What happens when music, culture, and immigration laws collide? In this episode, Billboard On The Record sits down with Billboard’s Senior Editor, Latin Griselda Flores to unpack the stories shaking up Latin music today — from Trump’s immigration laws to Coachella’s lack of regional Mexican artists to Bad Bunny’s absence from U.S. stages. Griselda opens up about writing bold, sometimes polarizing pieces and how sharing uncomfortable conversations is changing the industry.
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Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.
Kristin Robinson:
Welcome to On the Record, a new music business podcast with Billboard and SickBird Productions. I’m your host, Kristin Robinson, I’m a senior correspondent here at Billboard. Each week on the show I will be giving you a peek into the conversations I’m having with executives, artists and reporters all day, everyday as part of my job here at Billboard. On today’s show, I am very, very fortunate to be joined by Billboard’s Senior Latin Editor, Griselda Flores, to talk through the impact that Trump’s administration policies have had on Latin musicians, fans and concerts. You might have heard about the recent news that Bad Bunny is not planning to come to the U.S. on his next tour due to fears about potential ICE raids at his shows. This is one of many stories that we’ll talk about here today. As another example, Griselda will be joining us remotely from her hometown of Chicago where just months ago the local Michelada Festival, which featured big acts like Grupo Firme and Anitta on its billing, were cancelled due to uncertainty about artists visas in, quote, a ‘rapidly changing political climate’. All of this has had a sizable impact both culturally and economically on the Latin music business, and as Trump’s second term progresses, it shows no signs of slowing down. So, let’s go ahead and bring in the true expert on the topic. She’s been reporting about it all year, please welcome to the show, Griselda Flores.
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