Luis R. Conriquez, one of the most popular singers of corridos bélicos — songs often associated with glorifying drug cartels and violence — is making changes to his music after a chaotic concert in Mexico.
On Friday (April 11), Conriquez performed at the Feria del Caballo in Texcoco, State of Mexico, but things didn’t go as planned. Due to new government rules banning songs that promote violence in certain areas, Conriquez decided to leave narcocorridos out of his setlist. The result? Angry fans, booing, fights, and even destroyed property at the venue.
In a statement shared on his social media accounts the next day, Conriquez expressed regret over what happened and announced that he’ll be making significant changes to his lyrics moving forward.
“My fans are the most important thing to me — I owe them everything. But as an artist, I must follow the new rules the government has set regarding corridos,” he said.
He also asked his audience to understand his decision, saying he’ll continue focusing on his passion for music despite these challenges.
Conriquez’s show took a turn for the worse during his performance at the palenque — a smaller, intimate venue typically seen at fairs. When Conriquez told the crowd there wouldn’t be any narcocorridos that night, people started booing and shouting. Videos posted on social media show fans growing more upset as he tried to explain the decision. Eventually, Conriquez decided to leave the stage, which led to chairs and objects being thrown in frustration.
The ban on songs that glorify violence was introduced on April 9 in Texcoco and two other municipalities in the State of Mexico — Metepec and Tejupilco. The new rule applies to fairs and mass events, with penalties of up to six months in jail for violations. The State of Mexico’s Security Department doubled down on this policy in a statement released Saturday, urging local authorities to enforce the prohibition of such songs at public events.
This crackdown on narcocorridos isn’t limited to the State of Mexico. Other parts of the country are implementing similar measures, especially after a major controversy in March when the University of Guadalajara hosted a concert where images of a well-known drug lord were projected on stage. That incident led to the U.S. revoking the visas of the band involved, Los Alegres del Barranco. On April 11, the government of Jalisco proposed a new law allowing municipalities to regulate or ban songs that glorify violence at public or private events.
Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has been pushing for a cultural shift in music. This week, the government’s Culture Department announced a binational contest called “México Canta,” which aims to encourage young artists — especially those making corridos tumbados, a trendy subgenre — to create songs without promoting violence or drug-related themes. The initiative comes as Mexico grapples with rising violence in certain areas.
For Conriquez, this new reality means adapting his music to comply with these rules, even if it upsets some of his fans. As he put it in his statement: “The unfortunate events last night put at risk not only the safety and lives of the audience, but also the integrity of my team and myself.” Despite the backlash, he says he’s determined to keep making music — just with a different approach.