Listen up: Latinos are here!

Latinos are here. And Monmouth University’s radio station hopes they’re listening.

WMCX 88.9 FM Tuesday will premiere “Latinos acá,” or “Latinos are here,” an hour-long Spanish show that will feature music, news and interviews with community members.

It’s the first ever Spanish show for the student-run radio station.

“The spirit and music will be 100 percent Latino,” said Priscilla Gac-Artigas, chair of the university’s Department of Foreign Language Studies.

Despite their growing presence in Monmouth and Ocean counties, many Latinos think the cultural opportunities in the area are scant, she said.

The radio show aims to reach out to the Hispanic population in Monmouth and Ocean Counties which make up 8 and 7 percent of the populace, respectively. Latinos are by far the fastest-growing demographic in both the counties, according to census figures. Yet, there are only two Spanish radio stations in the area.

The show will be on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and will be broadcast primarily in Spanish. Tuesday’s premiere, however, will run from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and be in both Spanish and English. Monmouth University President Paul Gaffney II will be a guest on the first show. Each week, the program will dedicate time to playing contemporary and traditional music from a different Spanish-speaking country, beginning with Argentina.

Monmouth students will provide the on-air talent for the show. Founded in 1974, WMCX broadcasts within an approximate 25 mile radius of West Long Branch, N.J. It was the first media outlet to announce the death of singer Bob Marley.

-Jarred Curcio