Who Got the Power Now?

It’s official — Meruelo Media is now programming and selling advertising on KPWR (Power 106)/Los Angeles, effective July 1, 2017 under the terms of an LMA with the current owner, Emmis Communications Corporation. The move comes less than two months after Meruelo dropped a cool $82.75 million to acquire the station from Emmis.

The company also announced that KPWR would continue to super-serve its listeners, fans and clients to complement Meruelo’s existing formats on Classic Hip Hop 93.5 KDAY/Los Angeles and the company’s newly launched Riverside station, Wild 93.5. “Combining our three radio brands in one location is our first phase in optimizing our business,” said Otto Padron, President and COO of Meruelo Media. “Bringing these powerful Los Angeles brands together is a perfect harmony: Power 106, #1 for Hip Hop for today’s hottest beats and KDAY as the Classic Hip Hop leader for ‘Back in the Day Hits.'”

In order to synergize content maximization, operations and sales, Meruelo will move its entire radio operation into Power 106’s state-of-the-art facilities in Burbank. Current Power 106 Market Manager Val Maki will remain with the company in her newly enhanced role as Meruelo Radio Market Manager, overseeing Power 106 while taking on the new responsibility of integrating Meruelo’s existing portfolio of radio stations and maximizing the new, three-station cluster. Padron remarked, “Val is a proven and talented broadcast veteran and the force behind the success of Power 106. We know that under Val’s vision and leadership these very iconic Los Angeles radio stations will continue to grow benefiting our listeners, advertisers, and partners.”