Meruelo Taps Montana As VP/Audio Brands

• Meruelo Media welcomes veteran programmer Haz Montana as Vice President, Audio Brands to lead the content of its Los Angeles cluster — Hip Hop KPWR (Power 106), Classic Rock 95.5 KLOS, Throwback Hip Hop 93.5 KDAY/KDEY and Latin Rhythmic KLLI (CALI 93.9).

Montana (left) is a seasoned media executive who spent the past 16 years with Univision/UFORIA Los Angeles, rising to VP of Content, leading legacy Spanish-language AC KLVE, Oldies KRCD and Regional Mexican KSCA. During his Univision tenure, he drove and developed operational and programming strategies for Univision’s Rhythmic (Reggaetón/Hip Hop) brand, and launched the national Latino Mix Spanish CHR brand. Montana originally programmed and was an on-air talent in general market Top 40 and Rock, which segued into a consulting gig with Critical Mass Media. That led to an introduction to Spanish radio in Miami, and eventually to the launch and growth of pioneering Spanish CHR “Super Estrella” in Los Angeles for Entravision, and the development of a 10- year concert event franchise.

Montana reports to Otto Padron, Pres./CEO of Meruelo Media, who exclaimed, “We ‘Haz’ Montana and Montana ‘Haz’ Us! After an exhaustive national search getting to know some of this country’s most amazing leaders in our craft of audio — we’re happy that Haz chose us!” Padron continued, “Haz brings the right balance of audio art and hard science perfectly nested within his steady brand of leadership, personal values and the confident entrepreneurial spirit we energetically embrace here at Meruelo Media. These very essential qualities are must-have requirements to steer our team and legacy audio brands.”

Montana remarked, “Hip Hop, Rock, Throwbacks, Latin Rhythm, and passionate talent. This opportunity is a dream come true. I’m honored to be starting today with Team Meruelo, and looking forward to working with some of this country’s most iconic audio brands and lead a great team of format captains as we continue to develop and grow these legendary call letters towards a market-agnostic and boundless digital horizon.” Montana added, “Above all, I’m excited about chartering a bold path in this newly reimagined role of VP/Audio Brands here at Meruelo Media.”