Fatoumata Diawara has won the 2012 Songlines Music Award for Newcomer of the Year for her debut album, Fatou. The album was released in the UK to great critical acclaim on World Circuit last year. She was introduced to North American audiences then with the release of her debut EP, Kanou, on World Circuit/Nonesuch Records. "The youthful Malian songbird draws on the Wassoulou tradition of southern Mali," said Songlines contributor Nasim Masoud when announcing Diawara's nomination earlier this year. "There's a unique but subtle intensity to her beguiling songs."

Another winner in this year's Songlines Music Award is Chris Thile, for his work with Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, and Edgar Meyer on their album The Goat Rodeo Sessions (Sony Classical). They have won the award for Cross-Cultural Collaboration. Kronos Quartet was also nominated in the category for its work with Kimmo Pohjonen and Samuli Kosminen on the album Uniko (Ondine).

Ry Cooder, whom Songlines dubbed "a latter-day Woody Guthrie," was also a nominee this year, up for Best Artist for his latest album, Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down, released last year on Nonesuch Records.

The Songlines Music Awards are voted on by Songlines readers and the general public. A track from each of the 16 nominated artists was included on the Songlines Music Awards 2012 compilation album, including Cooder's "No Banker Left Behind," out last month.