MEXICO
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Mexican singer Pancho Barraza begins a new stage in his career with Fonovisa Records, the label he signed with earlier this month. The banda sinaloense singer’s story has been peculiar: After spending time as a vocalist of Banda Los Recoditos in the early ’90s, he began a solo career achieving fame and glory. However, issues with substance abuse kept him away from music for a decade and he hit rock bottom.
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It wasn’t until an invitation from Julión Álvarez to his Mis Ídolos Hoy Mis Amigos Tour in 2016 gave him the motivation to return to what he was once passionate about, and with the help of RB Music, an independent management and booking company, he began playing live shows again and released new music. Barraza even returned to the Billboard charts, most recently with “Me Voy a Alejar,” which entered the Regional Mexican Airplay this year.
“I was always a fan of Mr. Pancho Barraza so, in 2015, I invited him to receive an award at the Premios de la Calle,” says Ricardo Bobadilla, CEO of RB Music. “There, he told me that he had no record label or team, so I put myself at his service and, almost ten years later, we continue working with great enthusiasm.”
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The resurgence of Barraza, whose hits include “Mi Enemigo el Amor,” “Música Romántica,” “Yo Estaba Solo” and “Nunca Cambies,” made Fonovisa pay attention.
“Pancho Barraza is without a doubt an artist who is leaving a very important legacy to Mexican music,” says Antonio Silva, managing director of Fonovisa Disa US/Mexico. Adding Barraza to the roster, he adds, made sense. “Fonovisa Records has artists with great careers and who have left their mark, such as Los Tigres del Norte, Banda El Recodo and many more. That is how important we consider him to be.”
On Nov. 21, he will release “Mi Otro Yo,” a collaboration with Colombian artist Charlie Zaa in a banda version that will show another facet of Zaa. Speaking exclusively with Billboard Español, Barraza, 63, talks about this new chapter in his career.
You are a clear example that age doesn’t matter when you want to move forward.
As long as you have a voice to sing and something to offer the audience, you are in the competition. It has a lot to do with what you put in your head, what you believe about yourself, what you want for yourself. Definitely attitude is a key piece.
How did the alliance with Fonovisa come about?
There came a time when I felt like we — RB Music and my label Pachy Music — had reached a limit. Ricardo [Bobadilla] told me that he had very good results with Universal Music as a publisher and I liked the idea of including my compositions, but also my music. I called Antonio [Silva], with whom I had not had contact for a long time, and he answered me almost immediately. That was a sign, that’s how the conversations began.
What does this new chapter in your career consist of?
Fonovisa will be entirely in charge of the distribution of Pancho Barraza. The machinery that a company like this has will allow us to go even further, like being present at awards ceremonies, for example. If I want to become like the great artists who remain for posterity, I need to advance to another level.
The catalog you have recorded with Balboa Records and Musart is from Universal, so this is like the continuation.
That’s right, that is already there and will move, but now we will focus on the new, on Pancho Barraza’s music reaching many more places.
Your first release with Fonovisa is “Mi Otro Yo.” How was it doing it in banda with Charlie Zaa?
First it was recorded in his style, in response to his invitation, and it was a pleasant experience. The video is a reflection of how well we got along and enjoyed it. I’m sure you’ll like the banda version as well and you’ll enjoy hearing Charlie in a very different facet. When I sent it to him he loved it and he went to Guadalajara to record the video. Everything happened very quickly.
Musically, what can we expect from Pancho Barraza in 2025 in this new stage?
Several things are coming: the album Barraza Dinasty, with unreleased songs; another album with impressive collaborations. I can’t reveal the names at this point, but I went all the way. As for touring, we will go to conquer other markets, such as Central America and Colombia.
You have made a difference with your musical style. Are you aware of it?
I swear it was out of ignorance. I started recording romantic songs in different tones, in different harmonies, the banda musicians told me I was crazy. They got upset and I got upset with them, but in the end they agreed to do it and it sounded totally different from what banda sinaloense was.
With your more than 30 years of career, what can you say about regional Mexican music today?
That there is no difference between the music that the [new] guys are making and ours — it is just the language. Because, at the end of the day, as long as they use a charcheta, a tuba and a trombone, it still sounds like banda.
With its first Latin Grammy nomination, the Mexican rock trio The Warning crowns 2024 as a great year after several proven achievements. The group’s latest album, Keep Me Fed, consolidated the Villarreal Vélez sisters on the international scene; in addition, it managed to debut on multiple Billboard charts, and embarked on an ambitious tour through Europe and the U.S.
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Furthermore, Paulina Villarreal received the Drumeo Award for the best rock drummer, at only 22 years old.
“These achievements are the reaffirmation that as a Mexican I can also make a rock band and I can take it internationally,” Paulina says excitedly to Billboard Español. “It doesn’t have to stay only in my country, only in my community; I can explore new facets, meet new people, and I can have an international career. And for us to have achieved this, sometimes we don’t believe it!
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Their first Latin Grammy nomination, in the category of best rock song for the single “Qué Más Quieres”, represents a significant achievement in the history of the group –- also made up of vocalist and guitarist Daniela Villarreal and bassist Alejandra Villarreal — as it symbolizes the pride of singing in Spanish, their native language.
The Warning’s repertoire is mostly in English, their second language, since the band is originally from Monterrey, a city bordering the U.S.
“Singing in Spanish has always been fundamental to our musical and personal identity, and this nomination celebrates our dedication to keeping that connection with our roots alive,” Daniela says.
“Qué Más Quieres” was co-written by Anton Curtis Delost, Far and Crosses guitarist Shaun López, Kathryn Ostenberg, Mónica Vélez and The Warning. In it, the band captures the strength and energy that characterizes it.
The single is included on Keep Me Fed, The Warning’s fourth full-length album, recorded in Monterrey and released at the end of last June. In the words of the band’s vocalist: “It is the result of our rawest emotions and the most meaningful connections with the people we have met and worked with in recent years.”
With Keep Me Fed, The Warning has established itself on the international rock scene, debuting on a variety of Billboard charts, including No. 1 on Emerging Artists, No. 2 on Top Rock Albums, No. 4 on Top Hard Rock Albums and No. 6 on Top Album Sales. On sharing a rock band as sisters, Daniela says that it has been a pleasant experience, with many funny and enjoyable moments.
“Obviously sometimes we argue, but we work very well together,” she says. “We started music from a very young age, so we grew up with a mentality of taking care of ourselves and knowing how to work together for the goals that we want to achieve for all of us. We are very attentive to taking care of ourselves and our feelings.”
Recently, The Warning performed in October at the 2024 Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California, where the group shared the bill with icons from the metal scene such as Iron Maiden, Pantera, Slipknot and Mastodon. They also opened shows for Evanescence in Canada.
In Mexico, tickets for their Feb. 6 and 11, 2025 shows at the capital’s Auditorio Nacional sold out in 48 hours. They will also perform on Feb. 13 at the Telmex Auditorium in Guadalajara, and on Feb. 22 in Monterrey, at the Citibanamex Auditorium.
Luis Miguel has new dates for the concerts in Mexico City that he postponed last week due to unspecified health problems. The Mexico City Arena, marketed as Arena CDMX, informed fans on Thursday (Oct. 31) that the shows will now occur on Dec. 8 and 10. The first date (Dec. 8) will replace the Oct. 23 and […]
Mexican festival Vive Latino will celebrate its 25th anniversary with an eclectic lineup headlined by acts including Caifanes, Raphael, Scorpions, Aterciopelados, Keane, Molotov, Mon Laferte, Eden Muñoz, Los Ángeles Azules, Zoé and Duncan Dhu, who will light up the great Hispanic rock party to be held March 15-16, 2025, at the GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City, promoter Ocesa announced Friday (Oct. 25).
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The lineup also includes other Latin and English speaking soloists and bands such as Sepultura, Draco Rosa, Nortec: Bostich + Fussible, Kany García, Meme del Real, Little Jesus, Los Planetas, Rüfüs Du Sol, La Lupita, Vilma Palma e Vampiros, Cuarteto de Nos, Siddhartha, División Minúscula, Arde Bogotá, Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado, and León Benavente.
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According to the organizers, the presale for Citibanamex cardholders will take place next Wednesday (Oct. 30), with the regular sale for the general public opening the next day.
The Vive Latino will be returning to its original home at GNP Seguros Stadium (formerly Foro Sol), after the 2024 edition had to be held at Curve 4 of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the same site where Formula 1 and the Corona Capital and Arre festivals are held annually, due to renovations of the venue.
Since its inception in 1998, the Ibero-American Festival of Musical Culture, better known as Vive Latino, has had a transgressive personality that has challenged stigmas: It was the first to incorporate pop, reggaeton, cumbia, and regional Mexican music artists into its lineup; it had an edition lasting four days; it added English-speaking bands despite being the ultimate celebration of rock es Español, and it is the first in Latin American festival to have its own edition in Spain.
The Vive Latino festival debuted on November 28-29, 1998, at the Foro Sol, on the east side of Mexico City. Since then, it has been held annually, except in 1999, 2002, and 2021, the latter due to the COVID pandemic.
Check out the full official lineup for the 2025 Vive Latino festival below:
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The crime in Mexico has claimed another politician’s life. A mayor was found decapitated just after one week of being elected.
As reported by on USA Today another official has fallen victim to the rampant violence in Mexico. Alejandro Arcos met his demise on Sunday, Oct. 6 only a couple of days after winning the mayoral race for Chilpancingo; a town south of Mexico City. According to the local news he was found with head cut off. Soon after photos of his head on top of a truck went viral on the popular messaging app WhatsApp. Al Jazeera reports that the late mayor was on route to Petaquillas but had decided to forego having guards secure him. “The mayor was going to Petaquillas for a meeting alone,” Security Minister Garcia Harfuch said. “We know that he was going to a specific meeting, he was not accompanied, communication was lost in the community, and the discovery [of his body] was made hours later.”
Naturally the murder made headlines throughout the Central American country. Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the act and made it clear that Arcos’ murder will be prosecuted. “We are going to fortify the intelligence investigative capabilities of the Mexican government,” she told reporters. Evelyn Salgado Pineda, governor of Guerrero expressed her sadness via X, formerly known as Twitter. “His loss has saddened all of Guerrero society and fills us with indignation” she wrote.
Friends and family of Alejandro Arcos carried his coffin throughout the city on Monday, Oct. 7 for the funeral ceremony. He was 43 years old.
Christian Nodal is now at home recovering from a “strong stomach infection” that led to his recent hospitalization in Mexico, the singer announced on Thursday night (Oct. 3) in a press release. His shows scheduled for this weekend in Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah, as part of his Pa’l Cora Tour have been postponed.
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“Through this statement, we want to deeply thank the expressions of affection, concern, and prayers towards our artist Christian Nodal,” said the statement on the singer’s Instagram stories. “We inform you that he is already home, where he must take a few days of absolute rest, while continuing with the treatment received to eradicate the strong stomach infection, which had him under observation in the emergency room in the past days.”
“As he recovers, we unfortunately must announce that the dates scheduled for this weekend in Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah, will be postponed until November,” it added. “The tour will resume next Monday, October 7, at the palenque in the City of Guadalajara, as part of the Fiestas de Octubre.”
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Christian Nodal was recently hospitalized in Mexico, where he was scheduled to perform on Wednesday (Oct. 2) at the Palenque de la Feria de Pachuca; the show was rescheduled for Oct. 14. His publicist, Conchita Oliva, told Billboard on Wednesday that the Mexican star — who had performed a concert last weekend in Los Angeles — began feeling ill upon arriving in Mexico.
Oliva also posted a photo of Nodal in a hospital bed with his eyes closed and a woman’s hand, presumably his wife Ángela Aguilar, caressing his head.
The performer whose hits include “Dime Cómo Quieres” and “Adiós Amor” has more dates scheduled in Mexico and the U.S. throughout the month. On Oct. 20, he is slated to perform at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., followed by a gig at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Oct. 26.
During a routine process of conservation and digitization of tapes, Sony Music Mexico audio engineer Edson R. Heredia discovered “Ya No Pienso en Ti,” an unreleased track by José José, out Saturday (Sept. 28) exclusively through Spotify Singles, on the fifth anniversary of the beloved Mexican singer’s passing.
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“It was a magical moment,” says Heredia, who then set out to research more about the recording, finding that it was made on Nov. 9, 1978, in England, with David Hunt as the sound engineer and Tom Parker as the producer.
“Ya No Pienso en Ti” — which means “I No Longer Think of You” — is a heartfelt ballad about heartbreak in which José José, with his exquisite interpretative quality, sings about his recovery process after a breakup. “I’ve convinced myself that a long long time ago, I lost you/ I’ve resigned myself to not counting on your love’s support/ I’ve gotten used to not seeking you when I miss your warmth,” he sings in Spanish.
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For the release, Latin Grammy-winners Edson R. Heredia and Memo Gil did a new mix so that the voice of the dubbed Prince of Song could be revived in 2024 as a gift for his fans five years after his departure.
“These are the kinds of discoveries that they keep sending us from heaven,” actor and singer José Joel, the son of José José, exclusively tells Billboard Español. “It’s something very beautiful that allows us to continue remembering my father despite his passing. We are very grateful to the company (Sony Music Mexico) because they keep finding ways to perpetuate José José’s legacy.”
“We as a family also do it every year at the place where he grew up,” he adds. “This Sept. 28, we will be at Parque de la China, in the Clavería neighborhood of Mexico City, paying tribute with my mother Anel Noreña and me, along with the fans who have always supported us.”
José Joel, who is currently on tour in Mexico performing songs from his repertoire and that of his father — with whom he shares a great vocal resemblance — will sing for the first time at the event “Sangre de tu Sangre,” which he describes as a response to the unforgettable “La Fuerza de la Sangre” that father and son recorded for the 1994 album Grandeza Mexicana.
José José is undoubtedly one of the most important references in Spanish-language music. Known for hits like “El Triste,” “40 y 20” and “Amar y Querer,” he sold millions of records and filled iconic venues such as the Madison Square Garden and the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Throughout his over 55 years career, he recorded 36 albums, released 30 greatest hits compilations, as well as conceptual projects.
His records sold, according to his label, more than 100 million copies, receiving multiple gold, platinum, and diamond certifications. He also received some of the most important awards in the industry, among them the Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, and the Person of the Year Award of 2005 from the Latin Recording Academy. He also unveiled his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004.
On the Billboard charts, he placed 20 hits on Hot Latin Songs, 13 of them in the top 10 and four at No. 1, including “Soy Así”, “Y Quién Puede Ser,” “Amnesia” and “Quién Como Tú,” which spent 10 weeks at the top in 1989. He also had 20 entries on Top Latin Albums, reaching the top 10 in 2003 with El Príncipe Con Trío Vol. 1, which peaked at No. 7.
The star, whose real name was José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz, died on Sept. 28, 2019, at the age of 71 after having confirmed in March 2017 that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer. His music continues to be a part of the lives of thousands of fans around the world, as evidenced by his 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Listen to the newly released song by José José “Ya No Pienso en Ti” below:
Metallica continued its tribute to Mexican bands during their trek in Mexico on Friday (Sept. 28). On their third of four shows in the capital city, the metal legends honored legendary rock band El Tri by performing a unique cover of their famous song “A.D.O.,” once again with bassist Robert Trujillo doing the vocals.
Just as last week, Trujillo and guitarist Kirk Hammett surprised the 65,000 spectators gathered at the GNP Seguros Stadium, according to figures from promoter Ocesa, with their own version of a classic from the Mexican popular songbook. On the first night (Sept. 20), Metallica paid tribute to the norteño music group Los Tucanes de Tijuana by playing the song “La Chona.” Two days later (Sept. 22), they honored the rock band Caifanes with their cumbia hit “La Negra Tomasa.”
“A.D.O.,” by the band led by veteran rocker Alex Lora, refers to the Autobuses de Oriente (ADO) central bus station, one of the largest in the country.
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“Mom, turn on the recorder because #Metallica is singing A.D.O. Long live rock and roll!” tweeted user @Orlas33 on X, paraphrasing Lora, along with a video of the moment.
On Sept. 21, during a private talk by photographer Ross Halfin with a group of Metallica fans attended by Trujillo and Hammett, the bass player of Mexican descent hinted at the possibility of including a song from El Tri as part of the covers they would perform during their shows in Mexico City.
With 55 years of history, El Tri is one of the pioneering bands in the Mexican and Latin American rock scene. It has sold more than 30 million records over the years, and has received four Grammy nominations for best latin rock album. In 2022, Lora received a Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Metallica’s history with Mexico began three decades ago with the tour of their 1991 self-titled album (often referred to as The Black Album), which included five dates at the Palacio de los Deportes in 1993. Since then, the band has maintained a very close relationship with the country, where they recorded their live DVD Orgullo, Pasión y Gloria (2009), which portrays three spectacular nights at the Foro Sol (today GNP Seguros Stadium) in June 2009.
Their fourth and final show in Mexico City as part of their M72 World Tour, which brought them back to the Latin American country after seven years of absence, is Sunday (Sept. 29).
Metallica gave its first concert in Mexico City in seven years on Friday (Sept. 20), and the band’s bassist, Robert Trujillo, took the opportunity to pay tribute to his Mexican roots by performing a peculiar song: “La Chona,” by famous corrido group Los Tucanes de Tijuana.
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“This is a great party,” Trujillo said in Spanish to the 65,000 people who packed the GNP Seguros Stadium, according to figures from promoter Ocesa. “It is an honor to be here with all of you, with the spirit of 72 Seasons. Kirk [Hammett] and I are going to play something for all of you. We are very nervous, so if you know this song, please help us by singing it.”
Immediately, they started playing the first chords of the classic by Los Tucanes de Tijuana, included in their 1995 album, Me Robaste El Corazón, which has transcended several generations in Mexico and the U.S.
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The long hair of Metallica’s fans swung to the northern rhythm, while Trujillo and Hammett, Metallica’s guitarist, swayed to the surprise and applause of much of the audience. The bassist, who on several occasions during the night wore a traditional mariachi hat, took charge of the vocals.
The moment was quickly trending on social media, where users celebrated the rock band’s gesture to its Mexican fans. “La Chona is national heritage and Metallica knows it,” wrote user @virian_avaa on her X account. “The most surreal thing, Metallica playing La Chona,” added user @Amackdiel. Both posted videos of the moment.
Metallica is giving four performances in Mexico City as part of its M72 World Tour, in support of their 2023 album 72 Seasons. The next shows at the GNP Seguros Stadium are scheduled for Sunday (Sept. 22), and Sept. 27 and 29.
Metallica’s history with Mexico began three decades ago with the tour of their Black Album (1991), which included five dates at the Palacio de los Deportes in 1993. Since then, the band has maintained a very close relationship with the country, where they recorded their live DVD Orgullo, Pasión y Gloria (2009), which portrays three spectacular nights at the Foro Sol (today GNP Seguros Stadium) in June 2009.
Metallica’s production team filmed the entire show on Friday and, according to the Mexican newspaper Reforma, next week it will make special shots at tourist spots such as Teotihuacán, the Historic Center, Chapultepec, Coyoacán, and San Ángel.
Watch Trujillo and Hammett play “La Chona” below.
Billboard Latin Music Week is returning to Miami Beach on Oct. 14-18, with confirmed superstars including Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Sanz and Peso Pluma, among many others. For tickets and more details, visit BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.
The music of the late Mexican superstar Juan Gabriel will resonate in Mexico City’s Zócalo on Sunday (September 22), when his concert Mis 40 en Bellas Artes is projected at a free event organized by the capital’s Secretary of Culture. “After the cancellation of the second screening at the Cineteca Nacional scheduled for September 14, […]