WUTC-FM 88.1 seems to have hit on a popular programming formula.

According to the spring 2009 Arbitron ratings, the public radio station saw its ratings increase 41 percent over last spring's ratings.

In real numbers, the increase represents a cumulative audience of 59,300 people, according to a news release. The average quarter-hour audience also increased 47 percent.

"This is particularly good news for the radio station because we are now celebrating our 25th year as the voice of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and each year it just gets better," said Dr. John McCormack, station manager.

When you break it down by program, there is more good news, as some saw increases of more than 200 percent.

"There were large increases across the programming schedule," said Ken Dryden, underwriting sales director. " 'Car Talk' drew an audience of 13,100 for the largest average quarter-hour audience in the history of the radio station. Obviously, WUTC listeners enjoy having a laugh as they learn about automobile repair."

* On Oct. 3, I will join 13 of my media colleagues in a walk for a very worthy cause, and I'd like to invite you to join us.

The event is the Chattanooga Classic Prostrate Cancer Walk at Laurel Point on Raccoon Mountain. There will be a 4- and 2-mile walk, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The media-types will be doing an 8-mile walk. Signed up to walk are Jeff Styles, WGOW; Rebecca Cruz, chattanoogahasfun.com; Scott Chase, KZ106; Kevin West, WGOW; Thom Benson, Tennessee Aquarium; Jed Mescon, Channel 3; David Glenn, NewsChannel 9; Erick Foster, Power 94; James Howard, Sunny 92; Ted Gocke, J-103; Elizabeth Crenshaw, The Pulse; Brad Steiner, 96.5 The Mountain; and Alison Lebovitz, Parenting Magazine and WTCI-TV 45.

It should be a fun day hiking a beautiful trail.

You can learn more, and register to walk, at chattanoog aprostatewalk.org.

* North Georgia native Randall Franks will perform "Old Black Fiddle" during the 31st annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards show Saturday. The Georgys will air on Georgia Public Broadcasting networks at 8 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Friends of Georgia Music Festival Inc. at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Also scheduled to perform are Collective Soul, Third Day and 2007 scholarship winner Reginald Smith.

"I am greatly honored to share in this wonderful evening honoring several of our state's greats," Franks said.

The song was written by Franks, who is perhaps best known for his role as Officer Randy Goode on TV's "In the Heat of the Night." It provides the back story for the fiddle used in Charlie Daniels' hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."

Performing the song with Franks will be the Georgia Mafia Bluegrass Band, featuring Jerry and Helen Burke of Woodstock, Rick Smith of Toccoa, J. Max McKee and Dean Marsh of North Carolina.

E-mail Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com.