Raúl Alarcón to be inducted into AAF – Advertising Hall of Fame

Chairman of the Board and CEO, Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.

Raúl Alarcón is a veteran of the entertainment industry and the chief architect behind the creation of one of the nation’s largest Hispanic-owned and operated multi-media companies. Today, that entity, Spanish Broadcasting System (“SBS”), caters to millions of listeners and viewers and thousands of advertisers seeking an entrée into this burgeoning market sector.

During his long and distinguished career, Raúl has been a tireless innovator in the face of significant industry transformation and changes in media consumption patterns, while consistently expanding his connection with the U.S. Hispanic population. While his career has been driven by a passion for the media industry, Raúl has also demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering Latino artistry and championing Hispanic business ownership.

Raúl’s commitment to serving the Hispanic community can be traced back to the lessons passed down from his father, Pablo Raúl Alarcón, a radio industry pioneer and visionary who, after building an eight-station network in Cuba, was forced to flee the nation’s Communist dictatorship as a political refugee in 1960. In 1983 the elder Alarcón incorporated SBS, growing its radio portfolio in the ensuing years and remaining actively engaged in the Company’s activities until his passing in 2008.

Raúl joined SBS in 1983 and has served as a Boardmember and its President since October 1985. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer in June of 1994 and later named Chairman of the Board of Directors in November 1999.

Under his stewardship, SBS has grown from a single AM radio station an array of media assets that includes a radio division comprised of heritage FM outlets including WSKQ-FM in New York City, the most-listened-to Hispanic station in the world; the 300+ affiliate AIRE Radio Networks; MegaTV, a network television operation with over-the-air, cable and satellite distribution throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico; SBS Entertainment, a leading independent producer/promoter of Latino concerts and events; and LaMusica, a music and video streaming mobile app catering to Hispanic millennials.

In October 2019, Raúl received the Businessperson of the Year award from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) in recognition of his achievements in serving the marketing, advertising and promotional needs of thousands of Hispanic businesses throughout the country.

In addition to his accomplishments in media and advertising, Raúl has received innumerable awards and tributes from Billboard Magazine among others, for his contributions to the music industry.

He remains a dedicated, hands-on executive that cherishes the opportunity to continue serving as an advocate for minority business ownership while working alongside his SBS team. He plans to remain a future participant in the evolving media industry and a loyal supporter of Hispanic causes for years to come.