As 2012’s last breaths are prepared to be drawn, we have no doubt that you the readers, have also had your own breath baited in anticipation for the results of our 3rd annual readers poll.

We turned to you to tell us the year’s most important and memorable music events, and you voted in droves. Whether it be a tour you’ll not soon forget, that album or song that buried its way into your heart as well as your ears, or simply the year’s biggest villains and wankers making an impression for all the wrong reasons – we’ve gathered your prolific results for their final presentation.

We’ve painstakingly tallied up your hundreds and hundreds of votes – some of them conspiring to landslide victories, others splitting the poll to the closest of hairs – but telling us loud and clear your thoughts on the year in music.

So brew a cuppa, cook some popcorn, get comfortable. Ladies and Gentleman of the Tone Deaf readership, we present to you across the next few pages the winners and losers, as crowned by a coronation decided by our readers.

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine