Steven Garza
Radio

Digital Programming

Radio Stations

Radio Career

Steve began his radio career in 2007 with Townsquare Media in El Paso, Texas, as the cluster's original Interactive Program Director of 95.5 KLAQ FM, 92.3 KISS FM, and 640 KROD AM.

The Interactive Program Director role was created to remain competitive in the industry during the time that digital media was emerging as a source of content and entertainment that now dominates how audiences consume media, and advertisers prefer to market their products and services.

As the Interactive Program Director, Steve served as the digital counterpart to three Program Directors to adapt terrestrial radio into the new digital media landscape as the company's first digital programmer. He was responsible for successfully bringing the radio stations' efforts to the digital forefront which included the implementation of the radio stations’ online broadcasts, the radio stations’ brands and strategies, programming and monitoring the streams break content, audience growth and development, on-air talent coaching, the creation and implementing the organization's first digital programs, promotions and contesting, initiating a social media presence, establishing relationships with artists, labels, media partners and vendors, working with sales staff to implement digital programs to grow revenue and monitoring digital and terrestrial ratings to ensure success.

Within the first year in his role, Steve was recognized as a leader by radio consultants McVay Media and assisted others in his role in other markets, and became a beta tester of the company’s first proprietary Content Management System. During Steve’s tenure at Townsquare Media, he was successful in achieving all company’s goals and objectives and was also a recipient of the first Viral Video – Special Judges Award, ever awarded in the market by the American Advertising Federation.

In 2010 Steve advanced his career from a mid-market (#74) to a major market (#7) in Atlanta, Georgia to take on another innovative role as the cluster’s first Director of Digital Operations for Clear Channel Media & Entertainment. This time successfully developed the digital operations of 7 radio stations 94.9 The Bull, Project 96.1, El Patron 105.3, 105.7 The Groove, 92.3 The Legend, and 640 WGST.

Steve brought his previous success and experience to this role and developed the digital department from the ground up, hiring and managing a team of online content managers, social media coordinators, digital sales coordinators, and coaching on-air talent, promotions teams, and sales staff to adapt to the developing digital space.

Within his first 90 days in his role, Steve positioned the most troubled radio station in the cluster WBZY-FM as the leading Hispanic radio station within all of Clear Channel Media & Entertainment and was recognized as a leader by the Senior Vice President of Hispanic radio of Clear Channel Media & Entertainment, Alfredo Alonso, and developed a network of national home page content for twenty-five Spanish radio stations in his "La Preciosa Network" to become the leading Spanish language radio provider in the United States and contributed towards the audience and revenue growth of each market that included, WBZY-Atlanta, KBFP-Bakersfield, WNUA-Chicago, KSAB-Corpus Christi, KUNO-Corpus Christi, KFSO-Fresno, KPRC-Monterey, KKDD-Riverside, KTZR-Tucson, and KIZS-Tulsa.

Steve also developed national partnerships with interactive companies such as Triton Digital, and Listener Driven Radio becoming one of the first markets to launch the product on 94.9 The Bull, and the social media broadcaster Ustream, to conduct interactive web chats between established international recording artists and radio station listeners. This partnership marked the first partnership between Ustream and a radio broadcaster in the world.

In 2012 Steve created and hosted a pioneering Electronic music radio program called PrototypeRadio that featured exclusive interviews and DJ mixes from some of the biggest electronic musicians in the world.

The program debuted on two FM terrestrial frequencies 105.7 FM and 96.7 FM in Atlanta, Georgia, and was picked up after the 6th episode for national syndication on the newly launched iHeartRadio application and Electric Sound Stage 5 times a week in various dayparts, making it one of the first EDM programs to be featured on iHeartRadio. 75% of the artist featured debuted on US terrestrial radio and iHeartRadio on PrototypeRadio.

In 2013 Clear Channel Media and Entertainment became iHeartMedia in support of the company’s newly launched mobile application iHeartRadio. As iHeartMedia evolved to adapt to the rising digital media industry a new role was also created to support the evolution of radio in digital. Steve ascended into the role of Digital Program Director becoming the cluster's first digital programmer and was successful in achieving all company goals and objectives during his tenure.

In 2020 Steve took on another innovative role as the first Digital Brand Manager, an evolved version of prior Digital Program Director roles he held previously with Entercom Communications Corp. in Atlanta, Georgia, overseeing Nielsen’s top Urban (Hip Hop & R&B) radio station in the United States in 2020, V-103 which features talent such as Big Tigger of BET's Rap City, legendary Hip Hop DJ Greg Street, and singer Ramona DeBraux, and Star 94.1.

Steve has worked in the radio industry for 15 years working with 22 radio stations and 18 radio formats which include, Active Rock, Alternative Rock, Top 40, Hot Adult Contemporary, Rhythmic Top 40, Mainstream Urban, Urban Contemporary, Rhythmic Adult Contemporary, Country, Classic Country, Spanish CHR, Regional Mexican, Caribbean, Tropical, News/Talk, Sports/Talk, Comedy Radio, and Dance.

He is the recipient of 22 industry awards many of which were first awarded in the market and to the companies he worked for.

He has formed part of 286 concerts, festivals, and special events and has worked with a multitude of artists, labels, and music industry professionals providing leadership, innovation, and success in his roles.

 

View Digital Media Portfolio
  • Industry Awards:

  • American Advertising Federation
  • Viral Video - Special Judges Award
  • Content Branding & Design
  • Content Branding & Design
  • Best of The Web
  • Effective Marketing
  • Best in Audio Production
  • Communicator Awards
  • Branded Content
  • Branded Content
  • Effective Marketing
  • Online Video
  • Print Advertising
  • Telly Awards
  • Video Broadcast
  • Video Non-Broadcast
  • Video Online
  • Promotional Video
  • Webby Awards
  • Online Radio Station
  • W3 Awards
  • Excellence in Web Creativity
  • Excellence in Web Creativity
  • Online Video
  • YouTube Creators Awards
  • Silver Play Button
  • Silver Play Button
  • PromoOnly
  • Best Syndicated Mix Show Nomination
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  • PrototypeRadio