Arbitron honors Excellence in Radio at ANA Multicultural Conference.

Arbitron Inc. honored Comcast and Grupo Gallegos as Radio Grand Prize Winners at the Multicultural Excellence Awards held at the 11th Annual ANA Multicultural and Diversity Conference in Phoenix, Arizona at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa. Arbitron worked closely with the ANA to introduce a new category in 2009 highlighting exceptional work in radio advertising.

This is the second year that Arbitron has participated as a sponsor of the event which honors the best in multicultural campaigns. The sponsorship of this event is a part of a greater outreach of Arbitron to promote the benefits of Spanish-language and urban formatted radio as an effective medium to target the Hispanic and African-American consumer.

In his remarks to the audience, Alton Adams, Arbitron Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, stressed the importance of utilizing ethnic radio stations when trying to build a personal connection with multicultural consumers. According to Mr. Adams, “Marketers looking to capture a loyal consumer base can clearly connect and engage with these communities at home, at work, in the car, anywhere they may be listening to the radio. Hispanic and African-American consumers are more receptive to media that speak to relevant issues in their communities.”

Also on hand for the evening’s festivities were broadcast executives from Inner City Broadcasting, Grupo Radio Centro, Entravision, and Premiere Radio Networks as well as the Radio Advertising Bureau.

“Spanish language and urban formatted radio stations have always provided a unique service to the communities they reach,” continued Mr. Adams. “From the early days of helping immigrants cross adapt to their new home to championing the cause of the civil rights movement, ethnic formatted radio stations have connected communities with culture and articulated their causes. Arbitron looks forward to radio continuing on as the fabric of our culture.”