Between censorship and business: the industry of narcocorrido and the new Mexican regional music

Abstract

This text offers a study about different positions and media reactions around the growing popularity of drug traffic and violence music. The so called narcocorrido, with roots in the musical cultures of the border region between Mexico and the United States, becomes a evidence of the violence associated with criminal activities. But, taking advantage of its contents with lucrative opportunity, get inserted into the transnational record industry regardless of censorship and accusations of conservative moral and other ethical discourses. Findings presented here precedes examination of newspaper articles and interviews with promoters and musicians of regional music bands. Retaking the postulates of Howard S. Becker, the musical production of narcocorrido will be characterized as an Art world, an activity subject to conventions into logical marketing and distribution spaces where its use and enjoyment passes over any prohibition based in social control mechanisms. The authorities however much they try, they face a problem cannot be resolved in any way: narcocorridos are the visible and glamorous part of a more complex political, social and transnational economic dynamics.