Philly Radio: Preston & Steve's Longtime Producer Exits WMMR

Nikc McIlwain

Nick McIlwain, the longtime executive producer and on-air personality known as “Marble Mouth,” announced his immediate departure from WMMR’s “Preston & Steve” show on Wednesday, ending a 26-year career at the station.

The voluntary exit, effective despite a contract running through 2029, comes exactly six months after co-host Kathy Romano was let go in May 2025 when Beasley Media Group declined to renew her deal as part of company-wide layoffs.

McIlwain told listeners he is “ready for a change,” citing the emotional toll of legendary WMMR DJ Pierre Robert’s death in October and the disruption caused by Romano’s forced exit. Hosts Preston Elliot and Steve Morrison expressed shock and sadness live on air; no replacement or final airdate has been announced.

Romano, a 22-year veteran who delivered traffic and features, has since joined Beasley’s B101. The twin departures mark the first major cast changes in two decades for Philadelphia’s dominant morning show, which remains contracted through 2030.McIlwain joined as an intern in 1999, became a core member of the original Y100 lineup, and moved with the program to WMMR in 2005. 

Fans reacted with an outpouring of tributes on social media, lamenting the breakup of one of the longest-running and highest-rated morning ensembles in the country.