Local Musicians Encouraged to Enter
Musicians, turn your amps to 11 and set your mixers to stun; Visit Las Cruces wants to hear you turn your Las Cruces moments into a melody.
Write and perform an original anthem for Las Cruces, become a local legend, and win $1,000! Your song will also be featured in Visit Las Cruces’ commercials, campaigns, and other promotional materials.
NMCO Studio, routinely contracted by Visit Las Cruces for commercial video productions, proposed the first-of-its-kind contest to connect with the community and to give musicians a unique opportunity.
“Visit Las Cruces and NMCO Studio are constantly working together to produce videos and other promotional materials that highlight our city’s diverse culture, vibrant history, amazing food, and many other sought-after attractions, and it would be ideal to have a song just as vibrant to go along with these marketing assets,” said Visit Las Cruces Director Rochelle Miller-Hernandez. “With the support and creativity of NMCO Studio, this will soon become a reality.”
Christina Ballew, Chief Creative Officer of NMCO Studio, said, “It just felt like a lot of the stock music that was available to us was uninspired and didn’t quite articulate the feel of this area. We know that we have a very talented hub of artists. Let’s give our musicians a bit of spotlight too!”
The contest is open to all musicians, in or outside the city. Submissions need not be production quality or professionally mastered; the chosen song will then be mastered for commercial use. Musicians are encouraged to record themselves in the writing and production process and share their behind-the-scenes song development using the hashtag #VLClovesong or tagging Visit Las Cruces on Facebook and Instagram.
NMCO Studio Creative Director Katrina Chandler added, “This is a great opportunity for our community to showcase their talents and express their love for Las Cruces creatively. I am looking forward to hearing what they come up with and being able to support local artists.”
Lorena Lozano, Director of Marketing for Visit Las Cruces said, “Visitors tell us how much they love Las Cruces – specifically the friendliness of the people, stunning landscapes, warm and welcoming culture, and delicious food. We are excited to have a local talent capture the love our residents and visitors have for our city into a single song, and eager to use it to promote Las Cruces throughout the region.”
Recently voted one of the Nicest Cities in the U.S., this southwest destination welcomes visitors from all over the world with its clear blue skies and monumental Organ Mountains. Located in southern New Mexico, Las Cruces is home to a multicultural and diverse community with strong bonds to its vibrant Hispanic/Latinx heritage and culture.
The city is home to New Mexico State University, is the second largest in the state, and is in a region with deep ties to agriculture, boasting world-famous chile and a long and rich history of wine and pecan production. With 320 annual days of sunshine, Las Cruces weather is ideal for an abundance of outdoor recreation, year-round festival celebrations, and the downtown Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market, which spans across seven city blocks year-round.
Musicians can submit their MP3 or MP4 and written lyrics online. The contest ends on March 31, 2023. For details, rules, and how to submit, go to www.NMCOstudio.com/lovesonglc.
Nestled in southern New Mexico's Mesilla Valley between the Rio Grande and Organ Mountains, Las Cruces is the state’s second-largest city with a population of more than 100,000 – encompassed by thriving retirement, student and family living. Las Cruces is nationally recognized for its diverse landscapes, agricultural industry, affordability, hospitality, farmers market, food and more. It offers convenient access to White Sands National Park and multiple national monuments and state parks and has close connections to space tourism as the gateway Spaceport America.