At the Billboard Women in Music ceremony last month in Los Angeles, honoree Angela Aguilar took a moment to express her solidarity with the Latinx immigrant community, dedicating her Breakthrough Award to the women who cross the border to the United States “with nothing but hope in their hearts, only to find themselves living in uncertainty and fear,” she said in an emotional speech that earned her a standing ovation. “You deserve safety, dignity, and the right to dream.” Aguilar is part of a growing group of Latinx artists – including Shakira, Maná, and Alejandro Fernández – who are using their platforms to speak out in support of immigrants after Donald Trump assumed the presidency in January and immediately launched an aggressive offensive against immigration, promising to carry out mass deportations.
But it was perhaps regional Mexican music artist Tony Aguirre who addressed the situation most directly. “I’m afraid that no one will come to my concerts,” he said in an interview with a Mexican podcaster when asked how things were going with Trump as president. Aguirre tells Billboard that he is truly concerned. “Regional Mexican events have been affected, not just my concerts but those of several colleagues,” he says. “When all this started, we would talk to each other to see how it went because, honestly, people weren’t going to the shows. People are afraid to go out on the streets right now because of what’s happening with the threats of mass deportations, and that’s why I decided to speak out about it. And it’s like no one in the music industry has dared to talk about it or bring up the issue as it is. But I do think it’s important that we talk about it.”
While the effects of Trump’s policies on Latin music are still to be seen on a large scale, there is a real concern about the impact. In California, Abel DeLuna, a member of the veteran Mexican music association Promotores Unidos and founder of Luna Management, is once again dealing with a situation that has historically affected regional Mexican music dances, small but powerful shows (and for many years the backbone of the genre) that are predominantly held in nightclubs aimed at a specific audience and organized by independent promoters. In 2007, Billboard’s Leila Cobo interviewed DeLuna about the “crackdown” on immigration laws under the George W. Bush administration, and he said at the time that the immigration situation alone represented a 20%-25% drop in his concert promotion business. He experienced the same scenario 18 years later when Trump assumed the presidency for the second time earlier this year, with the fourth week of his presidency being particularly brutal.
DeLuna is not alone in his concerns. Many other promoters and artists in the regional Mexican music industry are also feeling the effects of Trump’s policies. In addition to the fear and uncertainty among immigrant communities, there is also the issue of potential travel restrictions and visa denials for artists coming from Mexico and other Latin American countries. This could greatly impact the ability of these artists to tour and perform in the United States, a key market for their music.
The impact is not limited to just the music industry. The Latinx community as a whole is feeling the effects of Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies. In addition to the fear of deportation, there is also the fear of family separation and the uncertainty of the future. This has led to a decrease in attendance at events and concerts, as well as a decrease in overall spending within the community.
But despite these challenges, Latinx artists and promoters are not staying silent. They are using their platforms to speak out against the injustices and to show their support for the immigrant community. In addition to Aguilar and Aguirre, other artists such as J Balvin, Residente, and Los Tigres del Norte have also spoken out against Trump’s policies and shown their support for immigrants.
In the face of adversity, the Latinx community is coming together and standing strong. They are using their voices and their music to send a message of unity and resilience. And while the future may be uncertain, one thing is clear – the Latinx community will not be silenced and will continue to fight for their rights and the rights of all immigrants. As Aguilar said in her acceptance speech, “We are all one, and we will continue to fight for a better future for all.