SYRACUSE and UTICA-ROME — Arbitron continues to embargo the public release of ratings information for these two markets, but the competing Eastlan Ratings service is now sharing its version of the station performance story with the general public. [More »]

UTICA — Lots of people in the Mohawk Valley are familiar with “Heart Weekend” but did you know it all started with a radiothon on WIBX almost four decades ago?  The news/talker is getting ready to go live for its 39th year of raising money for the American Heart Association this Friday and Saturday. [More »]

CINCINNATI — Regent Communications, the parent company of four radio stations in the Utica-Rome market, has filed for a “prearranged” Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to eliminate $87 million in debt. [More »]

SYRACUSE — For at least the third year in a row, the B104.7 (WBBS) morning show has been nominated for an Academy of Country Music (ACM) award.  And once again, a programmer who used to work in Utica and Watertown gets a nomination for his current station in Albany. [More »]

UTICA-ROME — Virtually every radio station in the country has informed listeners how to donate towards relief efforts in Haiti, but Utica’s Big Frog 104 (WFRG) is giving listeners an added incentive to donate — a free specially-designed t-shirt. [More »]

WATERTOWN — From the better late than never file, good news for C. Lee Hinkleman, Sr.; the local snowmobiling enthusiast’s weekly IROC and Beyond Snowmobile Show is picking up plenty of steam. Reports say the show’s affiliate base recently expanded to six stations, and that number will soon double. [More »]

Update 1/6 at 10:00am - Regent CEO Bill Stakelin tells Tom Taylor on Radio-Info that “we could’ve made the payment, that wasn’t the issue.”  Rather, the company “decided to conserve cash” as a strategic decision.

CINCINNATI, OH – Regent Communications, the owner of four Utica-Rome radio stations, released a public filing today stating it “did not make a scheduled payment of interest and principal” to its lenders on December 31.  Additionally, Regent says it skipped a $1.2 million payment related to “certain interest rate swap agreements” related to its credit agreement. [More »]

UTICA-ROME — After a few weeks of all-Christmas country music, the Roser Communication Networks’ duo of Bug Country (WBUG/WBGK) stations is ready to unveil a “more contemporary” playlist tomorrow morning at 9am.   [More »]

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 at the age of 74.  He spent the last several years of his career hosting the Cuppa Joe Show on WRUN, and later on WUTQ/WADR.

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. [More »]