Bobby Irwin is a longtime Colorado Springs radio programmer and operations executive whose Southern Colorado career spans two eras, beginning at KVUU in the 1980s.
Irwin joined KVUU in 1983 as program director and morning personality. The Gavin Report music reports from 1985 and 1986 credit the Colorado Springs entries to Irwin and Howard. After programming work in other markets, he returned to Colorado Springs in 1998 and was program director of KKMG by 1999.
In October 2000, Radio & Records reported that Irwin was promoted from KKMG program director to operations manager for Citadel’s five-station Colorado Springs cluster. He remained a central programming executive through later ownership changes. In 2022, Cumulus Media reported that Irwin continued as cluster operations manager and program director for KKFM and KKPK after Ryan Kaufman took over KVOR programming.
Southern Colorado stations: KVUU, KKMG, KVOR, KKFM and KKPK.
Documented roles: KVUU program director and morning host; KKMG program director; Citadel/Cumulus cluster operations manager; later program director for KVOR, KKFM and KKPK. The latest dated employment record located for this profile is from 2022; a current 2026 role has not been confirmed.
Sources
- The Gavin Report, February 14, 1986 — KVUU music report.
- Airplay Monitor, May 28, 1999 — Irwin listed as KKMG program director.
- Radio & Records, October 13, 2000 — promotion to cluster operations manager.
- Cumulus Media, March 8, 2022 — Irwin’s then-current responsibilities for KKFM, KKPK and the Colorado Springs cluster.
Stations They Worked At
FROM THE TIMELINE
Career Moments
1983: Bobby Irwin joins KVUU in Colorado Springs
1983 — Bobby Irwin joined KVUU in Colorado Springs, beginning the first of two major chapters of his Southern Colorado radio career. Contemporary career records place Irwin at KVUU beginning in 1983, and surviving Gavin Report music reports document him programming the station during the mid-1980s.
1985: Bobby Irwin and John T. Howard guide KVUU
1985 — Contemporary Gavin Report Adult Contemporary programming pages repeatedly credit “Irwin/Howard – KVUU”, documenting Bobby Irwin and John T. Howard together in the station's mid-1980s programming operation. Howard remained associated with KVUU after Irwin's 1986 departure.
Gavin correspondence preserves Southern Colorado programmers
Gavin Report correspondence identifies Rip Avina at KDZA Pueblo, Charles Darwin at KVRH Salida, and an Irwin/Howard programming team at KVUU Colorado Springs, preserving names often omitted from station histories.
1986: Bobby Irwin leaves KVUU for Milwaukee
1986 — Bobby Irwin left KVUU in Colorado Springs for WISN/WLTQ in Milwaukee. The move ended his first Colorado Springs tenure after joining KVUU in 1983. He later programmed in Tampa and Seattle before returning to Colorado Springs in 1998.
1998: Bobby Irwin returns to Colorado Springs
1998 — After programming stops in Milwaukee, Tampa and Seattle, Bobby Irwin moved his family back to Colorado Springs and began what became a 26-year run with the Citadel/Cumulus cluster. By January 1999, industry airplay records list him as Program Director of KKMG 98.9 Magic FM.
2000: Bobby Irwin becomes Citadel Colorado Springs Operations Manager
October 2000 — Citadel promotes Bobby Irwin from KKMG Program Director to Operations Manager of its five-station Colorado Springs cluster. The move marks the transition from the Paul Johnson era of cluster operations leadership, although Johnson remains documented as KKFM Program Director until his 2001 exit.
2003: Bobby Irwin and Jim Coda lead KKFM programming
2003 — The Radio Power Book lists Bobby Irwin as Program Director of KKFM and Jim Coda as Music Director. KKFM is identified as Citadel's “Classic Rock ’n Roll” heritage-rock station at 98.1.
Bobby Irwin becomes Peak FM program director
When Citadel relaunched 92.9 as The New Peak FM in October 2006, Colorado Springs Operations Manager Bobby Irwin became Program Director of KKPK. Contemporary Radio & Records coverage documented Irwin as the programmer overseeing the transition from KSPZ Oldies 92.9 to Peak FM.
Peak ties for first Adults 25–54 in Winter 2011 ratings
KKPK continued to strengthen in the Winter 2011 Colorado Springs Arbitron survey. Peak posted a 7.8 share among Adults 25–54, tying KVUU for first in the demographic, while its morning programming ranked second with Adults 25–54. Operations Manager Bobby Irwin highlighted Peak's gains across the 18–34, 18–49 and 25–54 demos.
2022: Ryan Kaufman becomes KVOR Program Director
March 8, 2022 — Cumulus Media promoted Ryan Kaufman to Program Director of AM 740 KVOR in Colorado Springs. Kaufman continued as Program Director of XTRA Sports 1300/KCSF-AM, a role he already held.
Cumulus cuts reshape Peak FM staff
A December 2024 round of Cumulus Media reductions brought major changes to 92.9 Peak FM. Longtime Colorado Springs Operations Manager and KKPK/KKFM Program Director Bobby Irwin exited after 26 years with the cluster. Peak Promotions Director and morning co-host Bobby Adan also departed, along with weekend host Captain Dan Jackson.
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