Meruelo Media announced on Wednesday, August 2 that they have closed the sales of KPWR-FM Power 106, in Los Angeles. The station has been programmed by Meruelo Media since July 1, 2017, under the terms of an agreement with the previous owner, Emmis Communications.
“We are happy to announce the end of the sales. As we promised, we are committed to invest in Power 106,” said Otto Padrón, president and COO of Meruelo Media. “Since we started the programming of the station, we have launched a massive marketing campaign with relevant external advertising, cash contests and the opportunity to win an amazing US$10 million award. We are supporting our marketing with a specific multiplatform campaign. Meruelo is committed with maintaining Power 106, dominating in the hip hop market in South California and we will not stop,” he added.
Val Maki, VP and manager of Marketing, commented: “Everyone is very excited to combine these emblematic hip hop brands in Los Angeles and Wild 93.5 in Riverside/San Bernardino under the outstanding banner of Meruelo Media. This movement strengthens our dominant position in the hip hop market and frees new opportunities to serve our community and our advertiser,” adding that they expect to join the radio division in a single place in Burbank by the end of August.
Padrón previously served as Programming and Promotions VP at Univision, position he occupied for 10 years, and helped in part with the integration of radio at Univision. “I was part of the executive TV team that handled the integration of the radio division when we bought it.”