WUTQ

UTICA/ROME — The three-station simulcast (two AMs and an FM translator) known as B95.5 will be rebranding itself come Monday as “95.5FM WUTQ, your FM local news and talk headquarters.”  The station, which has combined local talk with “beautiful music,” will be focusing more on news and talk programming.  As a result, longtime morning host

UTICA/ROME — Bill Keeler’s new show, which streams online at MOVARadio.com, is already running into some information superhighway speedbumps.  Keeler says “it’s been impossible for me to keep up” after losing two staffers, including one who unexpectedly exited for a competing station.

UTICA/ROME — Dick Nellis, who worked at a number of Mohawk Valley stations including WLFH, WADR, WALY and WUTQ, has passed away.  Nellis, who also worked at stations in the Hudson Valley region south of Albany, was 70.

UTICA/ROME — Some slight confusion between two stations on adjacent frequencies has caused Arbitron to revise its audience estimates for the Utica-Rome market.  The revisions, due out Tuesday at 10:00am, are expected to result in higher numbers for adult standards B95.5/WUTQ/WADR.

UTICA/ROME — Roser Communications Network is seeking a new host for Talk of the Town, the two-hour local talk show which airs weekday mornings on the trimulcast of B95.5 (W238CA), WUTQ and WADR.  Former host Mike Walsh has accepted a new job elsewhere.

UTICA-ROME — Mike Walsh is on the move again, this time hosting a brand new talk show on Roser Communications Network’s Beautiful Music B95.5 (W238CA) and WUTQ/WADR.  The new show is already on-air, weekdays from 8-10am.

UTICA/ROME — Many of the songs featured on “Beautiful Music” (WUTQ/WADR) may have been big hits when AM Radio was the only choice, but fans of the format don’t have to keep listening on AM anymore. Roser Communications Network has turned the simulcast into a trimulcast, with the addition of a new FM translator.

UTICA — Calling hours for longtime local radio host Joe Graziano are set for today (Tuesday) from 3-6pm at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes at 2222 Genesee Street.  According to the Utica Observer-Dispatch, a Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life with military honors will follow the visitation.  As reported earlier, Graziano died on Friday

UTICA/ROME — Joe Graziano, a Mohawk Valley radio fixture whose career spanned more than half a century, passed away on Friday at the age of 74.  During the last several years of his career, Graziano hosted the Cuppa Joe Show on at least three different radio stations.

UTICA-ROME — The Arbitron Persons 12+ numbers for the Fall 2008 ratings period are out.  Regent’s Big Frog 104 (WFRG) and Lite 98.7 (WLZW) still own the top 2 ranks, but the duo traded ranks as Lite loses nearly 3 ratings points since the spring.