2012 in Asian music

Events

 * January – It is announced that the Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg will join KM Music Conservatory musicians in a 100-member concert tour of five Indian cities performing compositions by Indian composer A. R. Rahman. The tour, named "Germany and India 2011–2012: Infinite Opportunities'. Classic Incantations", marks the centenary of Indian cinema and of Studio Babelsberg, the world's oldest film studio.
 * February 4 – An anti-government rally at Bolotnaya Square, Moscow, is concluded by Yuri Shevchuk with one of his best-known songs, "Rodina" (Motherland).
 * February 17 – Start of Season 7 of the music competition Indonesian Idol.
 * March 2 – Release of London, Paris, New York, starring Ali Zafar and Aditi Rao Hydari.
 * May – Biennial International Morin khuur Festival and competition.
 * July 7 – 59th Filmfare Awards South ceremony is held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai, India.
 * August 24 – Pianist Lang Lang is awarded the Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his engagement in the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival.
 * September – Chinese pianist Jiayan Sun finishes third in the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition.
 * September 27–30 – Darbar Festival takes place in London.
 * December 1 – Opening of the 2012 Madras Music Season.

Albums

 * Shadmehr Aghili – Tarafdaar
 * Angband – Saved from the Truth
 * Arnob – Adheko Ghume
 * Buck-Tick – Yume Miru Uchuu
 * Tay Kewei – Fallin
 * Shiri Maimon – Sheleg Ba'sharav
 * Assala Nasri – Qanoun Kaifik
 * Krizza Neri – Krizza
 * Ramin Rahimi – Persian Percussion Electrified
 * Replikas – Biz Burada Yok İken
 * Fazıl Say – Istanbul Symphony
 * SKE48 – Kono Hi no Chime o Wasurenai
 * Wanting Qu – Everything in the World
 * Haifa Wehbe – Malikat Jamal Al Kawn

Classical

 * Fazıl Say – Symphony No 3 Universe

Opera

 * Yin Qing – The Ballad of Canal

Musical films

 * Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess (Japan)
 * Hoore! Hoore! (Malaysia)
 * I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila! (Philippines)
 * I Love You (Bangladesh)
 * McDull: The Pork of Music (Hong Kong)
 * Mihashin Furaana Dhandhen (Maldives)
 * Satrangi Re (India)

Deaths

 * January 1 – Yafa Yarkoni, Israeli singer, 86
 * February 5 – Jiang Ying, Chinese opera singer and music teacher, 92
 * March 24 – Jose Prakash, Indian singer and actor, 86
 * March 28 – Alexander Arutiunian, Armenian composer, 91
 * May 2 – Zvi Zeitlin, Russian violinist and music teacher, 90
 * May 29 – Mark Minkov, Russian composer, 67
 * June 4 – Eduard Khil, Russian baritone, 77
 * June 14 – Hassan Kassai, Iranian Ney player, 83
 * July 10 – Viktor Suslin, Russian composer, 70
 * July 17 – İlhan Mimaroğlu, Turkish-born American composer and record producer, 86
 * October 5 – Edvard Mirzoyan, Armenian composer, 91
 * October 8 – Bidit Lal Das, Bengali folk musician and composer, 74
 * November 15 – Khin Maung Toe, Burmese singer-songwriter and guitarist, 62 (liver cancer)
 * December 11
 * Ravi Shankar, Indian sitar player and composer, 92
 * Galina Vishnevskaya, Russian soprano opera singer and recitalist, 86
 * December 20 – Victor Merzhanov, Russian classical pianist, 93