Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Launches ‘México Canta’ Binational Contest Aimed at Creating Music That Doesn’t Glorify Violence or Drugs

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum is hoping to change the musical narrative…

The 62-year-old Mexican politician, scientist and academic, the 66th president of Mexico a and first woman to hold the office, is hoping to encourage young artists — especially those in the trending genre of corridos tumbados — to create songs that don’t glorify violence or drugs.

Claudia Sheinbaum,This week Sheinbaum announced México Canta, a binational contest aimed at shifting the focus of Mexican music to themes like “love, heartbreak and peace.” 

This is the first initiative launched by the Mexican government to use music as a way to counteract the glorification of violence and the fascination some young people have with joining criminal groups, drawn by the promise of a flashy, luxurious lifestyle — all happening amid the wave of violence affecting certain regions of the country.

“While the contest won’t solve this issue overnight, and we’re not neglecting the underlying causes — for that, there’s a whole national security program — we felt it was important to create creative spaces through culture for Mexican and Mexican-American youth who are passionate about music,” explains Claudia Curiel de Icaza, Mexico’s Secretary of Culture, to Billboard Español.

In her opinion, many young Mexicans see their dreams of breaking into the music industry crushed, because they don’t have instruments or professional recording equipment.

“Organized crime takes advantage of this situation and starts funding musicians,” says the official. “No one hires you if you don’t have a solid music production to stand out. This program aims to provide that professional support.”

The presidential initiative is backed by a segment of the country’s music industry, including major players like Virgin Music Group and Fonovisa/Universal, the Mexican Society of Authors and Composers (SACM), the Mexican Association of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms (AMPROFON), among others.

Registrations will be open at mexicocanta.gob.mx from April 28 to May 30.

The grand finale will take place on October 5 in the Mexican state of Durango.

Who can participate?
All young Mexican and Mexican-American performers between the ages of 18 and 34.

How can you participate?
With songs or performances in genres like mariachi, norteño, banda, corrido, tropical, duranguense, campirano, bolero, among others, as well as fusions with rap, rock, pop, and hip-hop. Participants can perform in indigenous languages, Spanish, or Spanglish, with original songs up to 3 minutes long.

In which cities will participants be selected?
In the U.S.: Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles.
In Mexico: Tijuana, Mexico City, and Oaxaca. 

Where can the contest be followed?
On the Mexican government’s public channels and official social media platforms.

What are the prizes?
Regional winners will receive mentorship from a group of specialists.
For Best Song, the prize is a contract with a national, international, or independent record label.
The Best Performer will be awarded a record deal and the opportunity to record an album.
The winner of the Jury Prize will receive a record deal and the opportunity to record an EP (6 songs).

Banda Carnaval Earns Seventh No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart with “Pude”

Banda Carnaval has finally returned to rule the roost…

After five years away from the summit, Banda Carnaval is back at No. 1 on Billboard’Regional Mexican Airplay chart, as its latest single, “Pude,” climbs from No. 4 for its first week atop on the March 29-dated list.

Banda Carnaval “Pude” leads after a 17% gain in audience impressions, to 6.6 million, on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart, which reflects activity in the U.S. from the March 14-20 tracking week, according to Luminate.

The song, composed by Javier Arturo Rochín and César Augusto Valdivia, was released on November 15 on Andaluz/Disa/UMLE. It rules in its 10th week on the list, following a No. 28 debut on the January 25-dated tally.

“First of, grateful to God, and second, thankful with our audience for making this happen, our seventh No. 1 on the most important music ranking of the world, Billboard,” Rafael Becerra Valdez, vocalist, tells Billboard.

The new champ adds to the band’s No. 1 ledger on Regional Mexican Airplay, now with seven champs. which also marks the group’s first No. 1 in over five years, since “Esta Vez Soy Yo” crowned for four consecutive weeks in 2020.

Here’s a review of Banda Carnaval’s chart-toppers on Regional Mexican Airplay:

Title, Weeks At No. 1, Peak Date
“Y Te Vas,” five, June 8, 2013
“La Historia De Mis Manos,” five, Sept.13, 2014
“Te Cambio El Domicilio,” two, Dec. 12, 2015
“Ella Es Mi Mujer,” one, July 29, 2017
“Como No Adorarla,” three, Dec. 9, 2017
“Esta Vez Soy Yo,” four, Jan. 25, 2020
“Pude,” March 29

“We will continue with a positive mindset and focused on achieving great things, hand in hand with our audience and our company Andaluz Music, and Disa/Universal,” Becerra adds. “Thank you so much! It’s a shared achievement.”

Radio gains also help Banda Carnaval return to the overall Latin Airplay chart’s top 10, as “Pude” rallies 13-6, the band’s highest-charting entry since the No. 2-peaking “Esta Vez Soy Yo,” in February 2020.

Arianna Rivas to Star in Blumhouse/Universal’s Sequel “Black Phone 2”

Arianna Rivas is on the line for a scary sequel…

The Latina actress has joined the cast of Scott Derrickson’s Blumhouse/Universal sequel Black Phone 2.

Arianna RivasRivas joins the original film’s ensemble of 4x Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies and Miguel Mora, with new addition Oscar nominee Demián Bichir.

Black Phone 2 was written by Cargill and Derrickson, who are also producing the film with Blumhouse’s Jason Blum. Universal and Blumhouse are producing with Crooked Highway Production.

The film is scheduled to open on October 17, 2025.

The first movie, which grossed over $161M worldwide, and was certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, follows a young boy who is abducted by a neighborhood killer, the Grabber (Hawke). Locked in the Grabber’s basement, the boy begins receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the killer’s victims.

Rivas recently wrapped filming her first lead role in the Amazon/MGM film Levon’s Trade, opposite Jason Statham. Produced by Black Bear and Bill Block, the film is directed by David Ayer and has a script adapted by Sylvester Stallone, with revisions by Ayer, based on comic author Chuck Dixon’s first novel in the Levon series. Levon’s Trade follows Levon Cade (Statham) who has left his “profession” behind to go “straight” and work in construction. He wants to live a simple life and be a good father to his daughter. But when his boss’ teenage daughter vanishes, he’s called upon to re-employ the skills that made him a legendary figure in the shadowy world of black ops.

Rivas also has a supporting role in the Hulu comedy feature Prom Dates directed by Kim Nguyen and produced by American High.

Peacock to Exclusively Stream Melissa Barrera-Starrer “Abigail” in Mid-July

Melissa Barrera will be vamping it up on Peacock in the near future…

Peacock has announced plans to begin exclusively streaming the vampire horror comedy Abigail, starring the 34-year-old Mexican actress and singer, beginning July 19.

Melissa BarreraNotching a worldwide gross of over $42 million upon its release in theaters in April, Abigail watches as a heist team is hired by a mysterious fixer to kidnap the daughter of a powerful underworld figure. They must guard the 12-year-old ballerina for one night to net a $50 million ransom. But as the captors start to dwindle one by one, they discover to their mounting terror that they’re locked inside an isolated mansion with no ordinary little girl.

Written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick, the film putting a twist on Universal’s monster film lineage stars Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Will Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Alisha Weir and Giancarlo Esposito.

William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein, Tripp Vinson and Chad Villella produced the film, with Ron Lynch serving as executive producer.

Wagner Moura’s “Civil War” Remains No. 1 Movie in America for Second Weekend

Wagner Moura is stilling winning the war at the U.S. box office…

The 47-year-old’s Brazilian actor, director and filmmaker’s latest film, Civil War, is No. 1 at the box office for a second week in a row, fending off three new releases to retain the top spot on North American charts.

Wagner Moura, Civil WarAlex Garland’s film, starring Moura and Kirsten Dunst as a journalist and photojournalist who traverse a violently divided United States, added $11.12 million in its second weekend of release.

It has earned $44.8 million in its two weeks on the big screen and already stands as one of A24’s top five highest-grossing movies of all time. With a $50 million price tag, it’s also the indie distributor’s most expensive film to date.

Wagner Moura, Civil WarThough it was a close race, Civil War charged ahead of a trio of newcomers — Universal’s vampire horror film Abigail, director Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and Sony and Crunchyroll’s anime adventure Spy x Family Code: White.

First Trailer Released for “Twisters,” Starring Antony Ramos

Antony Ramos is getting things twisted

The first trailer for Universal‘s Twisters, starring the 32-year-old Puerto Rican actor/singer, has been released.

Twisters, Antony RamosGlen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Ramos star in the new chapter to the 1996 box office hit. Lee Isaac Chung directs the film from a script by Mark L. Smith. The film is co-financed by Warner Bros.

The supporting cast includes Kiernan Shipka, David Corenswet, Daryl McCormack, Sasha Lane, Maura Tierney and Katy O’Brian.

Starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, the original Twister was a massive hit in 1996, scoring almost $500M at the worldwide box office, due in no small part to the film’s groundbreaking special effects.

The film followed a pair of storm chasers who risk their lives in an attempt to test an experimental weather alert system. The film was helmed by Speed director Jan De Bont and executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by author Michael Crichton.

Plot details have been kept under wraps on the big-budget sequel, which began filming around Oklahoma City in May 2023. Filming was suspended in July due to the SAG-AFTRA strike but production resumed in November 2023, wrapping the following month.

The film is scheduled to be released in the U.S. by Universal and internationally by Warner Bros in July 2024.

Season Two of George Lopez’s NBC Series, “Lopez vs. Lopez,” To Premiere in April

George Lopez is pulling a television double

NBC is set to premiere the second season of the 62-year-old Mexican American comedian/actor’s Lopez vs. Lopez  on Tuesday, April 2 with back-to-back episodes at 8:00 and 8:30 pm and continue in those timeslots going forward.

George Lopez, Mayan Lopez, Lopez vs. LopezLopez vs. Lopez, which hails from creator/showrunner Debby Wolfe, is a working-class family comedy about dysfunction, reconnection and all the pain and joy in between. Starring Lopez and his daughter Mayan Lopez, the comedy tells the story of a working-class old-school Latino who moves in with his modern Gen Z daughter as they rebuild their dysfunctional relationship one argument at a time.

It also stars Selenis Leyva, Brice Gonzalez, Matt Shively and Al Madrigal.

Season 2 guests include Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Diana Maria Riva and Marshawn Lynch.

Creator/showrunner Wolfe executive produces with Bruce Helford, George Lopez, Michael Rotenberg and Katie Newman.

Lopez vs Lopez is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Mohawk Productions, Travieso Productions, Mi Vida Loba and 3 Arts.

Iglesias will portray Iggy, George’s fun-loving, jort-wearing, oversharing AA sponsor. When George and Mayan struggle with George’s sobriety, Iggy is there to offer sage advice and big warm hugs.

Riva as Ola, a tough negotiator known for selling the best knock-off TVs at the local swap meet. She isn’t afraid to tell anyone adios, especially her long-standing rival, George Lopez. Who will win the battle of discount electronics?

Miguel Cazarez Mora to Star in “The Black Phone” Sequel

Miguel CazaMora has answered the call…

The Mexican American actor will star in the Black Phone 2the sequel to the hit 2022 BlumhouseCrooked Highway ProductionUniversal horror film. A theatrical release is set for June 27, 2025.

Miguel Cazarez MoraIn addition to Mora, who in his Hollywood debut starred as Robin in The Black Phone, will be joined by Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw and Jeremy Davies are set to return.

The first film, directed by Scott Derrickson and co-written by Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill racked up over $161M worldwide, becoming a sleeper hit in a rebounding summer last year from the Covid-19 pandemic. The film also made Deadline’s list of most profitable movies last year with an estimated net of $68M.

The duo are back penning Black Phone 2 and are producing with Blumhouse’s Jason Blum.

In the first movie, a 13-year old boy, who is abducted by a child killer in a suburban neighborhood and locked in a soundproof basement, begins to receive calls on a disconnected phone from the killer’s previous victims. Derrickson and frequent collaborator Cargill adapted from Joe Hill’s short story. Hill is an executive producer on the sequel.

Black Phone received high marks on Rotten Tomatoes with an 81% certified fresh critics score and 88% with audiences.

Rachel Zegler’s “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” Wins U.S. Box Office Crown in Debut Weekend

Rachel Zegler is enjoying box office gold…

The 22-year-old half-Colombian American Golden Globe-winning starlet’s The Hunger Games” prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes emerged victorious in a busy box office weekend.

Rachel Zegler, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,The Lionsgate film, which brings audiences back to the dystopia of Panem for the first time in nearly a decade, collected $44 million from 3,776 North American theaters and $98 million globally in its first weekend of release.

While initial ticket sales didn’t recapture the spark of the original franchise, which propelled Jennifer Lawrence to global stardom and inspired three sequels, they were enough to win the weekend over three fellow newcomers, Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s threequel Trolls Band Together, Sony’s gory thriller Thanksgiving and director Taika Waititi’s sports comedy Next Goal Wins.

Although The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes opened significantly lower than its predecessors — each of the four Hunger Games installments launched to at least $100 million at the domestic box office — analysts believe the film is well positioned in its theatrical run. It cost $100 million to produce, more than the first Hunger Games but substantially less than the three sequels (with the final 2015 adventure costing $160 million).

“This is a very good opening for an action-adventure prequel,” says David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. “On average, prequels start with approximately half of the previous film’s opening, and this weekend’s figure is close to that.”

Zegler and The Gilded Age actor Tom Blyth star in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, based on the 2020 novel by author Suzanne Collins. It’s a standalone film in the $3 billion Hunger Games franchise, which takes place six decades before Katniss Everdeen bravely volunteered as tribute.

The story centers on a young Coriolanus Snow, who later becomes the tyrannical president of the dystopian Panem, as well as District 12 tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, whom he mentors in the 10th annual Hunger Games. Reviews have been mixed, with 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and a “B+” CinemaScore. Audiences were mostly young women; 65% were female and 73% were between the ages of 18-34.

It likely benefitted from a late-breaking boost in publicity (SAG-AFTRA granted the film an interim agreement days before the strike ended on November 9), which allowed the cast — including Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage and Euphoria star Hunter Schafer — the opportunity to promote the film before it arrived in theaters.

Peacock to Premiere Anya Taylor-Joy’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” in August

Anya Taylor-Joy will be bringing peachy vibes to Peacock later this summer.

The streamer will premiere The Super Mario Bros. Movie, starring the 27-year-old Argentine American Golden Globe-winning actress as Princess Peach, on August 3rd.

Anya Taylor-Joy, Princess Peach, Super Mario Bros MovieFollowing a hugely successful run in theaters, the Universal and Illumination film will stream exclusively on the platform.

It will be joined on the streamer by behind-the-scenes cast interviews, as well as an immersive “Field Guide” expanding the film through bonus features, and a lyric video for a song sung by Princess Peach (Taylor-Joy).

The highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time, as well as the third-highest grossing animated film in history, and the top-grossing title of the year to date, The Super Mario Bros. Movie racked up over $1.3B upon its April debut in theaters, also scoring $75M+ on PVOD as of early last month, as Universal disclosed to the New York Times.

The film based on Shigeru Miyamoto’s beloved Nintendo games tells the story of two Brooklyn plumbers who are brothers and best friends: Mario (Chris Pratt), the brave one with the “let’s-a go” attitude, and the perpetually anxious Luigi (Charlie Day), who would prefer to go nowhere. We open with the Super Mario Brothers reckoning with their struggling plumbing business, and wind up in a whirlwind adventure through Mushroom Kingdom. Through their journey, we meet a cast of familiar, lovable characters, ultimately uniting together to defeat the power-hungry villain, Bowser (Jack Black).

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, from a script by Matthew Fogel, the film also stars Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, Sebastian Maniscalco, Kevin Michael Richardson, Khary Payton and Charles Martinet. Illumination’s Chris Meledandri produced alongside Miyamoto.