Esaú Ortiz, one of Billboard’s Latin Artists to Watch in 2026 and two-time Premio Lo Nuestro nominee, kicks off the year with an exciting initiative designed for content creators, Billboard can exclusively reveal Tuesday (Feb. 3).
The Retro Bélico Influencer Program — named after the subgenre Ortiz pioneered, which came to him when he was listening to disco music at a party – is a content creation boot camp focused to “accelerate the growth of music commentary content on social media and empower creators with innovative creative tools. It also seeks to deepen the creative narratives of Mexican-American culture, with special emphasis on his sophomore studio album, Discontrol,” according to a press statement.
Released in October, Discontrol showcase’s Ortiz’s more nuanced approach to regional Mexican music, where he fuses disco, rap, cumbia, pop and ballads powered by Mexican music instruments.
The 14-track set is also home to his viral hit “Triple Lavada,” which includes a remix featuring Luis R. Conriquez, Alemán, Óscar Maydon and Victor Mendivil that earned Ortiz his first top 10 on any Billboard chart when it peaked at No. 9 on the Hot Latin Songs chart last year. The star-power collab also peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart and at No. 17 on the Billboard Global 200 chart.
Now, with his new initiative in partnership with Homegrown Mafia, content creators will have the freedom to develop their own narrative concepts around any of the tracks from Discontrol. Participants will also receive exclusive early access to new music, a Retro Bélico creative kit, workshops with industry professionals, access to Sony Music Latin and Homegrown Mafia events and a monetary stipend.
Under his Retro Bélico Influencer Program — which will officially begin Feb. 25 and run for six weeks — the Monterrey-born artist hopes to give participants a firsthand look at the music industry, offering networking opportunities and potential partnerships.
Applications are now open for Mexican content creators in the U.S. or U.S. creators of Mexican descent until Feb. 13. Click here for more information.
