Mars Takes Global Citizen Stage by Storm, Wins Top Hitmaker
In a whirlwind year for music, one artist has risen above the rest to claim the title of America’s Next Top Hitmaker 2025. Competing alongside a global roster of emerging talent, Mars Rodriguez, a one-person band, producer, and visual artist originally from Nicaragua and now based in New York City, has officially taken the crown.
The victory not only comes with $50,000 and a feature in Rolling Stone magazine, but also the insane opportunity to perform at one of the world’s most influential stages: the 2025 Global Citizen Festival in New York City’s Central Park.
The Sound of a New Generation
Mars Rodriguez is far from your typical hitmaker. Her sound defies boundaries, fusing industrial rock, noise pop, Latin rock, and electronic music into a sonic experience that’s both raw and transcendent. Known for crafting every beat, riff, and texture herself, Mars has built a reputation as an artist who blurs the line between performance and production, a true embodiment of independence in modern music.
“Music is my way of creating worlds,” Mars shared after her win. “This experience reminded me that you don’t need a big team behind you to make something real; you just need honesty and sound.”
The Live Performance: A Star Is Born
On September 27, 2025, Mars stepped onto the Global Citizen Festival stage sharing the lineup with global icons Shakira, Cardi B, Tyla, Ayra Starr, and Mariah the Scientist. Her electrifying set fused pulsing synths, gritty guitar tones, and haunting visuals that lit up New York’s Central Park.
The performance marked not only a personal triumph but a moment of global recognition.
Global Citizen: Music for a Cause
This year’s America’s Next Top Hitmaker competition wasn’t just about discovering talent—it was about making change. Colossal, the creative professional fundraiser behind the competition, proudly announced that over $2,082,477 was raised to benefit Global Citizen, the world’s leading international advocacy organization.
Global Citizen works tirelessly to eradicate extreme poverty and defend the planet, mobilizing millions across music, entertainment, policy, and philanthropy to drive real, measurable change. Through the competition, artists and fans alike united under one powerful message: art can change the world.
A Billboard Moment: From SoundCloud to Times Square
To celebrate her win, SoundCloud—the world’s largest audio discovery platform—sponsored a massive Times Square billboard spotlighting Mars Rodriguez. With over 400 million tracks from 40+ million artists across 193 countries, SoundCloud remains at the pulse of music culture, empowering creators like Mars to take control of their artistry and careers.
The bright billboard glowing above Manhattan wasn’t just an ad, it was a symbol of what’s possible when artistry, advocacy, and community come together.
Looking Ahead
With her unique fusion of genres and fearless authenticity, Mars Rodriguez represents the next wave of independent artistry. From the streets of Nicaragua to the heart of New York City, from underground shows to the Global Citizen main stage, Mars is just getting started.
$2,082,477 raised. One artist crowned. One planet united.
Congratulations to Mars Rodriguez, the winner of America’s Next Top Hitmaker.
