
Tejano Tension
From Anything For Selena by WBUR & Futuro Studios
February 2, 2021 · 39 min · Episode 5
About this episode
The episode explores the rise and fall of Tejano music, particularly after Selena's death, highlighting issues of immigration and cultural tensions.
Selena is often called the "Queen of Tejano music." In the 1990s, she brought this underdog genre to international heights. Tejano award shows were glitzy affairs and Tejano radio DJs were like rock stars in Texas and the Southwest. Even the New York Times called it the fastest-growing Latino genre in the country. But when Selena died, Tejano went from boom to bust. The story of Tejano's decline isn't so simple, though. Maria discovers that it's a story of immigration, money and how two often-ignored groups were pitted against each other.
Topics covered
- Tejano music
- Selena
- music industry
- immigration
- cultural decline
Keywords
- Tejano music
- Selena
- music industry
- cultural decline
- immigration
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: New York Times, Tejano
More episodes of Anything For Selena
- Introducing Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York (hosted by Rosie Perez) · June 3, 2026 · 39 min
- Introducing – La Brega: Season Three · February 11, 2026 · 36 min
- Bonus: Host Maria Garcia and artist Maya Murillio celebrate Selena [LIVE in LA] · May 9, 2025 · 40 min
- BONUS: Selena and Chris · March 5, 2021 · 45 min
- BONUS: Anything for Selena Live! · March 4, 2021 · 45 min
- Selena and Us · March 2, 2021 · 35 min
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