Tag: eslabon armado

‘La Tierra de Texas’ Celebrates the Tejano Legacy of Música Mexicana at the Houston Rodeo

March 7, 2024

On February 26, 1995, Selena walked into the middle of the Astrodome as the headlining act for the Houston Rodeo’s Go Tejano Day and delivered a performance that would help solidify her status as a musical legend. And nearly 30 years later, not only have her fans streamed her songs more than 2 billion times on Spotify, but they’re still talking about that iconic performance. 

Just as Selena was more than a singer, the Houston Rodeo is more than an annual event for many Texans—they are both institutions beloved across generations. And as millions of people enjoy this year’s three-week celebration of all things cowboy, Spotify is helping music take center stage at the rodeo once again with La Tierra de Texas. With live musical performances including Ivan Cornejo and Los Tigres del Norte, Música Mexicana was ever present in 2024’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  

On March 10 during this year’s Go Tejano Day—one of the biggest highlights on the Houston Rodeo calendar—we’re paying homage to Tejano culture’s impact on Música Mexicana and celebrating the genre’s evolution, from Selena to Peso Pluma.

Over the past year, Música Mexicana streams on Spotify have grown by 47% globally as the genre has quickly become one of Spotify’s most popular. In 2023, luminaries Peso Pluma, Junior H, Natanael Cano, Fuerza Regida, and Grupo Frontera not only propelled the genre forward and helped redefine what it could be, but they all also finished the year among Spotify’s Top 50 global artists. Moreover, many struck gold with hit collaborations inside and outside Musica Mexicana, including “Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma, “un x100to” by Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny, and “Peso Pluma: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 55” by Bizarrap and Peso Pluma, all of which topped the Spotify global charts.

At the same time, Selena has shown that Música Mexicana’s global appeal isn’t just about new hits; fans love the classics too. To date, Selena’s songs have been streamed more than 2 billion times on Spotify, with more than 1 billion of those coming from her breakout album, Amor Prohibido, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this month.

But her popularity only continues to grow on Spotify. Over the past five years, Selena’s streams have increased by 227% globally.

A big reason for this is that Gen Z listeners stream Selena on Spotify roughly as much as millennials do. In fact… 

  • More than 15 million Gen Z listeners streamed at least one Selena song in 2023. 
  • Each week for the past year, Gen Z listeners streamed Selena songs more than 3.5 million times. 

And of course, Gen Z loves current Música Mexicana as well…

  • In 2023, more than 83 million Gen Zs listened to at least one Música Mexicana song on Spotify.
  • Over the past year, Gen Z Música Mexicana fan streamed an average of nine songs per day on Spotify. 

As Música Mexicana has evolved, Tejano culture continues to influence the genre. Spotify is committed to recognizing those contributions through moments like the Houston Rodeo and last year’s special La Tierra del Corrido showcase, which featured performances from top artists including Chino Pacas, Esteban Gabriel, Xavi, Grupo Marca Registrada, and Luis R Conriquez. 

Looking for more of Música Mexicana’s biggest hits? Stream Rompiendo Texas now.

How Spotify’s Playlists Captured the Biggest Music Trends of 2023

November 29, 2023

With another year coming to a close, Spotify is back with your personalized Wrapped, our annual recap of your listening highlights from the past 12 months that includes your top songs, artists, and podcasts, as well as your most distinct streaming habits. But we’re also taking a step back and looking at 2023’s biggest music trends on Spotify.

Thanks to the in-the-know editors responsible for creating our editorial playlists as part of the Global Curation Groups, the most iconic musical moments of the year were reflected on Spotify. Whether it was blockbuster movie soundtracks that grabbed the world’s attention, viral social media moments that bubbled up to the mainstream, or classic genres finding new fans in Gen Z, our experts were on top of it all.

For the Record sat down with our editorial team and got the scoop. 

Peso Pluma and Música Mexicana go mainstream

RADAR US artist Peso Pluma made himself known to the world in March with his feature on Eslabon Armado’s “Ella Baila Sola.” Fast-forward to now, and that song is one of the top-five most-streamed songs of 2023 globally—and is about to hit Spotify’s Billions Club. Meanwhile, the Música Mexicana genre at large has enjoyed a surge in popularity, dominating the global charts this summer.

Explore this trend on: Lo Mejor de La Reina 2023, Corridos Perrones, Corridos Tumbados, Today’s Top Hits

Folk rising

In 2023, a slew of indie artists emerged with folk-inspired albums including Mitski, Toro Y Moi, and boygenius. Plus, we heard new folk voices like Searows and 2024 Best New Artist Noah Kahan. 

Explore this trend on: Indie Twang, Juniper

Shoegaze returns courtesy of Gen Z

Shoegaze has been around since the late ’80s, but it experienced a resurgence in 2023 among Gen Z, who found new bands like Wisp as well as aughts stalwarts like Panchiko.

Over the past year, the genre has thrived within various Gen Z internet communities that have fostered pockets of interest and given birth to exciting new acts. Perhaps unknowingly, the emerging class of neo-shoegaze artists is contributing to genre diffusion, blending techniques from various music genres to create something fresh and unique.

Explore this trend on: Shoegaze Now, IRL Angel

Rema carries Afrobeats into Spotify’s Billions Club

Rema has been a hitmaker in Africa since 2019, but it was a collaboration with Selena Gomez on “Calm Down (Remix)” that shot him to international fame in 2023. The global smash earned the Afrobeats star a Grammy nomination, as well as a spot in our highly coveted Billions Club, making “Calm Down” the first African artist-led track to do so. 

Explore this trend on: African Heat, Billions Club, Today’s Top Hits

Taylor Swift’s eras on tour

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour kicked off in March and was the live-music event of the year. Taylor not only picked songs from all 10 of her studio albums to perform in a stunning three-hour show, but she also set aside time each night for acoustic performances of two surprise songs. And according to Taylor’s rules, no two songs could be repeated unless she messed it up the first time. To capture this epic moment, we collected all of the surprise songs in a playlist, which was updated every weekend during the U.S. leg of her tour.

Explore this trend on: Surprise Song Era

Troye Sivan and Hyunjin’s IRL friendship

This past summer, Troye Sivan posted a TikTok that went viral about trying to find Hyunjin of Stray Kids. We joined in on the fun with a playlist and they eventually collabed on a remix of “Rush,” which also featured PinkPantheress.

Explore this trend on: what a moment

Peggy Gou takes house music to the top of the charts

House, one of the original genres of dance music, has grown in popularity since the pandemic. This summer, we saw massive house hits resonate with fans internationally, including Peggy Gou‘s “(It Goes Like) Nanana.” 

Other huge moments for house music include artists like Fred again.., Black Coffee, Chris Lake, and FISHER, who are breaking records around the world, and breakthrough opportunities for exciting artists like LP Giobbi, John Summit, and Dom Dolla

Explore this trend on: Umami, Housewerk presents…Best House of 2023, Summer House

It’s a Barbie world

Ahead of the Barbie release this summer, we saw “Barbiecore” aesthetics manifest in the pop culture zeitgeist. Once we got word that Barbie was going to feature a star-studded soundtrack with hits like Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, and Aqua’s “Barbie World” and Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night,” we brought all things Barbie to life on Spotify through the “pinkification” of several playlist covers, new editorial playlists, and partner playlists.

Explore this trend on: Hot Pink, Barbie Official Playlist

Hyper techno surges

There was an influx of high-BPM dance pop songs in general, and with it came a new wave of tracks that showcased a harder sound using classic techno and big room beats and basslines. We saw a surge in streams—especially from European Gen Zs—of techno-infused songs like Niklas Dee’s “Not Fair,” Creeds’ “Push Up,” and BENNETT’s “Vois sur ton chemin.”

Explore this trend on: rave, techno party

Jersey Club is everywhere 

Jersey Club production became ubiquitous not only in U.S. hip-hop but around the world. We also saw the genre’s influence find its way into K-Pop and thoughtful electronic music. Pioneers such as DJ Smallz 732, UNIIQU3, and Cookiee Kawaii were tapped to remix some of 2023’s biggest hits, and newcomers such as Kanii, keltiey, and Lay Bankz staked their claims as names to watch.

Explore this trend on: Jersey Club Heat presents…Best Jersey Club Songs of 2023

Tyla’s turns her viral moment into crossover success

South Africa’s Amapiano sound has been winning the hearts of electronic and dance fans after TikTok dances and DJ mixes helped it go viral in 2020. In 2023, RADAR Africa artist Tyla took her career to the next level, blending her R&B sound with Amapiano and South African dance genre Bacardi house on her hit song “Water.” After Spotify Africa’s partnership with the Giants of Africa Festival—a basketball event in Rwanda where Tyla’s viral dance was first seen—many posted their own versions of the dance challenge on social media, which led to “Water” skyrocketing around the world and earning a feature from Travis Scott on the remix.

Explore this trend on: RNB X, RADAR Africa, African Heat, RADAR Global 

Women run hip-hop  

Female rappers continued their reign in 2023, with top names like Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, Latto, Ice Spice, Kaliii, Doechii, and the year’s breakout star, Sexyy Red, making some of the most creative and worthwhile hip-hop this year. 

Explore this trend on: RapCaviar presents…Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2023, Feelin’ Myself 

Pop-punk’s greatest legends return

We witnessed the resurgence of pop-punk’s most iconic figures with mainstays like Fall Out Boy, Sum 41, Green Day, and Neck Deep returning in 2023 with a taste of new music. Additionally, blink-182 welcomed back Tom DeLonge and embarked on a global tour to celebrate their new album, ONE MORE TIME…. 

Explore this trend on: Pop Punk’s Not Dead

The nu-metal revival continues

Nu-metal and alternative metal have made triumphant returns this year, with a younger audience discovering and devouring the catalogs of bands like Deftones, Korn, Slipknot, and more. Additionally, we’re seeing a wave of new nu-metal songs from rising artists who are embracing the sound and paying homage to their predecessors.

Explore this trend on: new nü, ALLURE

Alt country crosses over

This trend in country music had a slow build that reached new heights with the release of RADAR US artist Zach Bryan’s American Heartbreak in 2022, and took off 2023 with hits like Dylan Gossett’s “Coal.” This acoustic, gritty sound was typically reserved for alternative country and folk playlists in the past, but it has fully moved into the mainstream with songs that have been fan favorites across our flagship playlists. 

Explore this trend on: Hot Country presents…Best Country Songs of 2023, Hot Hits USA, Today’s Top Hits, homegrown

Looking for more of the songs that have left their stamp on 2023? Check out our flagship playlist Today’s Top Hits. 

Las canciones de verano más hot de 2023 de Spotify están aquí

August 23, 2023

Hemos estado esperando todo el verano, especulando y reflexionando sobre qué canciones llegarían al top como las canciones del verano. Y ahora tenemos las respuestas sobre los éxitos que dominaron durante los últimos meses. 

Redoble de tambores, por favor… 

A nivel global, la canción más reproducida del verano es: el gran éxito de Eslabón Armado y Peso Pluma, “Ella Baila Sola”.

En Estados Unidos, la canción con más streams es: el tema de country de Morgan Wallen, “Last Night“.

Una mirada global

“Ella Baila Sola” encabezó la lista este verano. Eslabón Armado, un grupo estadounidense de música mexicana, no es ajeno al éxito con muchos premios musicales ya obtenidos, y sabíamos que Peso Pluma era un talento para tener bajo la mira cuando lo declaramos artista de Spotify RADAR. Peso Pluma tenía otras tres canciones para ingresar al Top 30 Global este verano: “La Bebe – Remix”, “Peso Pluma: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 55”, y “El Azul”. Es un gran momento para el género de música mexicana, que ha experimentado un crecimiento del 430% en Spotify durante los últimos cinco años a nivel mundial.

La segunda canción más reproducida a nivel global es “WHERE SHE GOES” de Bad Bunny y en el lugar número tres está “Seven” de Jung Kook y Latto.

Antonio Vázquez, Head de U.S. Latin Editorial en Spotify, explicó por qué no es de sorprender que la música mexicana se esté apoderando de las listas de éxitos. “Ver el ascenso de ‘Ella Baila Sola” para convertirse en la canción de verano a nivel global ha sido realmente emocionante”, mencionó. “Es un testimonio de cómo la música mexicana no solo está conquistando corazones, sino también dominando la escena musical internacional y convirtiéndose en uno de los géneros principales que impulsan el crecimiento a nivel mundial. Esto se siente como un logro importante y solo está comenzando”.

Tras el dominio de Bad Bunny en 2022 con Un Verano Sin Ti, hay un aumento constante y notable en la popularidad de la música latina en todo el mundo. “Ya no se trata solo de ritmos pegajosos; los artistas están fusionando con éxito la música con sus historias personales, experiencias y un sentido de orgullo cultural”, dice Antonio. “Esta autenticidad, combinada con colaboraciones entre géneros y un panorama musical globalizado, está contribuyendo al crecimiento imparable de la música latina”. Antonio también señala que “El fuerte atractivo de ‘Ella Baila Sola’ se puede atribuir a su combinación única de elementos que resuenan en todas las culturas: el sonido vibrante impulsado por el trombón y la intro contagiosa del requinto crean una experiencia cautivadora. La música mexicana, en general, ofrece un rico tapiz cultural que toca la tradición, la emoción y la modernidad, haciéndola cercana y emocionante tanto para los oyentes de música latina, como para los que no hablan español”.

Fiesta de Verano en Estados Unidos

En Estados Unidos, los oyentes se sintieron un poco country este verano con la canción de Morgan Wallen “Last Night” como la canción más reproducida. “‘Last Night’ tiene todas las características de un éxito que trasciende el género”, explicó Rachel Whitney, directora de Editorial para Nashville. “Comienza con una historia que te mantiene en intriga y termina con el gancho más pegadizo. Atrae a audiencias de todo el espectro de la música popular con elementos de R&B, pop y country todo en uno, entre el ritmo, el gancho y la introducción de guitarra simplificada y el acento sureño característico de Wallen. Es una canción que puede hacer que la gente baile o se reúna alrededor de una fogata”.

“Ella Baila Sola” de Eslabón Armado y Peso Pluma es la segunda canción más reproducida en Estados Unidos. “Cruel Summer” de Taylor Swift ocupa la tercera posición.

En general, hubo mucho amor por los éxitos de country mientras los oyentes disfrutaban del verano: cinco canciones del género llegaron al Top 20 de Estados Unidos. Como compartió Rachel, esto no es tan sorprendente ya que el verano es la estación en la que los fanáticos del country escuchan realmente su punto máximo: las canciones son perfectas para viajes por carretera y días en el lago. Morgan consiguió dos éxitos más en la lista con “You Proof” y “Wasted On You“, mientras que “Fast Car” de Luke Combs y “Something in the Orange” de Zach Bryan también clasificaron.

“Artistas como Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan y Taylor Swift, con el lanzamiento del álbum country, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), han impulsado un aumento en la popularidad de la música country durante el verano, especialmente entre los fans más jóvenes”, dijo Rachel.

Las tendencias soleadas se apoderan de los estados

Esto es lo que estuvo de moda en Estados Unidos este verano.

Viva Latino 

Desde música mexicana hasta reggaetón, la música latina representó el 25% del Top 20 de Estados Unidos, con muchas canciones incluidas en nuestro Top Global. Destacan “un x100to” de Grupo Frontera y Bad Bunny, “La Bebe – Remix” de Yng Lvcas y Peso Pluma, y ​​“TQM” de Fuerza Regida.

Himnos de emociones 

Las emociones reinaron con himnos pop de venganza como “vampire” de Olivia Rodrigo, “Kill Bill” de SZA, “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” de PinkPantheress y Ice Spice y, por supuesto, “Cruel Summer” de Taylor Swift.

¡Hola, Barbie! 

Una de las películas más esperadas del verano también impulsó reproducciones con dos canciones de Barbie The Album en el Top 20: “Barbie World (with Aqua) [From Barbie The Album]” de Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice y Aqua y “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” de Dua Lipa.

Selecciones de podcast impactantes y audiolibros de grado-A

La música mantuvo la fiesta en la piscina, pero los podcasts y los audiolibros estuvieron igualmente de moda. Agrega estos a tu lista.

Selección de podcasts de verano de Spotify Editorial

Lecturas de verano de audiolibros de Spotify Editorial

El verano aún no ha terminado, por lo que todavía hay mucho tiempo para reproducir nuestra playlist Canciones de Verano en tu próxima reunión. Y si vas a tomar unas últimas vacaciones soleadas, no olvides echar un vistazo a nuestra selección de podcasts y audiolibros para conocer la historia perfecta para escuchar en la playa.

__________________________________________________________________________

Las canciones de verano más reproducidas de Spotify a nivel global:

  1. “Ella Baila Sola” de Eslabón Armado, Peso Pluma
  2. “WHERE SHE GOES” de Bad Bunny
  3. “Seven (feat. Latto)” de Jung Kook, Latto
  4. “Cruel Summer” de Taylor Swift
  5. “La Bebe – Remix” de Yng Lvcas, Peso Pluma
  6. “un x100to” de Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny
  7. “Flowers” de Miley Cyrus
  8. “Daylight” de David Kushner
  9. “Sprinter” de Dave, Central Cee
  10. “As It Was” de Harry Styles
  11. “Cupid – Twin Ver.” de FIFTY FIFTY
  12. “LALA” de Myke Towers
  13. “Kill Bill” de SZA
  14. “Peso Pluma: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 55” de Bizarrap, Peso Pluma
  15. “vampire” de Olivia Rodrigo
  16. “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” de Dua Lipa
  17. “Classy 101” de Feid, Young Miko
  18. “TQM” de Fuerza Regida
  19. “I Wanna Be Yours” de Arctic Monkeys
  20. “Calm Down” de Rema, Selena Gomez

Las canciones de verano más reproducidas de Spotify en Estados Unidos:

  1. “Last Night” de Morgan Wallen
  2. “Ella Baila Sola” de Eslabón Armado, Peso Pluma
  3. “Cruel Summer” de Taylor Swift
  4. “fukumean” de Gunna
  5. “vampire” de Olivia Rodrigo
  6. “Fast Car” de Luke Combs
  7. “Kill Bill” de SZA
  8. “See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis)” de Tyler, The Creator
  9. “un x100to” de Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny
  10. “You Proof” de Morgan Wallen
  11. “All My Life (feat. J. Cole)” de Lil Durk, J. Cole
  12. “WHERE SHE GOES” de Bad Bunny
  13. “La Bebe – Remix” de Yng Lvcas, Peso Pluma
  14. “Barbie World (with Aqua) [From Barbie The Album]” de Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, Aqua
  15. “Something in the Orange” de Zach Bryan
  16. “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” de PinkPantheress, Ice Spice
  17. “Wasted On You” de Morgan Wallen
  18. “TQM” de Fuerza Regida
  19. “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” de Dua Lipa
  20. “Anti-Hero” de Taylor Swift

 

Spotify’s Sizzling 2023 Songs of Summer Are Here

August 23, 2023

a graphic treatment showing suns and clouds

We’ve been waiting all summer, speculating and ruminating on what hot tracks would rise to the top as the songs of the summer. And now we have our answers for what hits have dominated during the past few months.

Drumroll please . . .

Globally, the most-streamed song of the summer is Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s smash hit, “Ella Baila Sola.” 

In the U.S., the most-streamed song is Morgan Wallen’s croon-worthy track “Last Night,” the first country song to claim the title on Spotify.

Digging in for a global look

“Ella Baila Sola” topped the chart this summer. Eslabon Armado, an American música Mexicana group, is no stranger to success, with many music awards under their belt. And we knew Peso Pluma was a talent to watch when we declared him a Spotify RADAR artist earlier this year. Three other tracks of Peso Pluma’s also made it into the global Top 30 list this summer: “La Bebe – Remix,” “Peso Pluma: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 55,” and “El Azul.” It’s a big moment for the música Mexicana genre, which has seen 430% growth on Spotify over the past five years, globally.

Coming in hot as the second-most-streamed song globally is Bad Bunny’s “WHERE SHE GOES,” while Jung Kook and Latto’s “Seven” sits at number three. 

Antonio Vazquez, Head of U.S. Latin Editorial at Spotify, explained why it’s no surprise that música Mexicana is taking hold of the charts. “Watching the rise of ‘Ella Baila Sola’ to become the global song of the summer has been truly exhilarating,” he said. “It’s a testament to how música Mexicana is not only capturing hearts but also dominating the international music scene and becoming one of the top growth-driving genres globally. This feels like an important milestone, and it’s only getting started.”

Latin music’s popularity has consistently and remarkably risen worldwide. “It’s not just about catchy beats anymore; artists are successfully infusing their music with their personal stories, experiences, and a sense of cultural pride,” said Antonio. “This authenticity, combined with cross-genre collaborations and a globalized music landscape, is contributing to the unstoppable growth of Latin music.” Antonio also noted that “the strong appeal of ‘Ella Baila Sola’ can be attributed to its unique blend of elements that resonate across cultures—the vibrant trombone-driven sound and the infectious requinto intro create a captivating experience.”

Summer party in the USA

In the U.S., listeners were feeling a little bit country this summer, with Morgan Wallen’s track “Last Night” as the most-streamed song. “‘Last Night’ has all the trappings of a hit that transcends genre,” explained Rachel Whitney, Head of Editorial, Nashville. “It kicks off with a storyline that keeps you guessing, and lands in the catchiest hook. It pulls in audiences from across the popular-music spectrum, with elements of R&B, pop, and country all in one. Between the beat, the hook, and the stripped-down guitar intro and Wallen’s signature southern drawl, it’s a song that can get people dancing or gathered around a campfire.” 

Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” is the second-most-streamed song in the U.S., and Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” holds down the number three position.

Overall, listeners had a lot of love for country hits as they splashed the summer away: Five songs from the genre made it onto the U.S. Top 20 list. As Rachel shared, this isn’t so surprising as summer is the season when listening really peaks for country fans—country songs are perfect for road trips and lake days. Morgan landed two more hits on the list with “You Proof” and “Wasted On You,” while “Fast Car” by Luke Combs and “Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan also made the cut. 

“Artists like Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, and Taylor Swift—with the release of her country album Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)—have driven a surge in the popularity of country music over the summer, especially with younger fans,” said Rachel. 

Sunny trends taking over the states

Here’s what else was trending in the U.S. this summer. 

Viva Latino 

From música Mexicana to reggaetón, Latin music made up 25% of the Top 20 U.S. list, with many tracks also included in our global list. “un x100to” by Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny, “La Bebe – Remix” by Yng Lvcas and Peso Pluma, and “TQM” by Fuerza Regida are among the standouts. 

Angsty anthems 

Emotions ruled with revenge pop anthems like “vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Kill Bill” by SZA, “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” by PinkPantheress and Ice Spice, and, of course, Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer.”

Hi, Barbie! 

One of the summer’s biggest films also drove streams, with two tracks from Barbie The Album making the Top 20 list: “Barbie World (with Aqua) [From Barbie The Album]” by Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, and Aqua, and “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” by Dua Lipa.

Punchy podcast picks and grade-A audiobooks

Music kept the pool parties going, but podcasts and audiobooks were equally hot. Add these faves to your list.

Spotify Editorial’s U.S. summer podcast picks:

Spotify Editorial’s summer audiobook reads:

Summer’s not over yet, so there’s still plenty of time to queue up our Songs of Summer playlist for your next gathering. And if you’re heading out on one last sunny vacation, don’t forget to take a look at our podcast picks and audiobook selections for the perfect story for beach listening.

__________________________________________________________________________

Spotify’s most-streamed songs of summer, globally:

  1. “Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma
  2. “WHERE SHE GOES” by Bad Bunny
  3. “Seven (feat. Latto)” by Jung Kook, Latto
  4. “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift
  5. “La Bebe – Remix” by Yng Lvcas, Peso Pluma
  6. “un x100to” by Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny
  7. “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
  8. “Daylight” by David Kushner
  9. “Sprinter” by Dave, Central Cee
  10. “As It Was” by Harry Styles
  11. “Cupid – Twin Ver.” by FIFTY FIFTY
  12. “LALA” by Myke Towers
  13. “Kill Bill” by SZA
  14. “Peso Pluma: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 55” by Bizarrap, Peso Pluma
  15. “vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo
  16. “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” by Dua Lipa
  17. “Classy 101” by Feid, Young Miko
  18. “TQM” by Fuerza Regida
  19. “I Wanna Be Yours” by Arctic Monkeys
  20. “Calm Down” by Rema, Selena Gomez

Spotify’s most-streamed songs of summer in the U.S.:

  1. “Last Night” by Morgan Wallen
  2. “Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma
  3. “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift
  4. “fukumean” by Gunna
  5. “vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo
  6. “Fast Car” by Luke Combs
  7. “Kill Bill” by SZA
  8. “See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis)” by Tyler, The Creator
  9. “un x100to” by Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny
  10. “You Proof” by Morgan Wallen
  11. “All My Life (feat. J. Cole)” by Lil Durk, J. Cole
  12. “WHERE SHE GOES” by Bad Bunny
  13. “La Bebe – Remix” by Yng Lvcas, Peso Pluma
  14. “Barbie World (with Aqua) [From Barbie The Album]” by Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, Aqua
  15. “Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan
  16. “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” by PinkPantheress, Ice Spice
  17. “Wasted On You” by Morgan Wallen
  18. “TQM” by Fuerza Regida
  19. “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” by Dua Lipa
  20. “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift

 

RADAR US Is Back With Peso Pluma, the Emerging Hitmaker Taking Música Mexicana to the Global Stage

May 23, 2023

peso pluma holds his sunglasses over his eyes while sticking his tongue out

As Música Mexicana (Mexican music) increasingly captivates fans around the world, few of the genre’s stars have risen as rapidly as Mexico’s Peso Pluma. The 23-year-old singer, rapper, and songwriter is booming, evolving from social media sensation to prolific hitmaker.

Now the young star is the latest featured artist in the RADAR US class of 2023.

RADAR is our program that spotlights emerging talent from around the world, helping artists at all stages of their career develop and expand their global reach on their path to superstardom. As part of the program, Peso Pluma will receive marketing, editorial, and on-platform support over the course of the next few months, including a feature as our RADAR US playlist cover star. 

Peso Pluma’s big break came in 2022 with his single “El Belicon,” which features Raul Vega and was supported on playlists like Corridos and Los Que Mandan. Nearly one year later, he cemented himself as Música Mexicana’s newest star with “Ella Baila Sola,” featuring Eslabon Armado. The single became Spotify’s all-time most-streamed Musica Mexicana track in one day globally and the most-streamed Latin song in the U.S in one single day in April 2023. 

peso pluma sitting on a stool in front of a mic with members of his band behind him.

With Peso at the forefront of the genre, Música Mexicana has exploded in popularity over the past five years. Contributing to Latin music’s dominance on the chart, the genre has grown over 431% in streams on Spotify globally. Check out these additional stats: 

  • Peso Pluma is currently #4 on Spotify’s Top Artists globally.
  • “Ella Baila Sola” is currently #1 on Spotify’s Top 50 US and Top 50 Global charts.
  • Peso Pluma has over 48 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and he’s the 48th-most-popular artist on-platform.
  • Today, 10 out of the top 20 songs on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart are Latin, five of which are by Mexican artists. This is a testament to the increasing popularity of Música Mexicana.

And Peso Pluma isn’t slowing down anytime soon. With his third studio album slated for release this summer, he’s also gearing up for a U.S. tour that kicks off in June. Amid all the excitement, For the Record sat down with Peso to talk about his biggest inspirations, the future of Latin music, and how it feels to be a RADAR US artist.

How did your journey into music begin?

I’ve always enjoyed music, but I actually was more into sports. I started playing around with music because I had friends that enjoyed it. I didn’t think I was that good at first, but I kept practicing and I did it with passion. After a while, I started writing with my cousin Tito. It was definitely a rough journey, but I stayed true to myself!

peso pluma looks down at the floor while wearing sunglasses

What’s your creative process like?

I try to not over think it—I listen to a song and just vibe with it. I imagine how all of the instruments will sound around my vocals, and how I can add my personal stamp to it. If I can’t do that, then the song probably isn’t for me. I like to get involved in production, but my producers and musicians are definitely an important part of the whole process.

What would you like your fans to get out of your music?

I want my fans to smile, laugh, cry, and dance. I want my music to make them feel something, and I want them to enjoy it as much as I do.

Which artists have inspired you the most?

Drake, Bad Bunny, Travis Scott, Natanael Cano. I look up to so many different artists. I love music and I draw inspiration from a lot of people.

What are you looking forward to as a RADAR US artist? 

I’m looking forward to exposing more of the world to Música Mexicana and to my culture. There’s a lot more to us than people might think. We have a lot to offer, and I’m sure we can make an impact out there.

What are you most looking forward to as Latin music, and particularly Música Mexicana, starts to become a beloved genre worldwide?

I’m looking forward to showing everyone that we can make global music, too. It’s a really special opportunity to show people that we can reach fans around the world.

Are there any Spotify for Artists tools you use regularly?

I always use my Spotify for Artists app to check on new releases through the real-time Listening Now feature that shows what people are listening to at the moment. It makes me feel connected to them in a way.

What’s something people don’t know about you?

I really care about the details. I always want to make sure I’m giving my best in every possible way. I’m also very specific about the vision for my projects. Overall, I’m just passionate about music and I want to transmit that to the world.

What are some of your rituals before you record a song?

I just go for it. Once we’ve got everything in place with my producers and musicians, everything flows from there. 

Any advice for fellow emerging artists?

Don’t give up on your dreams. It sounds cliché, but don’t stop! Be original and unique in your own way. Hard work pays off, and most importantly, so does being true to yourself.

Listen to Peso Pluma and more rising stars in our RADAR US playlist.

Celebrate the Holidays With the Bittersweet Sounds of Our First Sad Sierreño Spotify Singles Collection

November 23, 2022

In Mexico, the holiday season begins with the traditional posadas, a celebration with family, friends, star-shaped piñatas, warm fruit punch, and of course, villancicos or Christmas carols. This year, Spotify is celebrating this tradition with the first-ever sad sierreño edition of Holiday Spotify Singles. 

Sierreño is folk music from Mexico’s northern mountain range region that is best known for nostalgic ballads performed with acoustic guitars. This year there’s been a resurgence of the genre with a Gen Z twist that has formed a new classification: sad sierreño. Sad sierreño is represented by a generation of young Mexican American artists and is distinguished by a bedroom pop production style ethos and sound, resulting in songs about love and heartbreak with an angsty edge.  

The collection includes “Triste Navidad” from DannyLux, a sad Christmas song that echoes Elvis’s “Blue Christmas.” The artist, Daniel Balderrama Espinoza, is originally from California and imprints new-wave influences on the traditional sierreño. 

Eslabon Armado, a trio formed by the brothers Pedro and Bryan Tovar with Gabriel Hidalgo, recorded a version of “Blanca Navidad” with the classic plucked guitars of sierreño and their trademark vocal harmonies. The trio has 7.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify and their album Nostalgia ranked among the most-streamed new releases globally earlier this year. When they were kids, the Tovar brothers listened to the classic Christmas songs of Vicente Fernandez on the radio.

“We chose to do this song because we are big fans of Luis Miguel, who famously made an album with Christmas songs,” Pedro, the lead singer and lyricist of Eslabon Armado, told For the Record. “We have always liked ‘Blanca Navidad’ but we added our style of guitars and bass to this version.”

Los Aptos, a trio from Fort Wayne, Indiana, delivered “Por Ti,” an emotional romantic ballad with a bittersweet taste of nostalgia that invades the holiday season. 

Conexión Divina is the first all-female sierreño trio, formed by Mexican American artists Liz, Sandra, and Ashlee, currently based in Los Angeles. For this collection, they recorded “Cómo Poder Olvidar,” an upbeat track that combines heartbreak lyrics with soft guitars.

Finally, Eduardo Granado Rojas, better known as ERRE, originally from Phoenix, Arizona, rendered “Solo en Navidad,” a track with melancholic lyrics and an indie sound that stands out for a guitar with reverb over acoustic guitar harmony. 

Eduardo’s mother gave him his first guitar for Christmas when he was 11 years old. He drew on inspiration from artists like Ariel Camacho and Los Plebes Del Rancho to learn to play Mexican music on his guitar.

“As a child I listened to the music that my family liked, which were songs like “Navidad Sin Ti” by Los Bukis or songs that came out on the radio and in stores during the holidays,” said ERRE. “I chose this song because the lyrics have a meaning that many people can identify with. In a season that couples enjoy a lot, one can feel lonely for not being able to have that person with whom to have that New Year’s kiss or that affection during the holidays.” 

Listen to all the tracks in our sad sierreño playlist.

A New Generation of Artists Is Reinventing Mexican Music and Captivating Listeners Around the World

September 16, 2022

Spotify data tells the story of a genre that has emerged as an unstoppable cultural force. At the end of August, worldwide Mexican music listening on Spotify grew by 56% annually, doubling the growth rate of the previous two years. And since 2019, the volume of streams has more than doubled to reach 5.6 billion.

To celebrate this movement, we’re launching a new campaign titled “México es imparable. Reprodúcelo.” At its center are three short films that celebrate artists such as Eduin Caz from the banda septet Grupo Firme, and Julión Álvarez and Yahritza y su Esencia, whose music inspires a generation that returns to its roots to generate different identities.

A genre that brings together a diversity of rhythms such as banda, norteño, sierreño, grupero, and mariachi, Mexican music is becoming one of the fastest-growing local genres on the platform. For reference, the amount of streams of the genre amounts to two-thirds of the volume of reggaeton streams on Spotify. 

In Mexico, one in every four music streams is a Mexican music track. In the United States, Mexican music ranks among the fastest-growing genres. Beyond the traditional strongholds, Mexican music artists are filling ever-larger concert venues in Latin American countries like Colombia and reaching new audiences in geographically remote countries like Chile.

All over the world, industry insiders and fans are wondering why.

Collaboration without boundaries

One key factor that explains the recent revival of Mexican music is that the genre has attracted stars from other genres, like reggaeton, trap, or hip-hop. These crossover artists have embraced the high-pitched guitar requintos that are a staple of corridos, and the wind instruments of banda music to create pop hits.

The number of collaborations between Mexican artists and international artists in the last two years reached 31,000. Which might explain why last year, 66 million listeners on Spotify discovered Mexican music for the first time outside of Mexico.

“Urban Latin music, in its expansion into the mainstream and the exploration of paths towards all kinds of genres, influenced Mexican music artists to make more collaborations,” Alejandro Grageda, Spotify Artist and Label Partnership Lead for Mexico, tells For the Record.

“The ability to find new audiences around the world, in addition to the data and best practices that Spotify for Artists offers, have served as a catalyst to accelerate these collaborations and contribute to the expansion of Mexican music.”

Collaborations have offered discovery opportunities to new fans around the world. Consider Colombian reggaeton-pop ensemble Piso 21 collaborating with Christian Nodal in “Pa’ Olvidarme de Ella.” It’s their third-most-streamed track to date, and 80% of streams come from Mexican fans. Bad Bunny’s collaboration with Natanael Cano on the 2019 remix of “Soy el Diablo” increased the latter’s streams by 172% in one week after its release. Spanish trap star C. Tangana in “CAMBIA!”—his version of a corrido tumbado—introduced Carin Leon and Adriel Favela to fans in Spain.  

The trend has only deepened, as evidenced by recent releases such as Camilo alongside Grupo Firme on “Alaska,” which performed better than their other songs in countries like Colombia and Chile. There’s also bachata star Romeo Santos duetting with Christian Nodal on “Me Extraño,” which is distinctively popular with Mexican fans. Despite Romeo having similarly sized fanbases in Mexico and America, Mexicans have streamed the song twice as many times as American fans.

Remixing traditions 

Mexican music’s rise in popularity can also be attributed to a new wave of artists who are reinventing their musical traditions and generating sounds that connect with young listeners.

“In Mexico, Christian Nodal and other young artists revolutionized mainstream music by breaking with the conventions of the genre,” says Uriel Waizel, Editor Lead for Spotify in Mexico. “At the same time, a generation of Mexican American artists draw on their own musical roots and dominant cultures, such as hip-hop. The result is an original sound and a narrative that reaffirms the identity of its generation within a multicultural landscape.”

Two genres in particular have captivated Gen Z fans: corridos and sierreño. Some nostalgia animates the resurgence of these genres, but their bucolic flavor has given way to an aesthetic and themes that are closer to urban genres such as hip-hop and reggaeton.

Corridos Tumbados combine guitar requintos with bass-heavy trap beats, which can be heard in songs from Natanael Cano and Junior H. Their more melodic variant, sad sierreño, is represented by acts like Yahritza Y Su Esencia as well as the duet Eslabon Armado, which consists of brothers Pedro and Brian Tovar.  

Grupo Firme also changed the game by mixing banda and norteño style with contemporary rhythms and ditching the traditional sombreros for a unique glam style. The band has achieved cult status for their epic live performances in stadiums across Mexico and the United States and a devotion that reaches K-Pop levels of fandom. 

“The mix of sounds in Grupo Firme’s music has been something very important because many doors have been opened. The stereotypes that Mexican music had have been broken, and fusions have been made with artists from other genres,” says Eduin.

As Mexican music finds ways to connect with new fans across generations and borders, we’ve loved watching its rapid rise across the globe. And through campaigns like “México es imparable. Repordúcelo,” we’ll continue to spotlight the artists and songs who are turning this genre into a global powerhouse.

Discover MEXCLA, the Spotify hub dedicated to Mexican music and its forays into other musical genres, and the playlist that brings together the best fusions.