{"id":43998,"date":"2025-08-15T21:25:30","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T21:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/15\/colossal-announces-the-2025-winner-of-americas-next-top-hitmaker\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T21:25:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T21:25:30","slug":"colossal-announces-the-2025-winner-of-americas-next-top-hitmaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/15\/colossal-announces-the-2025-winner-of-americas-next-top-hitmaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Colossal Announces the 2025 Winner of America&#8217;s Next Top Hitmaker"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tColossal, the powerhouse behind some of the nation\u2019s most compelling fundraising campaigns, is proud to announce the 2025 America\u2019s Next Top Hitmaker champion: <strong>Mars Rodriguez<\/strong>! Originally from Nicaragua, Mars is a one-person band, producer, and visual artist based in New York City who incorporates elements from industrial rock, noise pop, Latin rock, and electronic music to create her own unique sound.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   size-large alignnone lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:1024px\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-border-a-2\">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((879\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column lrv-u-align-items-center\">\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tAfter competing alongside many talented artists in the 2025 America\u2019s Next Top Hitmaker competition, Mars earned the title, taking home $50,000, telling her story in the pages of Rolling Stone, and earning a performance at the 2025 Global Citizen Festival on the same stage as The Weeknd, Shakira, and Tyla. Plus, Colossal\u2019s partners at SoundCloud are featuring Mars in her very own billboard in Times Square!<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"mars-will-take-the-stage-at-the-global-citizen-festival\" class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-primary-l   \">\n\t\tMars Will Take the Stage at the Global Citizen Festival\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   size-large alignnone lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:1024px\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-border-a-2\">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((1022\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-rollingstone-2022\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-14-at-5.07.01-PM.png?w=1024\" alt=\"\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"\" height=\"1022\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column lrv-u-align-items-center\">\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tOn September 27, the 2025 Global Citizen Festival will take place in New York\u2019s Central Park, and will bring together artists, advocates, world leaders, philanthropists, and fans with one collective mission: to end extreme poverty. This year\u2019s lineup features The Weeknd, Shakira, Tyla, Ayra Starr and Mariah the Scientist, and now, Mars Rodriguez, uniting powerful voices for change on one of the world\u2019s biggest stages. The festival also offers passionate Global Citizens the chance to win free tickets through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalcitizen.org\/app\/download\/?utm_source=referral_pressrelease&amp;utm_medium=traditional_media&amp;utm_campaign=global_powerourplanet_sitesignup&amp;utm_content=ctasignup_link\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Global Citizen app<\/a> by taking action on the world\u2019s most pressing issues, including providing access to education for 30,000 children, protecting 30 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest, and expanding energy access for 1 million people in Africa.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"and-also-mars-wins-prize-money\" class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-primary-l   \">\n\t\tAnd Also\u2026Mars Wins Prize Money\t<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\t<strong>$50,000.<\/strong> No fine print. No gimmicks. Just cold, hard inspiration to fuel the next chapter of her career.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"colossal-supports-global-citizen-through-the-competition\" class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-primary-l   \">\n\t\t<strong>Colossal Supports Global Citizen Through the Competition<\/strong>\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   size-large alignnone lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:1024px\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-border-a-2\">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((677\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-rollingstone-2022\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-14-at-5.07.57-PM.png?w=1024\" alt=\"\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"\" height=\"677\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column lrv-u-align-items-center\">\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tThis isn\u2019t just about fame. It\u2019s about fueling real change. Throughout this competition, artists and their fans helped Colossal raise over $2 million benefitting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalcitizen.org\/en\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Global Citizen<\/a>, the world\u2019s leading international advocacy organization dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty and defending the planet. Mobilizing millions of people worldwide, Global Citizen works across sectors\u2014music, entertainment, policy, business, media, and philanthropy\u2014to drive real change, and has positively impacted the lives of 1.3 billion people to date.<\/p>\n<section class=\"brands-most-popular \/\/ editors-pick-module lrv-u-margin-tb-2 lrv-u-border-a-2 u-box-shadow-5-5 lrv-u-padding-lr-1 a-span1 u-padding-b-1@tablet u-overflow-hidden\">\n<h2 id=\"section-heading\" class=\"c-heading larva  lrv-u-text-align-center u-border-color-black a-font-theme-primary-xxs lrv-u-color-black lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-letter-spacing-0063 lrv-u-padding-t-050 u-padding-b-0375@tablet lrv-u-padding-b-050@mobile-max lrv-u-border-b-2\">\n<p>\t\tEditor\u2019s picks<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   size-large alignnone lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:1024px\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-border-a-2\">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((454\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-rollingstone-2022\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/stack_logo-1.png?w=1024\" alt=\"\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"\" height=\"454\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column lrv-u-align-items-center\">\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/soundcloud\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Soundcloud<\/a> is an artist-first platform powered by a global community of artists and listeners at the pulse of what\u2019s now and next in music culture, empowering independent artists to build and grow their careers. With 400+ million tracks from 40+ million artists from 193 countries on SoundCloud, it is the largest audio discovery platform in the world.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   size-full alignnone lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:1024px\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-border-a-2\">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((390\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-rollingstone-2022\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Fender-Black-1.png\" alt=\"\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"\" height=\"390\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column lrv-u-align-items-center\">\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fender.com\/en-US\/start\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Fender<\/a> has shaped the sound of music for nearly 70 years. From its legendary electric guitars and accessories to amps and innovative digital experiences, Fender has been the go-to brand for musicians of all levels. Whether on stage or in the studio, Fender continues to inspire artists around the world.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"2024-champion-duplexity-at-sxsw\" class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-primary-l   \">\n\t\t2024 Champion: DUPLEXITY at SXSW\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure   size-large alignnone lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:1024px\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  lrv-u-border-a-2\">\n<div class=\"lrv-a-crop-16x9\" style=\"padding-bottom:calc((1021\/1024)*100%);\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-rollingstone-2022\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-14-at-5.11.01-PM.png?w=1024\" alt=\"\" data-lazy-srcset=\"\" data-lazy-sizes=\"\" height=\"1021\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column lrv-u-align-items-center\">\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tLast year\u2019s winner, Duplexity, is a sibling duo from Los Angeles reviving \u201990s alt-rock with a fresh twist. Savannah and Luke Judy\u2019s gritty, metal-tinged sound and electrifying stage presence rocked the Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase at SXSW, sharing the stage with artists like Benson Boone and Megan Moroney at ACL Live in Austin.<\/p>\n<section class=\"brands-most-popular \/\/ recirculation-modules trending-in-article lrv-u-margin-tb-2 lrv-u-border-a-2 u-box-shadow-5-5 lrv-u-padding-lr-1 a-span1 u-padding-b-1@tablet u-overflow-hidden\">\n<h2 id=\"section-heading\" class=\"c-heading larva  lrv-u-text-align-center u-border-color-black a-font-theme-primary-xxs lrv-u-color-black lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-letter-spacing-0063 lrv-u-padding-t-050 u-padding-b-0375@tablet lrv-u-padding-b-050@mobile-max lrv-u-border-b-2\">\n<p>\t\tTrending Stories<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tAmerica\u2019s Next Top Hitmaker is powered by Colossal, a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like this one, participants have the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact. Colossal competitions serve as fundraising campaigns for <a href=\"https:\/\/c212.net\/c\/link\/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4316631-1&amp;h=1460835753&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dtcare.org%2Fusa&amp;a=DTCare\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">DTCare<\/a>, a United States 501(c)(3) public charity organization, which then grants donation funds to specified charities at the completion of the competitions. \u00a0Learn more at <a href=\"https:\/\/c212.net\/c\/link\/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4316631-1&amp;h=3582688589&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fcolossal.org%2F&amp;a=colossal.org\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>colossal.org<\/strong><\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/c212.net\/c\/link\/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4316631-1&amp;h=3958342154&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fcolossal.org%2Fnews%2Fwhos-next&amp;a=Who%27s+Next%3F\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Who\u2019s Next<\/strong><\/a>?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/music\/music-news\/colossal-2025-americas-next-top-hitmaker-mars-rodriguez-1235408062\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Colossal, the powerhouse behind some of the nation\u2019s most compelling fundraising campaigns, is proud to announce the 2025 America\u2019s Next Top Hitmaker champion: Mars&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":43999,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pop","article","has-excerpt","has-avatar","has-author","has-date","has-comment-count","has-category-meta","has-read-more","thumbnail-"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43998"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43998\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}