During the third day of activities at 2025 Billboard Latin Music Week, the new stars of regional Mexican music discussed the changes the genre is experiencing as it captures global attention. During the panel “The Future of Regional Mexican Music,” presented by Walmart and moderated by Isabela Raygoza of Billboard Español, five of the talents revolutionizing the genre came together: Xavi, Netón Vega, Estevie, Oscar Maydón and Codiciado.

Fusions have been one of the main factors driving the shift in sounds for the new generation. Netón Vega — who gained recognition as a composer of corridos tumbados — has experimented with trap and reggaetón, releasing his album Mi Vida Mi Muerte this year, which is nominated for eight Billboard Latin Music Awards. “The lyrics can be about romantic themes, like in my case, but the sounds of a song with charcheta are very different from those of an urban sound. That’s where creativity comes in, knowing how to use the voice and experiment with the rhythms,” explained the artist, who was born in La Paz, Baja California Sur.

Maydon, who rose to fame through his collaborations with Peso Pluma, Natanael Cano, Junior H, and Fuerza Regida, is also part of the corridos tumbados wave. Like his peers, he has had to adapt his music due to restrictions placed on the genre in some Mexican states. “We, as the new generation, grew up listening to things like trap. Before, with singers like Vicente Fernández, everything was different,” he said. “But now we can collaborate with anyone. In corridos, you have to be a bit more careful about how you say things, whereas in reggaetón and urban music, for example, you can be more open.”

The new faces of Mexican music have also grown up in the U.S., though they carry in their veins the heritage of the country in which their parents were born, inheriting those traditions and musical tastes. That is the case for Estevie, who is making waves with her unique style of performing danceable music. “In 2021, I listened to ‘Ay Papasito’ by Alicia Villreal and realized there wasn’t music like that, but with more modern beats, and that’s when I created my first cumbia called ‘Canela,’” she explained about the path she chose for her career.

For his part, Xavi, born in Phoenix and known for revolutionizing social media with his hit “La Diabla,” shared his formula for writing successful songs: “The most important thing is to reflect what comes from the heart; the message you convey through your music is what makes you connect with people,” said the artist, who has caught the attention of major stars like Grupo Frontera and, more recently, Manuel Turizo, for collaborations.

The most experienced participant on the panel, Codiciado — part of the generation that emerged in Tijuana during the pandemic that predates the corridos tumbados movement — shared valuable advice with his peers. “You must always believe in yourself. If you fall, you get back up,” said the artist, who is about to release his first album in three years. “A career is built by being genuine and working hard every day. The most important thing is to find what you can contribute to music and the industry. We can ride the waves and do well, but there’s nothing like stirring the waters.”

With over 30 years of history, Latin Music Week is the most important and largest gathering of Latin artists and industry executives worldwide. The event also coincides with the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to air on Thursday (Oct. 23) on Telemundo and Peacock, where Bad Bunny will be honored as Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century.

KiTbetter, the South Korean company behind the KiTalbum hybrid physical-digital format, is opening a manufacturing facility in Los Angeles to better reach consumers in the U.S. The first KiTalbums produced in the U.S. are expected to reach retail and fans in early 2026.  

“As we expand globally, and with growing interest from artists, labels, and retailers across North America and Europe in particular, we’re increasing capacity to support more titles and meet rising international demand,” says Jennifer Sullivan, president, North America and chief marketing officer.   

The KiTalbum is a proprietary format that includes a physical album stored in a jewel case and a small “KiT” device that uses a U-NFC (ultrasonic near-field communication) signal to unlock music, videos, lyrics and album credits on the KiTalbum app for iOS and Android devices. The square-shaped jewel box typically contains printed materials such as stickers and cards.  

A relative unknown in the U.S., the KiTalbum format is best known in the company’s home country. Not only are KiTalbum’s original manufacturing facility and offices in Korea, but the company also launched a flagship retail store in the country. Sullivan says that since 2017, KiTbetter has produced 10 million KiTalbums, with K-pop titles being the best-selling. 

But now, the company is targeting a wider range of genres and artists in North America and Europe. “We’re seeing strong international demand that continues to drive the need for additional production capacity,” adds Sullivan. Having a facility in Los Angeles will cut down on the turnaround time compared to shipping products from South Korea.  

In recent years, KiTbetter has released titles on metal label Earache Records (Napalm Death and Carcass, for example) and Rhino Records (Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill and B-52s’ Cosmic Thing, among others). Rap icons Public Enemy released a KiTalbum version of its latest album, Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartments 2025. Metal greats Megadeth will offer a KiTalbum version of its final album that’s due out in January.  

KiTalbums typically come with exclusive or bonus content. The upcoming reissue of Devo’s 1980 album Freedom of Choice, for example, includes cover versions of the band’s hit song “Whip It” by the bands Teen Mortgage! and Scowl. Stone Temple Pilots’ Purple comes with seven music videos and acoustic sessions for “Big Empty” and “Pretty Penny.”  

Independent artists can also create KiTalbums for their releases through the KiTbetter self-service website. Sullivan says prices start around $9 apiece and drop to about $7 per unit for orders of 300 units. Artists can sell their KiTalbums in the KiTbetter shop or through their own online stores. “A lot of artists like to have product on hand at shows,” says Sullivan.   

KiTbetter isn’t the first company to attempt to enhance digital content. Yoto sells Yoto Cards, credit card-sized pieces of plastic, that are inserted into a screen-free audio player for children. Weverse, the social media platform owned by K-pop giant HYBE, offers Weverse Albums that include digital photo cards and animated album covers. Going further back in time, record labels embraced enhanced CDs in the 2000s to help combat falling album sales. Enhanced CDs added data to an audio CD and frequently included videos, wallpapers and links to web pages.   

While the KiTalbum remains a niche product in the U.S., KiTbetter’s expansion corresponds with the music industry’s increased interest in collectibles and selling physical items to superfans. With streaming dominating music consumption, perhaps the KiTalbum will become an intriguing option for fans who prefer digital music but want a tangible item.

Justin Bieber has been on our screens for more than half of his life. But starting Wednesday (Oct. 22) the “Daisies” singer promised that we’re about to see even more of him. Bieber made his debut on Twitch yesterday with a stream that included footage of the singer playing basketball, shooting pool with friends and teasing his upcoming Coachella dates.

The live feed from a giant warehouse space that appeared to have a mini half-pipe, a recording studio, ping-pong table and lounge area — with what appeared to be a pack-and-play bed for son Jack Blues — included an extended bit where JB put up short jumpers while talking about focusing his health and “friendships, relationships, the ability to connect with each other,” all cued to Partynextdoor’s “Come and See Me.”

Long stretches of the stream were taken up with Bieber’s crew wandering around the space or just chilling as the singer played DJ and cued up some favorite mellow R&B, including Leon Thomas’ “Yes It Is,” as they played a lengthy game of Horse on the court. At one point, Justin hit a long shot from near the foul line while seated in a chair. The action then moved to a pool table, with Bieber yawning as he prepared to chalk up his cue.

After the game, Bieber took control of the camera and provided the first bit of actual news in the otherwise action-lacked feed with a tease about his April 2026 Coachella headlining gig, the only concerts he’s booked so far following the release of his Swag and Swag II collections and his first full live shows since 2022.

“This is our space for the next few months, so excited,” Bieber said. “I’m gonna be putting on a hell of a show for you guys at Coachella. I can’t wait. So getting ready, getting the gang together, get inspired. So Beautiful.” Speaking directly to camera, Bieber promised that the Twitch stream will be live “pretty much every day,” encouraging fans to tune in. “It’s gonna be awesome.”

In addition to the singer hopping on his skateboard and working the half-pipe, the feed also included a section with a shirtless Bieber playing ping pong. While not playing around, Bieber has been busy lately dropping music videos and topping charts, including a visual for “Bad Honey” and a No. 1 spot on the Pop Airplay Chart with “Daisies,” which tied him with Bruno Mars for most leaders among solo males in the chart’s history.