Whitney Houston performs in 1988. David Corio/Getty Images hide caption
best music of 2012
Monday
Sunday
The crowd at Orbital's performance at Moogfest in October. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
The stars of 2012, online and on air (from left): Nate Ruess of fun., Gotye, Carly Rae Jepsen and Psy. Matt Roberts/Getty Images, Tony Nelson/Corbis Images, Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption
2 Chainz performing in London in November. Joseph Okpako/WireImage hide caption
Killer Mike performing at Moogfest in October. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption
Saturday
"ILLuminate (featuring Kendrick Lamar)"
Thursday
Robert Glasper at SXSW in March 2012. Erich Schlegel/The Washington Post/Getty Images hide caption
Wednesday
Stasia Irons of THEESatisfaction performs at KEXP's All Songs Considered party at The Vera Project on August 20, 2012. Dave Lichterman/KEXP hide caption
Tuesday
Mokoomba, a rising young band of Tonga musicians from Zimbabwe Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Monday
INTERACTIVE: BOB BOILEN'S WRISTBANDS 2012 - Wristbands, ticket stubs and badges from a few of the hundreds of shows Bob Boilen saw in 2012. Lauren Rock/NPR hide caption