The second edition of México 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.
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The reason, explains Secretary of Culture Claudia Curiel de Icaza, is that “it is the genre most listened to by young people” in the country, she tells Billboard Español. “Regional music can fuse with any other genre. It is deeply connecting with young people, and that’s where we’re starting. Traditional Mexican music is already one of the most consumed in the world.”
However, the government competition — which closes its registration for contestants on Wednesday (June 10) — 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’s 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’s Congress will come into effect. The reform was spearheaded by Laura Álvarez, a congresswoman from the opposition National Action Party (PAN).
“I do believe this needs to be a matter of prohibition, of force, and of a tough stance against crime,” Álvarez tells Billboard Español. “We have to start there.”
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 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 (“El Mencho”), during a concert at the University of Guadalajara auditorium.
Mexico’s 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 in April 2025.
Despite the bans and restrictions faced by corridos, this subgenre of traditional Mexican music has helped position the country — alongside other musical styles — as the tenth-largest recorded music market, according to the 2026 Global Music Report by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
“Around 70% of Mexican and Latin music consumed on streaming platforms is Mexican regional music,” notes Curiel de Icaza. “Not 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.”
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.
Last month, when the second edition of México Canta was announced at the presidential morning press conference, the appearance of corridos tumbados star Junior H 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 “didn’t contribute to the positive message reflected in my current compositions.”
“We need to connect with young musicians,” Curiel de Icaza tell Billboard. “It can’t 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.”
The secretary emphasizes that one of Junior H’s most popular songs is not a narcocorrido but his 2023 ballad “Y Lloro,” which has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. “He understands that if his music doesn’t evolve, this won’t last forever,” the secretary explains. “Glorifying violence is a trend, and at some point, we’ll see artists moving in a different direction.”
The second edition of México 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’s Auditorio Nacional, where winners will be chosen by the audience. Two days later, there will be a performance in Mexico City’s Zócalo, preceding the Independence Day “Grito de Independencia” ceremony.
For more information about the contest, visit México Canta’s official website.
