Condolences: Margaret Ann Ronayne

Many people in our industry took to Facebook last night to commiserate over the loss of a lovely woman and a true promotion pro — Margaret Ann Ronayne, probably best known for her many years doing promotion at Arista Records, who died yesterday after suffering an apparent heart attack. Ronayne started her music industry career in 1972 as a club jock Ft. Lauderdale, FL. After a stint with Pickwick International Distributors in Miami, Ronayne transitioned into the promotion side in 1976, and spent the next 12 years doing Florida promotion for Motown Records. She moved to New York in 1988, working at Polydor and EMI-America before joining Arista Records in 1991 as the local New York rep. She spent the next decade with Arista, rising through the ranks to Sr. Nat’l. Director of Top 40 Promotion. In recent years Margaret had been living in Naples, Florida.

In the hours that followed her passing, Margaret Ann’s Facebook page began to rapidly fill up with love and wonderful remembrances from all of the people whose lives she touched over the years — promo vet Margaret Locicero commented, “She was the warmest, most wonderful friend anyone could wish for. It’s hard to believe I will never hear her tell me ‘honey, it’s going to be okay’… I’m just at a loss.” Rob Wagman said of Margaret Ann, “Simply, everything that was right about the music industry. Passionate, funny, transparent and easy to be friends with. TRULY, one of the greats of ever ever ever.” Elvis Duran posted, “Thank you for all the laughs and love.”

Tom Mitchell, OM of Cumulus Syracuse, NY posted a heartfelt message of his friend that read, in part, “She and I spoke every week. Sometimes twice a week. We had so many good times and laughs. Great dinners together at her favorite Syracuse restaurant, Joey’s. We shared a love of music and sharing our own personal music discoveries. One of the nicest souls you could ever know. With Tommy Page and George Skaubitis leaving us too soon, this one is extra hard to take.”