why is kathy romano leaving wmmr

Kathy Romano is leaving WMMR’s “Preston & Steve” show because her contract was not renewed by the station’s parent company, Beasley Media Group, and the decision was not hers or her co-hosts’.

What actually happened

• Kathy had been part of the Preston & Steve show for about 22 years, joining in the early 2000s and moving with the show to 93.3 WMMR.

• In May 2025, she announced on-air that she would be leaving, with an emotional goodbye from Preston, Steve, and the rest of the team.

• She later clarified in a social media statement that the departure was “in no way” her choice or Preston & Steve’s choice.

In interviews afterward, she described the exit as sudden and “devastating,” emphasizing how special the show’s long-term chemistry had been.

The official reason from WMMR / Beasley

From the company side, the explanation is straightforward but corporate:

• Beasley Media Group confirmed that Kathy’s contract was not renewed.

• They publicly thanked her for her “many contributions over the years” and wished her well in her next chapter.

• There has been no detailed, public explanation of any specific performance or disciplinary issue tied to her exit.

So, in plain terms: it was a corporate decision to end her contract, not a voluntary move by Kathy.

Behind the scenes: industry context and speculation

While there’s no official “juicy scandal” on record, there is broader context:

• Beasley has been going through rounds of cuts and layoffs at stations in Philadelphia, Detroit, and Tampa, tied to declining traditional radio ad revenue and a push toward digital.

• Coverage in local media and commentary from people close to the show frame Kathy’s exit as part of these cost-cutting moves rather than a creative or personal clash.

• In a later interview, Kathy said she believes the owners “didn’t value the uniqueness” of the long-standing Preston & Steve team, implying that the decision came from higher-up corporate priorities, not the show itself.

Online discussions and videos add plenty of speculation about “the real reason” and “drama,” but those are mostly fan and commentator interpretations of the same basic facts: her contract was cut in a cost-conscious environment.

How Kathy herself describes it

Kathy has been clear and consistent about how she sees what happened:

• She says she was “let go” when Beasley chose not to renew her contract after more than two decades on the show.

• She stresses that both she and her co-hosts were “devastated” and that she only found out a couple of weeks before the public announcement.

• In follow-up interviews, she’s framed it as a corporate misjudgment about the value of a tightly bonded on-air team, not a creative or interpersonal breakdown.

At the same time, she’s talked about using the moment to pivot, pointing out she has experience in radio, TV, and events and is looking for the “next perfect match” in her career.

What it means for the show and fans

• Inside the studio, Preston, Steve, and others spoke on-air about how “gutted” they felt, fighting back tears during the announcement.

• Fans on social media, Reddit, and YouTube have reacted with anger and sadness, with many saying that Kathy’s mix of humor and grounded energy was a big part of why the show worked.

• As of the latest reporting, the show continues without her, but a lot of listener conversation frames her exit as “the end of an era” for the classic Preston & Steve lineup.

TL;DR:
Kathy Romano isn’t leaving WMMR by choice; she was forced out when Beasley Media Group declined to renew her contract, likely as part of broader cost- cutting in the radio industry, despite strong on-air chemistry and a long history with Preston & Steve.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.