In 2007, Radio Ink launched the Hispanic Radio Conference with a simple but powerful premise: that Hispanic radio had already proven its ability to move audiences, and deserved a larger place in the industry conversation. The idea grew out of the extraordinary unity shown during the 2006 immigration protests, when Hispanic radio personalities helped turn listening communities into a force that could not be ignored.

Nearly two decades later, the conference stands as more than an annual industry event. It has become a long-running forum for the ideas, tensions, and opportunities that define Hispanic radio — a place where business strategy, cultural relevance, and community impact meet in the same room.

That legacy matters because the medium itself has never been just a channel. Hispanic radio has long served as a trusted companion, a source of information, and a civic connector for audiences whose influence continues to grow, both demographically and economically.

The conference also carries forward a deeper lineage through the Medallas de Cortez, which honor excellence while paying tribute to Raoul Cortez, the pioneer who launched the first Spanish-language radio station in the United States. In that sense, the event is not only about where Hispanic radio is going, but about preserving the history that made its ascent possible.