// get the content resolver instance
        ContentResolver contentResolver = getContentResolver();

        // the column of the year
        final String year = MediaStore.Audio.AudioColumns.YEAR;

        // create the string array with the returned values, there is the trick
        // we use the DISTINCT before the name of the column
        String[] values = new String[] { "DISTINCT " + year };

        // execute the query
        // we also check not to get null values
        Cursor cursor = contentResolver
                .query(MediaStore.Audio.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI, values,
                        year + " not null", null,
                        MediaStore.Audio.AudioColumns.YEAR);

        // for each returned row we printed using android Logging fuctions
        // we use loggat with tag distinct to see the result
        // also you can show the results in the gui of your app
        while (cursor.moveToNext()) {
            Log.d("distinct", "year " + cursor.getString(0));
        }