It also saw reality TV stars continue to dominate the charts, with the likes of last year's X Factor winners Little Mix, Olly Murs, Misha B, Matt Cardle, JLS, Aiden Grimshaw, Alexandra Burke and many more releasing new music.
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The last 12 months have also seen a resurgence in successful indie music, with The Vaccines, The Killers, Jake Bugg and Mumford & Sons all scoring number one records.
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 Olympics also gave many of our most-loved acts a chance to perform, including the Spice Girls, Sir Paul McCartney and Annie Lennox.
Click through our gallery below of this year's musical highlights.
Just a few days after Beyoncé gave birth to Blue Ivy, Jay-Z released the song 'Glory', which featured a cameo from the newborn herself.
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