Songwriter Edgar Barrera Wants Música Mexicana Stars to Get Their Due

The Grammy-nominated lyricist has been instrumental in shaping the sound of the genre, working with top acts like Grupo Frontera and Peso Pluma.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Edgar Barrera, a Grammy-nominated songwriter, has been instrumental in shaping the sound of música Mexicana in recent years, working closely with some of the biggest acts in the genre, including Grupo Frontera, Peso Pluma, Neton Vega, and Fuerza Regida. Despite his success, with 84 career Latin Grammy nominations and 29 wins, Barrera believes songwriters must be respected for their artistic contributions and is working to open doors for future generations.

Why it matters

Barrera's story highlights the growing influence and popularity of música Mexicana, a genre that has seen a resurgence in recent years. His work as a songwriter and producer has helped launch the careers of several artists, and his nomination for Songwriter of the Year at the Grammy Awards is a significant milestone for Spanish-language composers.

The details

Barrera, who was raised between Roma, Texas, and Miguel Alemán, Mexico, has worked with a wide range of artists, from Latin music superstars like Bad Bunny, Karol G, and Shakira to English-language giants like Ariana Grande and Madonna. He has been nominated for Songwriter of the Year at the Grammy Awards for three consecutive years, making him the only Spanish-language composer to be recognized in this category.

  • Barrera recently learned that his song "7-3" with Peso Pluma and Tito Double P had cracked into Spotify's Top Global 50 chart.
  • Barrera is scheduled to have writing sessions in Monterrey for Fuerza Regida's new album, followed by sessions for Carin León's new album, and then he will head to Los Angeles for Grammy Week.

The players

Edgar Barrera

A Grammy-nominated songwriter who has been instrumental in shaping the sound of música Mexicana, working closely with some of the biggest acts in the genre.

Grupo Frontera

A música Mexicana group that Barrera has worked closely with and who have referred to him as their "Rick Rubin".

Peso Pluma

A música Mexicana artist that Barrera has collaborated with, including on the song "7-3" which recently cracked the Spotify Top Global 50 chart.

Carlos Santana

A legendary musician that Barrera has collaborated with, including a recent performance together at the Latin Grammys.

Borderkid Records

Barrera's own record label, where he aims to support and educate up-and-coming artists rather than signing them in a traditional way.

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What they’re saying

“It's important for stuff like this to happen because I'm opening the door for future generations. I come from a small town where songwriting is not even considered (a career). When I would tell my friends I wanted to become a songwriter, they were like, "Do they even pay songwriters?" There's a lot of misinformation out there.”

— Edgar Barrera, Songwriter (theday.com)

“I remember when we did the song "Un X100to" with Bad Bunny (and Grupo Frontera), that was the first time that a song was No. 1 all over the place. People would tell me, "You guys are creating something special." (But) that's been our Norteño sound for like 40-50 years now. We're not reinventing the wheel.”

— Edgar Barrera, Songwriter (theday.com)

“With Grupo Frontera, they're one of the few artists that is super fair in the game — if they don't write their song, they don't get any publishing on that. For songwriters, it's important for you to find that artist that respects you. Because they have a lot of respect for me and that's something that I appreciate a lot and the reason why they're my No. 1 priority.”

— Edgar Barrera, Songwriter (theday.com)

What’s next

Barrera is scheduled to have writing sessions in Monterrey for Fuerza Regida's new album, followed by sessions for Carin León's new album, and then he will head to Los Angeles for Grammy Week.

The takeaway

Barrera's story highlights the growing influence and popularity of música Mexicana, and his work as a songwriter and producer has helped launch the careers of several artists. His nomination for Songwriter of the Year at the Grammy Awards is a significant milestone for Spanish-language composers, and he is working to open doors for future generations of songwriters.