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10 Questions with ... Corey Irwin
September 6, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. “It’s funny, the concept of Out Of Order is simple: It’s a countdown show that doesn’t care about numbers. Sure, we always end with No. 1, but everything else is completely random. Behind the scenes, I don’t care about numbers either. Sales and streaming stats mean very little to me. Just because a song is successful doesn’t mean it’s good. So, when people come to me with new music for Out Of Order, all I care about is the quality of the song. If there’s something in their music that’s catchy, relatable, interesting, memorable, etc. we’re gonna give it a spin.”
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started at KROQ while I was still in college (circa 2003). Worked my way through all the early career roles - phone screener, board op, assistant producer. Jumped to Westwood One in 2007 for my first stint producing Out Of Order, as well as working on their Grammy coverage and several other shows for the company. Moved to KITS (Live 105)/San Francisco in 2014 to produce the Kevin Klein Live morning show. That lasted until January 2018 when we became a casualty of the CBS/Entercom merger. Took a break from radio for a little while, working for a tech PR company. Then ended up returning to Out Of Order (now owned by Compass) in 2019. My second go-round with the show is still going strong!
1. How did you first become interested in radio?
I was in film school when I got my first shot in radio. Although I’d grown up in a musical household -- and was an avid concert-goer -- a career in radio had never crossed my mind up until that point. But the chance to potentially work at KROQ was too good to pass up. I mean, this was The World Famous KROQ, the place that pretty much dictated what was cool in music for my generation of listeners. Naturally, I had to at least try. Little did I know it would turn into a long career.
2. Let’s flashback to getting your start at KROQ almost 20 years ago. What do you remember most?
I was in awe walking into that place the first time. Then, once I got my first entry-level job, I just wanted to learn as much as possible. It was an interesting period, too, because I started right around the time the classic KROQ guard was finishing up and a new era was making their mark. So, I had Jed the Fish as a mentor, but I also had Stryker, Nicole Alvarez and Kat Corbett. And, of course, the behind the scenes people working at that station were amazing during my tenure. I mean, I was in radio boot camp, but watching industry legends like Lisa Worden, Matt Smith and Kevin Weatherly. I was bound to learn a lot just by osmosis.
3. How did you first start producing the weekly syndicated show, Out Of Order?
I was working with Jed, the original Out Of Order host, at KROQ in the afternoons. His Out Of Order producer left for a different gig and he suggested I go for it. We had a rapport and he knew my work ethic. I met with Stacie Parra, who was heading up the programming department at Westwood One at the time, and things clicked. That led to a seven year run with the company. There were changes along the way -- I was there for the Dial Global and Cumulus mergers. Even as I added some other shows and responsibilities to my slate, Out Of Order remained a constant. Then, in 2014 I left for KITS (Live 105)/San Francisco to produce the Kevin Klein Live morning show.
4. In 2019, you returned for your second go-round with Out Of Order. What led to your second opportunity working with Stryker?
Well, I loved my time with Kevin Klein Live, but we were unfortunately a casualty of the 2017 CBS/Entercom merger. I spent a little time working outside of radio, but then Brian Huen, who had been producing Out Of Order for a few years, reached out and let me know he wouldn’t be continuing with the show. Stryker and I had enjoyed working together previously on Out Of Order, so it was a natural fit for me to return to the show.
5. Give us the 411 on your role with Out Of Order.
So the dynamic between Stryker and me is very different this time around, and -- frankly -- I think much stronger. I’m based in the Bay Area now and he’s in L.A., so we do everything remotely, including our recording sessions. Communication is imperative with this kind of setup, so he and I regularly touch base regarding music and interviews for the show. I program Out Of Order each week, map out our playlist and write the script (it’s not followed verbatim, but it provides Stryker a guide). We have our recording session via Zoom, with Stryker recording audio in his home studio. I edit and assemble the show, then get it uploaded for our affiliates every week.
6. You mentioned that you and Stryker take a lot of pride in Out Of Order being not just a countdown show, but also a show that highlights the best new music. Can you discuss the decision-making process?
It’s funny, the concept of Out Of Order is simple: It’s a countdown show that doesn’t care about numbers. Sure, we always end with No. 1, but everything else is completely random. Behind the scenes, I don’t care about numbers either. Sales and streaming stats mean very little to me. Just because a song is successful doesn’t mean it’s good. So, when people come to me with new music for Out Of Order, all I care about is the quality of the song. If there’s something in their music that’s catchy, relatable, interesting, memorable, etc. we’re gonna give it a spin. There have been artists we’ve featured on Out Of Order who are unsigned, have only a few thousand streams and/or are generally unknown. But their music spoke to us, so we played them. I’m very lucky that Stryker has so much trust and faith in me when it comes to choosing the new music we feature. He’s also, as most people know, a passionate music fan and brings his own recommendations every week. It’s a testament to his work ethic that he’s able to dedicate so much time to Out Of Order, on top of his afternoon show with Booker at Alt 98.7, plus his Tuna On Toast podcast.
7. Take us behind the scenes on your show prep each week?
The research never really stops. I always have tabs on what our artists are up to -- who’s on tour, when is their album dropping, are there any milestone song/album anniversaries coming up, etc. Really, anything interesting that Stryker may want to mention on the show. Being pre-recorded makes it difficult to feel “in the moment” but we do what we can to comment on pop-culture news. I’m always listening to new music -- not just what’s sent my way from labels/management/promo, but also scanning Spotify playlists and tastemaker websites to see what’s out there.
8. What do you love most about doing the show each week?
Highlighting new music is probably my favorite. I love it when we’re early on a band or song, then 3 or 4 months later (sometimes more) they start getting national attention. Beyond that, I think the interviews we feature on Out Of Order are fantastic. Stryker is a great interviewer, they’re always fun conversations, and, as a music nerd, I love hearing musicians talk about their craft.
9. You also work with Stryker on his Tuna On Toast podcast and write for Townsquare’s digital side at Ultimate Classic Rock. What is a typical workday like for you?
I cannot speak highly enough about the team at UCR. The group, led by our Editor in Chief Matthew Wilkening, is incredible and they really value the contributions from everyone on the staff. I’m the site’s only full-time west coast writer, so my work for them runs from the afternoons into evening. So, on most days my mornings are taken up by responsibilities for Out Of Order and Tuna On Toast (the two shows are very intertwined), then I’m writing for UCR from 2-10pm PT. It makes for long days, but I’m fortunate to work on stuff that I genuinely enjoy. Plus, between UCR and Out Of Order, I manage to have one foot in rock’s past and another in its future -- can’t complain about that!
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Cold brew coffee
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
I have a two year old son who is already smarter and cooler than his old man. He tends to run the weekends, with trips to the zoo, local parks, and music class among our regular activities. When I do have time for myself, I’m either playing Australian Rules Football (a niche sport most people haven’t heard of) or hanging out at one of our local breweries.
Favorite places to eat in L.A.?
There are a few places I always visit when we’re back in LA. Crimson is a delicious, casual Mediterranean place in Santa Monica. I love hitting up Porto’s Bakery in Burbank. Gum Tree Cafe in Hermosa Beach is a favorite for coffee and breakfast.
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
1A) Los Angeles Dodgers 1B) Los Angeles Clippers Everything else falls far behind those two.
First record ever purchased?
The soundtrack to An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (I think I was 7 or 8). First rock album would have come a few years later… Probably Dookie by Green Day.
First concert?
My father is a musician and film composer, so I was taken to concerts pretty early on in life. The earliest concert I vividly remember was Ray Charles at the Universal Amphitheater when I was around 10. The first concert I went to without parental supervision was Lollapalooza 1997, back when it was a touring fest.
Favorite band of all-time?
Too many to name them all. Raised on classics like the Beatles, Elton John and Stevie Wonder. Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, The National, Florence + the Machine, White Stripes, Glass Animals, Portugal the Man… The list of favorites is a mile long.
Favorite new band over the past year?
There’s been a lot of awesome new music in the past year -- call it the silver lining of the pandemic. In terms of new bands, I really like what I’m hearing from Sports Team, Giant Rooks and Cautious Clay.
Anything else you would like to add?
In the little spare time I have, I’m working on a new website with some friends. It’s called Festlife.com and it’s dedicated to news, music, history and culture surrounding music festivals. It’s just a fledgling site at the moment, but we’re really hoping to build into something over the next year. Check back with me in 2023!
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