10 Questions with ... Corey O'Brien

NAME:Corey O'Brien TITLE:APD/MD STATION:KXRK MARKET:Salt Lake City COMPANY:Simmons Media Group BORN:May 1980 RAISED:Salt Lake City, UT

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I realized my aspirations as a high school student by working at a music store for three years before taking a senior internship with X96. After graduation they hired me.

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Spent a few months last year working at an indie music shop, ya know, for kids. Other than that I worked as a PA during the 2002 Winter Olympics.

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

"Urban Chipmunk" on vinyl followed by "Welcome to My Nightmare" by Alice Cooper. My parents were music junkies; they had a large but not always epic collection. Otherwise my first CD purchase was "Dookie" (Green Day).

FIRST CONCERT:

The Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie Tour

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

That is a culturally biased question so I have to go with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

1. How did you become interested in radio?

As an impressionable youth I had delusions of grander. I was always a music, book, and film nerd and radio seemed like a reachable way to make it worse.

2. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

I used to listen to Sean Boy Walton (Zeibarth) on X96. Little did I know I would one day have his air-shift. I also listened to Q99 because sometimes a boy needs to hear some Nennah Cherry and Arrested Development.

3. What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

I am a college student working on another BA, and then maybe law school to study intellectual property.

4. What part of your job do you like best? Least?

I love doing production. If and when I get strong copy I can really get into it make conceptual little audio narratives. My least favorite part is the frustration when a song or band that I think is a sure thing is outright rejected. Oh, and I miss out on a lot of shows doing the night shift.

5. You have some pretty cool features on your night show. Explain.

I have been in this market for nine and half years, and my PD, Todd Nuke'Em, trusts me to play what will be entertaining for our audience. I embrace variety, and by highlighting it, whether it is a cage match or just a new music feature, you can turn ears, lock dials and most importantly, get audience reaction. The one problem I have is an unruly attention span switches a lot faster than the radio audience.

6. What makes X96 unique?

Our listeners bleed music. This is an engulfing market to do radio in. Cultural jokes aside, people here support the counter culture format and lifestyle.

7. Of all the things you have done at X96, what are you most proud of?

Longevity. After this much time the audience would have let it be known if they didn't like me on the air. It is nice to know a few people listen and enjoy.

8. What was the best concert you saw in '07 and why?

Gogol Bordello played early this year and blew my mind. The energy and uniqueness of that band is unrivaled. Cold War Kids at our Big Ass Show reminded me why I would BUY their album.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?

A Cafe' Rio Burrito and an hour to bury my mind in a book.

10. What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?

I would be mid law school or just finishing up -- maybe writing in some function. At one point film was a dream but I only play around with that in my spare time.

What are your hobbies?

Snowboarding, reading (Henry Miller, Adam Gopnik, Kosinski), French New Wave cinema.