Netón Vega, Codiciado & More Talk About ‘Stirring the Waters’ in Regional Mexican Music Panel at 2025 Latin Music Week

During the third day of activities at 2025 Billboard Latin Music Week, the new stars of regional Mexican music discussed the changes the genre is experiencing as it captures global attention. During the panel “The Future of Regional Mexican Music,” presented by Walmart and moderated by Isabela Raygoza of Billboard Español, five of the talents revolutionizing the genre came together: Xavi, Netón Vega, Estevie, Oscar Maydón and Codiciado.

Fusions have been one of the main factors driving the shift in sounds for the new generation. Netón Vega — who gained recognition as a composer of corridos tumbados — has experimented with trap and reggaetón, releasing his album Mi Vida Mi Muerte this year, which is nominated for eight Billboard Latin Music Awards. “The lyrics can be about romantic themes, like in my case, but the sounds of a song with charcheta are very different from those of an urban sound. That’s where creativity comes in, knowing how to use the voice and experiment with the rhythms,” explained the artist, who was born in La Paz, Baja California Sur.

Maydon, who rose to fame through his collaborations with Peso Pluma, Natanael Cano, Junior H, and Fuerza Regida, is also part of the corridos tumbados wave. Like his peers, he has had to adapt his music due to restrictions placed on the genre in some Mexican states. “We, as the new generation, grew up listening to things like trap. Before, with singers like Vicente Fernández, everything was different,” he said. “But now we can collaborate with anyone. In corridos, you have to be a bit more careful about how you say things, whereas in reggaetón and urban music, for example, you can be more open.”

The new faces of Mexican music have also grown up in the U.S., though they carry in their veins the heritage of the country in which their parents were born, inheriting those traditions and musical tastes. That is the case for Estevie, who is making waves with her unique style of performing danceable music. “In 2021, I listened to ‘Ay Papasito’ by Alicia Villreal and realized there wasn’t music like that, but with more modern beats, and that’s when I created my first cumbia called ‘Canela,’” she explained about the path she chose for her career.

For his part, Xavi, born in Phoenix and known for revolutionizing social media with his hit “La Diabla,” shared his formula for writing successful songs: “The most important thing is to reflect what comes from the heart; the message you convey through your music is what makes you connect with people,” said the artist, who has caught the attention of major stars like Grupo Frontera and, more recently, Manuel Turizo, for collaborations.

The most experienced participant on the panel, Codiciado — part of the generation that emerged in Tijuana during the pandemic that predates the corridos tumbados movement — shared valuable advice with his peers. “You must always believe in yourself. If you fall, you get back up,” said the artist, who is about to release his first album in three years. “A career is built by being genuine and working hard every day. The most important thing is to find what you can contribute to music and the industry. We can ride the waves and do well, but there’s nothing like stirring the waters.”

With over 30 years of history, Latin Music Week is the most important and largest gathering of Latin artists and industry executives worldwide. The event also coincides with the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to air on Thursday (Oct. 23) on Telemundo and Peacock, where Bad Bunny will be honored as Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century.