Beam Global’s Hornitos Premium Tequila is giving up-and-coming bands a chance at stardom via the new Hornitos Tequila Mariachi Mash Up competition with official media partner Billboard Magazine. Whether it’s rock, hip-hop or classical, the national contest challenges musical acts of all types to create their own mariachi-inspired mash up in celebration of the official kick-off to tequila season.

Started on April 25, on Hornitos’ official Facebook page, the Mariachi Mash Up competition is encouraging US bands to submit a three minute video incorporating traditional mariachi elements (trumpets, violins or even guitarrons) into a well-known song in order to create a memorable musical mix-up.  Entrants will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges, including Billboard Editor Tye Comer and a tequila expert from Hornitos.

Entrants can select from five well-known songs (list can be found on the Hornitos Facebook page) and have some fun performing their own ‘Mariachi style’ interpretation. The top band will be featured in Billboard Magazine’s coveted ‘Backbeat’ section in a June 2011 issue and will receive a $10,000 cash prize (contest winners will be announced on June 6).

«The Hornitos Mariachi Mash Up Competition is the perfect way to kick off tequila season this year,» says Amy Weisenbach, Senior Director of Tequila, Beam Global Spirits & Wine. «We love the creativity of mash ups and their fresh approach to music, and so Mariachi Mash Up is our unique way of paying homage to a music style that embraces the spirit of tequila. We are excited to give bands a chance to go ‘Horns Up’ in celebration of their win and tequila’s biggest time of the year.»