LOS ANGELES — Radio Brand Enhancer. Format & Content Guru. Pioneer of Rhythmic AC and Modern AC/Adult Top 40 Radio Formats. Those are some of the self-described accomplishments made by Mike Marino, who first rose to fame as Music Director and Asst. Program Director of KGGI-FM in Riverside, Calif., in 1988 and over the last 25 years offered consulting services and content offerings to air personalities across the U.S.
Now, the radio industry is taking a pause to remember Marino, who programmed a Los Angeles FM for eight years, as he has lost a cancer battle at the age of 60.
News of Marino’s passing on July 16 was shared via a post on his personal Facebook page by Jason Hillery, Operations Manager of Midwest Communications’ properties in Green Bay, Wisc., since April 2004.
“Some may be surprised to hear that Mike was sick,” Hillery said on Friday afternoon. “He kept it private. He didn’t want anyone to worry. That was Mike. He put up one heck of a fight and never let his diagnosis deter or distract him from working with morning shows around the country and programming his syndicated urban AC format. Anyone who knew Mike knew he was the king of many formats, but Urban AC was his baby, and he mastered it.”
Since the start of 2001, Marino has worked with radio stations as the President of GotRooster.com, formerly TheBitXChange Prep, and AmeriCountry.com Content Services, while also consulting conservative talk show The Regular Joe Show; Marker Broadcasting’s Rhythmic Adult Contemporary KMRJ-FM in Palm Springs, Calif.; and KOKO-FM 94.3 in Fresno. From 2012 through August 2019, Marino was also a consultant for a Rhythmic AC station owned by Max Media.
For five years, Marino helped guide KGGI, as it “quadrupled” the music against its competitors, to strong ratings. In 1994, he took the Asst. PD role at KMEL-FM in San Francisco, where he spent one year. In January 1996, he took a job at CBS radio to launch KMXB “Mix 94.1” in Las Vegas to much success. From there, Marino would program a Houston FM; WKRQ “Q102” in Cincinnati; and KHHT “Hot 92.3” in Los Angeles, gaining similar duties for KYSR “Star 98.7” under Clear Channel ownership in September 2005.
Details regarding a memorial service are forthcoming.
