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The second edition of M\u00e9xico Canta (Mexico Sings), a binational competition for artists in Mexico and the United States spearheaded by the Mexican government, aims to promote songs by young performers that are free of content glorifying violence and drugs. This year, the initiative will focus on regional Mexican music proposals.<\/p>\n
The reason, explains Secretary of Culture Claudia Curiel de Icaza, is that \u201cit is the genre most listened to by young people\u201d in the country, she tells Billboard Espa\u00f1ol<\/em>. \u201cRegional music can fuse with any other genre. It is deeply connecting with young people, and that\u2019s where we\u2019re starting. Traditional Mexican music is already one of the most consumed in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n More from Billboard<\/strong><\/p>\n However, the government competition \u2014 which closes its registration for contestants on Wednesday (June 10) \u2014 comes at a time of profound change for regional Mexican music, following the prohibition of songs glorifying drug trafficking, particularly corridos tumbados, in at least 10 of Mexico\u2019s 32 states. These restrictions on narcocorridos and public performances advocating crime will soon be supported by Mexico City, where a reform approved last month by the city\u2019s Congress will come into effect. The reform was spearheaded by Laura \u00c1lvarez<\/a>, a congresswoman from the opposition National Action Party (PAN).<\/p>\n \u201cI do believe this needs to be a matter of prohibition, of force, and of a tough stance against crime,\u201d \u00c1lvarez tells Billboard Espa\u00f1ol<\/em>. \u201cWe have to start there.\u201d<\/p>\n The ban on narcocorridos is not new, but it reached its peak in 2025 following an unprecedented move by the U.S. Department of State, which canceled the work and tourist visas<\/a> of the Mexican corrido group Los Alegres del Barranco in April of that year after they showed images of the late leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (\u201cEl Mencho\u201d), during a concert at the University of Guadalajara auditorium.<\/p>\n Mexico\u2019s President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly stated that her government does not ban musical genres, including narcocorridos, affirming that the restrictions have been decisions made by state and municipal governments, as she told Billboard<\/em><\/a> in April 2025.<\/p>\n Despite the bans and restrictions faced by corridos, this subgenre of traditional Mexican music has helped position the country \u2014 alongside other musical styles \u2014 as the tenth-largest recorded music market, according to the 2026 Global Music Report<\/a> by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).<\/p>\n \u201cAround 70% of Mexican and Latin music consumed on streaming platforms is Mexican regional music,\u201d notes Curiel de Icaza. \u201cNot all of it is branded as corridos tumbados. There are fusions with many rhythms, and while that offshoot has been very popular, it is not necessarily the only one, nor the most important.\u201d<\/p>\n Corridos tumbados are a famous subgenre of traditional Mexican corridos that fuse rap, hip-hop and even reggaeton, often openly addressing themes of weapons and drugs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last month, when the second edition of M\u00e9xico Canta was announced at the presidential morning press conference, the appearance of corridos tumbados star Junior H <\/a>to promote the government initiative came as a surprise. Social media criticized the singer harshly after he read a message on national television admitting that some of his songs \u201cdidn\u2019t contribute to the positive message reflected in my current compositions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to connect with young musicians,\u201d Curiel de Icaza tell Billboard<\/em>. \u201cIt can\u2019t just be a government organizing a contest; there have to be real young interlocutors who have experienced the creative process. Junior H is here at this moment, but before him, there were others.\u201d<\/p>\n The secretary emphasizes that one of Junior H\u2019s most popular songs is not a narcocorrido but his 2023 ballad \u201cY Lloro,\u201d which has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. \u201cHe understands that if his music doesn\u2019t evolve, this won\u2019t last forever,\u201d the secretary explains. \u201cGlorifying violence is a trend, and at some point, we\u2019ll see artists moving in a different direction.\u201d<\/p>\n The second edition of M\u00e9xico Canta will announce its selected participants during four semifinals on July 24, July 31, Aug. 23 and Aug. 30, held in venues across Mexico and the U.S. The finale is scheduled for Sept. 13 at Mexico City\u2019s Auditorio Nacional, where winners will be chosen by the audience. Two days later, there will be a performance in Mexico City\u2019s Z\u00f3calo, preceding the Independence Day \u201cGrito de Independencia\u201d ceremony.<\/p>\n For more information about the contest, visit M\u00e9xico Canta\u2019s official website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Best of Billboard<\/strong><\/p>\n Sign up for Billboard’s Newsletter<\/a>. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n