Home Login RADIO ONLINE RSS Facebook
Advertisement

Kathy Romano Departs WMMR's Preston & Steve After 22 Years


Kathy Romano
Kathy Romano

Kathy Romano, a longtime co-host of the Preston & Steve morning show on 93.3 WMMR in Philadelphia, is leaving the station after 22 years. Her departure, announced on-air and in a heartfelt Instagram post Thursday, comes as part of broader cutbacks at Beasley Media Group, WMMR's parent company.

"This was in no way my choice or Preston & Steve's choice," Romano wrote. "We are devastated. It's been the ride of a lifetime sharing mornings with the best team and the most incredible listeners."

Beasley confirmed that Romano's contract was not renewed, saying in a statement, "We are very grateful for her many contributions over the years and wish her the very best in her next chapter."

Romano, who joined Preston & Steve in 2003, also hosted Her Story, a weekly show spotlighting women making an impact across the Philadelphia region. Her last day on the air will be Friday.

During Thursday's show, an emotional Preston Elliot informed listeners of the news, calling it a "profoundly sad" moment. Cohost Steve Morrison added, "The way you have handled what is happening has been some of the most professional, some of the most amazing and mature displays of how this goes than I've ever seen."

Romano compared the experience to an unwanted breakup: "There's a little anger in there, but I'm heartbroken."

Preston & Steve, which originated at Y100 in 1998 and moved to WMMR in 2005, has long dominated Philadelphia's morning radio ratings. Elliot and Morrison signed contract extensions in 2022 that keep the show on the air through 2030. Fellow co-hosts Casey "Casey Boy" Fosbenner, Marisa Magnatta, and Nick McIlwain will remain with the program.

"This isn't a goodbye - just turning the dial to what's next," Romano wrote.

Advertisement

Latest Radio Stories

Holiday Music Connects Radio With Consumers
Katz Radio Group
Katz Radio Group
Holiday music remains an important part of the season for consumers, with 69% listening to seasonal music on AM/FM radio, according to new research from Katz Radio Group. The findings, featured in Katz's latest "Sound Answers," are based on a custom survey conducted in December More

FCC Dismisses 36 LPFM Applications Over Localism
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The FCC's Media Bureau has dismissed 36 applications for new Low Power FM stations connected to broadcaster and organizer Stephen Wade Rathke and the Affiliated Media Foundation Movement (AMFM), finding that the applicants failed to meet the Commission's LPFM localism requirements. The applications, More

Study Finds Host Reads Boost Brand Impact
Cumulus Media and Westwood One
Cumulus Media and Westwood One
A new global advertising study finds creator-led ads, including radio and podcast host reads, can produce greater brand impact, particularly when advertisers identify themselves early and use entertaining, emotion-driven creative. The findings come from "The Creator Effectiveness Playbook: How to Build More
Advertisement

Zack Bennett Named Host of Pure American Country
Zack Bennett
Zack Bennett
Pure American Networks has named veteran Nashville broadcaster and producer Zack Bennett permanent host of the nationally syndicated weekly program "Pure American Country" and its daily companion feature, "Pure American Country Radio Minute." Bennett had served as interim host since the death of longtime More

Dana Cortez Show Takes Mornings at Q97.1 Fresno
The Dana Cortez Show with Greg & Dre
The Dana Cortez Show with Greg & Dre
The Dana Cortez Show has added Lotus Communications' KSEQ-FM (Q97.1) in Fresno to its affiliate lineup, taking over morning drive following the retirement of longtime morning team Greg & Dre. Beginning Monday, September 21, Dana Cortez, DJ Automatic and Anthony A. will anchor mornings on Q97.1 through the More

Urban One Names Yonni Rude Dallas Operations Manager
Yonni Rude
Yonni Rude
Urban One Dallas has named Yonni Rude Operations Manager, overseeing programming for the company's three Dallas-Fort Worth radio brands: KBFB (97.9 The Beat), KRNB (Smooth 105.7) and KKDA (K104). Rude moves to Dallas after spending the past three years as Program Director for Urban One's Houston stations More

Return to Menu

Advertisement

Subscribe to our Newsletter
Radio news and headlines delivered right to your e-mail box -- and it's free.

Advertisement

Advertisement