Mexico City — President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced the launch of “Mexico Sings for Peace and Against Addiction”, a binational contest for young singers and composers aged 18 to 34 from both Mexico and the United States. The initiative seeks to promote a musical narrative free from violence and drug use, while boosting the creative music industry on both sides of the border.
Registrations will be open from April 28 to May 30 through www.mexicocanta.gob.mx, and the grand finale will take place on October 5 in Durango. Participants can compete in a wide range of genres, including mariachi, norteño, banda, tropical, corrido, bolero, rap, pop, rock, hip hop, as well as original-language and Spanglish compositions. Regional rounds will be held in Mexico and major U.S. cities like Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles.
During her morning press conference, Sheinbaum stressed that the contest not only aims to discover new talent, but also to combat the glorification of crime through art. As part of the Mexico Plan, it seeks to attract a portion of the U.S. creative industry to Mexico, generate jobs, and uplift local talent. “The false notion that joining a criminal group is a life path—it’s not. It’s a path to death,” she stated firmly.
Secretary of Culture Claudia Curiel de Icaza explained that this contest is the result of a historic partnership between the government and the private sector, with the participation of the Mexican Music Council. In the first phase, 365 semifinalists will be chosen to compete in public showcases and national broadcasts. Semifinals will take place in six cities across both countries, with winners selected by a professional jury and public vote.
The project has received strong support from prominent figures in the music industry. Artists like América Sierra, Horacio Palencia, Jesse Martínez, Regina Orozco, and representatives from Universal Music, AMPROFON, and the Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico highlighted the importance of this platform in supporting young talent and fostering cultural content with values. The contest represents a meaningful step in addressing the roots of violence through artistic expression.
