |
| 28 | Exiliados en la Bahía: Lo Mejor de Maná | Maná | Soft Rock Music, Ballad | "Hasta Que Te Conocí" | Warner Music Latina |
| 28 | Desde Nueva York a Puerto Rico | Eddie Montalvo | Salsa | "Amor En Serio" "Ensillala" "Leccion Rumbera" | Select-O-Hits, Senor Marcha Records |
| 28 | Duos III | Luciana Souza | Samba | | Sunnyside |
| 28 | Nossa Verdade | Vowe | Alternative Rock | | Midas Music, Universal Music |
| 28 | Me Atizo Macizo Tour | Cartel de Santa | | | Sony Music, Culebra, Babilonia Music |
| 30 | Cubano Soy | Rauúl Lara & Sus Soneros | | | |

#### September

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 3 | Papitwo | Miguel Bosé | | | |
| 3 | Heitor Villa-Lobos Symphony No. 6 'On the Outline of the Mountains of Brazil'; Symphony No. 7 | Isaac Karabtchevsky | Modern | | Naxos |
| 4 | Elegancia Tropical | Bomba Estéreo | Cumbia | | |
| 4 | Postales [es] | Gaby Moreno | | | |
| 7 | 2012 Fin y Principio de Una Era | Cuisillos de Arturo Macias | | | |
| 11 | Prestige | Daddy Yankee | Reggaeton | "Ven Conmigo" "Lovumba" "Pasarela" "Limbo" "Noche de los Dos" | El Cartel |
| 11 | ¡Ritmo! | The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band | Big Band | | Clavo Records |
| 15 | Rua Dos Amores | Djavan | | | |
| 17 | El Primer Ministro | Gerardo Ortíz | | | Sony Music |
| 17 | Natiruts Acústico no Rio de Janeiro | Natiruts | Reggae | | Zeroneutro Corp., Sony Music |
| 18 | Y Ahora Resulta | Voz de Mando | Corrido | | Disa Records |
| 18 | Primario | DLD | Alternative Rock, Pop Rock | | |
| 18 | Mujer Divina – Homenaje a Agustín Lara | Natalia Lafourcade | Ballad, Vocal, Alternative Rock, Latin Pop | | |
| 18 | On the Way | Negroni's Trio | | | |
| 25 | La Música No Se Toca | Alejandro Sanz | Ballad, Pop Rock, Soft Rock | "No Me Compares" "Se Vende" "Mi Marciana" | Warner Music Spain |
| 25 | Transformación | Beto Cuevas | Pop Rock | | |
| 25 | Vicentico 5 | Vicentico | Pop Rock | | |
| 25 | Viva la Vida | Vikki Carr | Mariachi, Bolero, Ranchera | | Sony Music Latin |
| 25 | Un Viaje Por El Cante | Argentina | Flamenco | | Rosevil, Luismi Producciones |
| 25 | La gigantona | Alfonso Noel Lovo | | | |
| 26 | Diferente | Felipe Peláez and Manuel Julián | Vallenato, Ballad, Norteno | | |

### Fourth quarter
#### October

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 1 | A Hora É Agora | Jorge & Mateus | | | |
| 2 | 12 Historias | Tommy Torres | | | Warner Music Latina |
| 2 | Autorretrato | Estrella Morente | Flamenco | | |
| 2 | Concerto de Cordas & Máquinas de Ritmo | Gilberto Gil | MPB | | |
| 3 | Como un Huracán | Los Huracanes del Norte | | | |
| 5 | Pacific Mambo Orchestra | Pacific Mambo Orchestra | Salsa, Bolero | | Pacific Mambo Orchestra |
| 8 | Dvorák Symphonies 3 & 6 | José Serebrier | Romantic | | Warner Classics |
| 11 | Mi Única Llave | José Mercé | Flamenco | | Blue Note Flamenco, EMI |
| 16 | Viajero Frecuente | Ricardo Montaner | Ballad, Vocal | "Convénceme" "La Canción Que Necesito" "Time" | |
| 16 | Pegate | Grupo Treo | | | |
| 16 | Tangos y Canciones Criollas | Hernán Lucero | Tango | | Sony Music, Alfiz Producciones Discograficas |
| 18 | El Calor del Pleno Invierno | No Te Va Gustar | | | Bizarro Records |
| 22 | El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco | Café Tacuba | Alternative Rock, Experimental | | Universal Music Group |
| 23 | Otras Verdades | India Martínez | Flamenco | | Sony Music |
| 24 | Adagio | José Serebrier and St. Michel Strings | | | |
| 26 | Escultura | Guaco | Salsa, Fusion, Latin Jazz | | |
| 27 | De Cantos Y Vuelos | María Mulata | | | WEA |
| 28 | Abaporu | Laura Lopes | | | LauraLopes |
| 29 | Chances | Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas | P.Funk, Disco | | |
| 30 | Entrégate | Tierra Cali | | | |
| 30 | Amémonos Homenaje A Lucha Villa | Sheyla Tadeo | | | |
| 30 | Pá La Raza | El Dasa | | | |
| 30 | Live in Hollywood | Poncho Sanchez and His Latin Jazz Band | Latin Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Boogaloo, Mambo, Salsa | | Concord Picante |

#### November

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 6 | The King Stays King: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden | Romeo Santos | Bachata, Ballad, Reggaeton | "Llévame Contigo" | Sony Music Latin |
| 6 | Tanto | Pablo Alborán | Vocal | "Tanto" "El Beso" "Quién" "Éxtasis" "Dónde está el Amor" | |
| 6 | Blanco | Eruca Sativa | | | Sony Discos, MTM Discos |
| 6 | New Horizons | Jay Perez | Tejano | | Freddie Records |
| 6 | Redescobrir – Ao Vivo | Maria Rita | MPB | | Universal Music |
| 9 | Mi Refugio | Daniel Calveti | | | |
| 12 | A Las Personas de Mi Vida | Emilio Navaira | Cumbia, Conjunto, Tejano | | Sony Latin |
| 13 | Syntek | Aleks Syntek | Synth-Pop, Synthwave, Electro, Pop Rock | | |
| 13 | Gilberto Santa Rosa | Gilberto Santa Rosa | Bolero | "Estas Ahi" "Si Yo Fuera Tu" | Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC |
| 13 | Celebrando Al Príncipe | Cristian Castro | Ballad | "Mi Vida" | Universal Music Group |
| 19 | Habítame Siempre | Thalía | Bachata, Ballad, Trova, Latin Pop | "Manias" "Te Perdiste Mi Amor" "La Apuesta" | Sony Music Latin |
| 19 | Invicto | Tito "El Bambino" | Reggaeton, Merengue, Cumbia, Bachata, Salsa | "Dame La Ola" "¿Por Qué les Mientes?" "Tu Olor" "Carnaval" | On Fire Music |
| 19 | Hecho con Sabor a Puerto Rico | Various artists | Bolero, Salsa | | Select-O-Hits |
| 19 | Mi Razón de Ser | Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizarraga | Banda | | Disa, Universal Music Latin Entertainment |
| 19 | Luz – Una Navidad Celta En Venezuela | Gaêlica | Celtic, Folk, Holiday | | |
| 20 | Jesus, O Brasil Te Adora | Eyshila | Gospel | | Central Gospel Music |
| 20 | Músicas Para Churrasco Vol. 1 Ao Vivo | Seu Jorge | Samba, Bossanova, MPB | | |
| 21 | Um Olhar Sobre Villa-Lobos | Mario Adnet | | | Boranda |
| 29 | Profeta Da Esperança | Kleber Lucas | Gospel | | MK Music |

#### December

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 1 | Vamos A Bailar | Atención Atención | | | Atencion Atencion |
| 2 | Piazzolla de Cámara | Ramírez-Satorre | | | |
| 3 | Que Seas Feliz | Tito Nieves | Salsa | "Que Seas Feliz" | |
| 4 | Abraçaço | Caetano Veloso | Bossa Nova | | |
| 10 | Tercera Llamada | Tren a Marte | | | |
| 10 | Herivelto Martins – 100 Anos | Various artists | | | Lua Music |
| 11 | La Misma Gran Señora | Jenni Rivera | Ranchara, Banda, Corrido | "La Misma Gran Señora" | Fonovisa |
| 11 | Regresa el Rey | Ramon Ayala & Sus Bravos del Norte | | | |
| 12 | Four Magical Stories to Live | Miami Lighthouse for the Blind | | | |
| 15 | Imperio Nazza: J Álvarez Edition | J Alvarez | Reggaeton | | Imperio Nazza Records |
| 17 | El Mundo Se Acabo | Siggno | | | |
| 18 | Cores | Marcos & Belutti | | | |
| 20 | Latin American Classics | Theodore Kuchar conducting The Orquesta Sinfónica de Venezuela | | | Brilliant Classics |

### Unknown

| Title | Artist |
| Histórico – A Duo Con Los Grandes | Omar Geles |
| Volando Alto – Made on the Road | Elain |
| No Que No... | Pedro Fernández |
| Rasgando Seda | Guinga + Quinteto Villa-Lobos |
| Me Emborrache Pa' Olvidarla | Reynaldo Armas |
| Eva Ayllón + Inti-Illimani Histórico | Eva Ayllón + Inti-Illimani |
| Con Alma de Pueblo | Luciano Pereyra |
| Jammil na Real | Jammil |
| A Festa | João Bosco & Vinícius |
| Juventud Americana [es] | Ases Falsos [es] |
| La alianza profana | Dengue Dengue Dengue! |
| GP | Gepe |

## Best-selling records
### Best-selling albums

The following is a list of the top 10 best-selling Latin albums in the United States in 2012, according to Billboard.
| Rank | Album | Artist |
| 1 | Formula, Vol. 1 | Romeo Santos |
| 2 | Phase II | Prince Royce |
| 3 | Inténtalo | 3Ball MTY |
| 4 | Joyas Prestadas: Banda | Jenni Rivera |
| 5 | Don Omar Presents MTO²: New Generation | Don Omar |
| 6 | Independiente | Ricardo Arjona |
| 7 | Irreversible... 2012 | La Arrolladora Banda El Limón |
| 8 | Drama y Luz | Maná |
| 9 | Entre Dios y El Diablo | Gerardo Ortíz |
| 10 | Líderes | Wisin & Yandel |

### Best-performing songs

The following is a list of the top 10 best-performing Latin songs in the United States in 2012, according to Billboard.
| Rank | Single | Artist |
| 1 | "Llamada De Mi Ex" | La Arrolladora Banda El Limón |
| 2 | "Dutty Love" | Don Omar |
| 3 | "Inténtalo" | 3Ball MTY |
| 4 | "Bailando Por El Mundo" | Juan Magan featuring Pitbull and El Cata |
| 5 | "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" | Michel Teló |
| 6 | "Amor Confuso" | Gerardo Ortíz |
| 7 | "Lovumba" | Daddy Yankee |
| 8 | "Un Hombre Normal" | Espinoza Paz |
| 9 | "El Verdadero Amor Perdona" | Maná featuring Prince Royce |
| 10 | "Las Cosas Pequeñas" | Prince Royce |

## Deaths

* January 9 – Ruth Fernández, 92, Puerto Rican contralto and politician, Senator (1973–1981).
* February 8:
** Wando, 66, Brazilian singer-songwriter
** Luis Alberto Spinetta, 62, Argentine musician (Almendra, Pescado Rabioso, Invisible), lung cancer.
* February 12 – Erick Garza, 56, Mexican keyboard player (Grupo Bronco)
* February 24 – Pery Ribeiro, 74, Brazilian singer, myocardial infarction.
* April 14 – Pedro Arroyo, Puerto Rican radio programmer, creator of "National Day of Salsa" in Puerto Rico
* May 7 – Sergio Mihanovich, 74, Argentine jazz pianist, singer and composer
* May 10 – Junior Gonzalez, 63, Puerto Rican salsa singer
* May 31 – Horacio "Chivo" Borraro, 90, Argentine tenor sax and clarinet player
* June 6 – Estela Raval, Argentine singer
* June 12 – Adrián Otero, 53, Argentine singer
* June 22 – Nelson Schwenke, 55, Chilean singer and songwriter (Schwenke & Nilo [es])
* June 30 – Yomo Toro, 78, Puerto Rican cuatro player, kidney failure.
* July 4 – Homero Patrón, 61, Mexican arranger, producer, musician and composer
* July 13 – Leda Valladares, 92, Argentine singer, songwriter, musicologist and folklorist, and poet
* July 14 – Marcel Curuchet [es], 40, Uruguayan musician and composer (No Te Va Gustar)
* July 29 – Osvaldo Fattoruso, 64, Uruguayan musician (Los Shakers, Opa), cancer.
* August 5 – Chavela Vargas, 93, Costa Rican-born Mexican singer-songwriter, respiratory arrest.
* August 8 – Jairo Varela [es], 62, Founder and leader of Grupo Niche
* August 22 – Charles Flores, 41, Cuban bass player
* September 21 – José Curbelo, 95, Cuban-born American jazz musician and manager, heart failure.
* September 27 – Paquito Hechavarría, 73, Cuban pianist
* September 29:
* Eduardo Baptista Fernandez, 39, Mexican music publisher
* Hebe Camargo, 83, Brazilian television presenter, cardiac arrest.
* September 30 – José Luis "Choche" Villareal, 55, Mexican drummer for Grupo Bronco.
* October 22 – Norberto Kaminsky, Argentine producer
* October 31 – Gustavo Sánchez, 56, Latin American Idol judge
* November 4 – Valentin Velasco, 80, Mexican American founder of Balboa Records
* November 5 – Leonardo Favio, 74, Argentine singer, actor and director
* November 7 – Sylvia Cantarell, Mexican manager and producer
* November 18 – Emilio Aragón Bermúdez, 83, Spanish clown, accordionist, and singer.
* November 25 – Juan Carlos Calderón, 74, Spanish composer and conductor.
* December 9:
** Arturo Rivera, Mexican publicist
** Jenni Rivera, 43, American banda singer (plane crash)
* December 23 – Ema Elena Valdelamar [es], 87, Mexican songwriter