While reggaetón often dominates global charts, a rich tapestry of Mexican Music Genres has captivated audiences for generations. Beyond the “Despacito” phenomenon, Mexican artists have consistently achieved international recognition, particularly in the streaming era. This article delves into the captivating world of Mexican music genres, highlighting their unique characteristics, influential artists, and growing global presence, especially within English-speaking markets.
The surge in popularity of regional Mexican music reflects evolving demographics and a powerful sense of nostalgia amongst the Latin American diaspora. Streaming platforms have played a pivotal role, making these genres accessible worldwide and fueling their consumption beyond traditional borders. While the regional Latin music scene is vast, this exploration will initially focus on Mexico, a cultural powerhouse, before venturing into Colombian sounds in a subsequent analysis.
Streaming Platforms: Amplifying Mexican Music
Streaming services like Deezer, Spotify, and Apple Music have become crucial in the expansion of Mexican music genres. Their curated playlists dedicated to both traditional and emerging styles have significantly boosted discoverability and consumption. From Spotify’s “Sad Sierreño” and “Corridos 2020” to Apple Music’s “La Clica” and Deezer’s “TrackxTrack,” these platforms actively promote diverse Mexican sounds.
Deezer, in particular, has distinguished itself by emphasizing regional Latin music. Six of its 27 genre hubs are dedicated to Latin American genres, with Mexico-specific playlists like “Corridos Tumbados,” “Norteño Hits,” and “Corridos Power” garnering significant fan bases. Ernesto Sanchez, Editorial Manager for Mexico and Central America at Deezer, notes the success of playlists like “Éxitos Con Madre,” which consistently outperforms reggaetón and pop in Mexico. Catalogue playlists such as “Clásicos pa’la banda” also remain highly popular.
Spotify, while offering a broader range of 58 genre hubs, also features Latin music prominently, including a dedicated “Regional Mexican” hub. This hub further categorizes Mexican music into distinct genres with playlists like “Norteño Mix” and “Corridos Perrones,” showcasing the depth and variety within Mexican music.
Beyond these platforms, YouTube, Facebook, and Soundcloud remain crucial for Mexican music, often serving as initial breakout platforms for artists before mainstream adoption. YouTube’s freemium model appeals to a broader demographic, while Spotify and Apple Music tend to attract urban, higher-income listeners. Soundcloud continues to be a vital space for emerging regional talents.
Pandora, despite its US-centric operation, plays a significant role in the US Latin market. It has cultivated a loyal Mexican American audience, making it a powerful platform for both established and emerging Mexican artists. Artists like Banda MS and Los Ángeles Azules have achieved billions of streams on Pandora, rivaling mainstream Western acts.
Pandora’s “Mexico” category, part of its Latin music hub, boasts 31 stations, featuring genres like Cumbia Sonidera, Regional Mexicano, and Ranchera, each with millions of listeners, demonstrating the platform’s strong influence on Mexican music enthusiasts in the US.
A Guide to Key Mexican Regional Music Genres
Mexico’s cultural influence extends globally, impacting music, film, television, and Hispanic culture. Its diverse heritage, shaped by indigenous roots, Spanish colonialism, and immigration, has created a vibrant musical landscape. This exploration focuses on five prominent genres: Mariachi, Banda, Norteño, Corridos, and Grupero.
Mariachi: The Iconic Sound of Mexico
Mariachi, also known as Música Ranchera or Ranchero, stands as the most globally recognized Mexican music genre and a powerful symbol of Mexican culture. Originating in the 18th century in western Mexican states like Jalisco, Mariachi music often explores themes of love, heartbreak, and Mexican values such as courage and honor, often using rural imagery.
A traditional Mariachi band features trumpets, violins, a guitarrón (bass guitar), and various guitars. Vocals, influenced by opera, are a key element, with singers often possessing powerful voices and sometimes transitioning to Latin Pop stardom.
Vicente Fernández, a legendary figure in Mariachi, exemplifies the genre’s enduring appeal. His career, spanning decades, has garnered billions of streams and views across platforms like Pandora and YouTube, rivaling the stats of global superstars. Christian Nodal represents a new generation, innovating with “Mariacheño,” a fusion of Mariachi, Norteño, and Latin Pop Ballad, attracting younger audiences in Mexico, Latin America, and the US. His hit “Adiós Amor” launched his career and has amassed over a billion YouTube views, showcasing the genre’s evolving sound.
Banda: Brass Bands and Rhythmic Beats
Banda, or Banda Sinaloense, emerged in the late 19th century in Sinaloa, Northwestern Mexico. Influenced by European migration, Banda incorporates European instruments, creating a distinct brass band sound. Gaining national prominence in the 1950s, Banda has since become an international phenomenon, with artists like Valentín Elizalde and Banda MS achieving widespread success.
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga is a leading contemporary Banda group, known for international collaborations, including “Qué Maldición” with Snoop Dogg. Their YouTube channel boasts views comparable to Cardi B and Bruno Mars, while their Spotify and Deezer followers rival major pop acts, demonstrating Banda’s massive appeal. “El Color De Tus Ojos,” a hit song released in 2017, has garnered over 758 million YouTube views, illustrating the genre’s enduring popularity. Carin León is a rising Banda star, experiencing rapid growth across streaming platforms, comparable to artists with longer careers, highlighting the genre’s continued dynamism.
Norteño: Accordions and Bajo Sextos from the North
Norteño music encompasses various genres and subgenres characterized by instruments like the accordion and bajo sexto. Born in the 19th century from a blend of Mexican, Spanish, and Germanic musical traditions, Norteño has evolved, spawning subgenres like Corrido and Sierreño.
Los Tucanes de Tijuana are Norteño pioneers, known for experimenting across subgenres. Formed in Tijuana in 1987, they have garnered Grammy nominations and achieved significant chart success. Despite a career spanning decades, their music remains popular on YouTube and streaming platforms, with substantial growth in views and followers, placing them alongside global icons in terms of listenership.
Corridos: Storytelling Through Song
Corridos, while sometimes grouped with Norteño, hold a unique cultural significance as narrative ballads. Dating back to the Mexican War of Independence, Corridos served as a medium to recount historical events and celebrate heroes. Themes often revolve around social issues, community figures, immigrant experiences, and sometimes, controversially, the lives of drug lords in the Narcocorrido subgenre.
Los Tigres del Norte are Corrido icons who brought the genre to the mainstream. Formed in the 1960s, they have won multiple Grammy Awards and continue to resonate with audiences. Their YouTube views and streaming numbers remain comparable to contemporary global superstars, proving the genre’s lasting impact. Marca MP represents a rising force in Corridos, blending traditional elements with modern sounds, achieving rapid growth on streaming platforms and demonstrating the genre’s ongoing evolution.
Grupero: Romantic Ballads with a Band Sound
Música Grupera, or Grupero, emerged in the early 1970s, blending Rock, Latin Pop, Cumbia, and Mariachi. Characterized by band formations (“grupos”), Grupero utilizes electric guitars, synthesizers, and electronic percussion. Popular in the 80s and 90s, Grupero produced iconic groups like Los Bukis and Los Temerarios.
Los Bukis, despite disbanding in 1995, remain Grupero legends. Their classic hits like “Tu Cárcel” continue to garner millions of YouTube views, and their streaming numbers rival contemporary pop acts. Ana Bárbara, a prominent female Grupero artist from the 90s, enjoys renewed popularity, demonstrating the genre’s enduring appeal. Luis Coronel, a rising Grupero artist with a contemporary approach, shows promise in revitalizing the genre for new audiences.
Genre Fusion: Trap Corridos and Beyond
Language barriers are diminishing in music, with feeling and vibe taking precedence. This trend is evident in genre fusion, particularly among younger generations in the US, who blend their heritage music with mainstream sounds.
Trap Corrido, or Corridos Tumbados, exemplifies this fusion, mixing Trap beats with Mexican Corridos. Artists like Natanael Cano, Esteban Gabriel, and Junior H are leading this movement, gaining significant traction and collaborations with artists like Bad Bunny. Their rapid growth on platforms like Deezer highlights the appeal of this innovative genre blend, particularly amongst US Latinos who connect with themes of the American Dream expressed through this new sound. Natanael Cano’s “Amor Tumbado” exemplifies this trend, achieving massive growth in Deezer fans.
The resurgence of Mexican regional music genres reflects a celebration of cultural identity and heritage. New genres like Trap Corrido and Mariacheño demonstrate a vibrant evolution, blending tradition with contemporary sounds and resonating with new generations. As these genres continue to evolve, they hold the potential to become future classics, mirroring the enduring legacies of established artists like Los Tigres del Norte, Vicente Fernández, and Banda MS.
