When the Billboard Global 200 launched in September 2020, a wide swath of international territories across six continents was represented among the world’s biggest songs, led by the United States with 138 artist credits in that first week.
But traveling just south of the border, Mexican artists were notably absent. In fact, no artists from Mexico appeared for the chart’s first 33 editions, until Gera Mx and Christian Nodal debuted in May 2021 with “Botella Tras Botella.” On the April 29-dated survey, that sparse global representation has ballooned to 8% of the entire ranking, lagging behind only the U.S. (46%) and England (11%).
Among Spanish-speaking territories, Mexico is now, thus, the leader, having passed Puerto Rico and Colombia, which had functioned as generators of reggaeton’s biggest acts, including Bad Bunny, Feid and Karol G.
But Mexico’s recent surge is not due to a new wave of native reggaeton stars, although young acts such as Yng Lvcas and Peso Pluma are finding success with “La Bebe,” at No. 3 on this week’s Global 200. More generally, regional Mexican has soared in popularity as a genre, focused on traditional folk styles from rural Mexico and the southwestern U.S., helped along by some more modern pop and rhythmic flourishes, as well as exposure on TikTok and, surely, the increasing Hispanic population in the U.S.
The genre’s quick dash to the head of the pack includes some American acts, in addition to the many Mexican artists that have debuted this year. Grupo Frontera, from the Texas valley, score the week’s highest new Global 200 entry, teaming up with Puerto Rico’s Bad Bunny on “Un x100to.” The track starts at No. 5, becoming the group’s first top 10.
While Bad Bunny’s global superstardom can’t be removed from the equation of the song’s success, it’s noteworthy that he has joined them on a traditional regional Mexican track, rather than the group bending to his proven successful urbana style. Further down the chart, Latin pop act Becky G makes a similar move, joining Peso Pluma on “Chanel,” zooming from No. 141 to No. 85.
Meanwhile, California’s Eslabon Armado and Gudalajara’s Peso Pluma climb from No. 3 to No. 1 on the Global 200 with “Ella Baila Sola.”
Further cementing Mexico’s position of authority among Latin America, Peso Pluma becomes the country’s first act to top the tally, joining a slew of Latin acts who did so previously, including Puerto Rico’s Bad Bunny, Argentina’s Bizarrap and Colombia’s Shakira.
In all, Peso Pluma has nine songs on this week’s Global 200, trailing only Taylor Swift (10). That includes two debuts, at No. 123 with “Igualito A Mi Apa,” alongside Fuerza Regida, and No. 127 with “El Tsurito,” joined by Junior H and Gabito Ballesteros.
Peso Pluma’s huge haul is supported by Grupo Frontera (five entries of its own), and, with three songs each, Fuerza Regida, Junior H, Natanael Cano. With an extended supporting cast, regional Mexican artists put their stamp on 18 songs on the chart this week. Of those, three are debuts and 10 are on the rise, indicating there could be more on the way in the coming months.
