UPDATE: KCRW taps Jason Bentley as music director

The new voice of “Morning Becomes Eclectic" will be familiar to fans of KCRW-FM (89.9), if they like their evenings eclectic, also.

Jason Bentley, host of the public station's nighttime music show, will take over as music director at KCRW and as host of its signature music program when Nic Harcourt leaves both posts Nov. 30.

"I'm excited by this opportunity to grow personally and help grow the station," Bentley said. "It's a place where I've grown up."

Bentley volunteered at the station while in high school and copied the style of former "Morning Becomes Eclectic" host Tom Schnabel when he was a DJ at his college station at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. For the last 16 years, Bentley has hosted his own KCRW show, formerly called "Metropolis," which he described as "the urban pulse at night -- that's a particular mood. Obviously, in the morning, I need to embrace a brighter sound."

"Morning Becomes Eclectic," which airs weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon, is not only the station's highest-profile show, it also has a reach far beyond its morning audience, mainly because among those listeners are Hollywood and music executives with the power to offer contracts to unsigned bands or give artists unheard on other radio stations wide exposure on television and film soundtracks. For example, Harcourt has been credited with bringing notice to Coldplay, Norah Jones, Dido and Damien Rice.

The show celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, and former hosts Schnabel and Chris Douridas still host weekend shows on KCRW. Likewise, Harcourt will host his own program Sundays from 6 to 9 p.m.

KCRW General Manager Ruth Seymour called Bentley "the prodigal son." When she hired Douridas and Harcourt, she went outside the station. But "this time, I was lucky," she said.

In his other role as the station's music director, Bentley said he wants to encourage relationships with what he called KCRW's "cultural partners," such as the L.A. Philharmonic, UCLA Live and REDCAT.

Bentley has also been music supervisor for the "Matrix" movies and a music producer and executive.

"It makes sense to go with somebody familiar with the audience," Harcourt said. "It's a great choice."

Harcourt, who wants to leave the daily KCRW gig to pursue his own projects, arrived there a decade ago from an alternative station in Woodstock, N.Y. He said he didn't want to give Bentley advice; he only repeated what he told those who warned him that, in replacing Douridas, he had big shoes to fill: "I brought my own." And Bentley said he felt no pressure, even with Schnabel, Douridas and Harcourt still at the station.

"These were the first phone calls I got" after the announcement, he said, "to say, 'Hey, I'm here for you.'"

--Steve Carney

Related: KCRW's Nic Harcourt discusses his decision to step down

Photo: KCRW

Comments

[Dan]

I wonder how this move will affect the direction of MBE. Will it be top heavy with dance music?

[marc brown]

This is great news! Jason knows LA and the audience of KCRW better than anyone. Nic will be missed, but can't wait to here jason's take on MBE.

[tew]

Morning Becomes Narcoleptic no more!

[TrickieDickie]

Good news! I can start listening to MBE again. So tired of the endless stream of dreary, bland, self-indulgent navel-gazing musicians with limited talent - Coldplay? Norah Jones? Dido? Damien Rice? Enough said. Goodbye "Nic" (cringe) and good riddance.

[TrickieDicke]

One thing I forgot to mention - any chance of giving the show a new name? I've always thought "morning becomes eclectic" was a bit, well, pretentious...

[Steve]

Or, as I've always referred to it, Morning Becomes Pathetic.

I guess this means no more My Morning Jacket, either. Yipeeeeee!!!

[Matthew]

Excellent choice, but Nic will be missed. I feel as though Nic always found interesting and different music that was also generally accessible. I can't stand mainstream radio and MBE has always been a wonderful alternative. Looking foward to hearing Jason's show.

[Andrew]

Excellent news. No more free association, inane lyric spouting 'artists' that Nic champions.

[Jimmy James]

Great News! Nic is so boring and his music is the same. He is the worst DJ on the radio! KCRW needs to change 'Morning Becomes Eclectic'. I stop listening to 'MBE' long ago, and i have stop being a subscriber. Jason Bentley is one of the most talented DJ's on radio. Looking forward to the changes to KCRW.

[Jesse]

Nic will be greatly missed but Jason is an excellent choice I'm a faithful listener of Metropolis. MBE has given me a real appreciation for all music. I look forward to listening to the new voice of MBE and wish NIc the best.

[HoldThePickle]

Anyone remember Jem? Gary Jules? Exactly. Good riddance, Nic.

[Robert]

MBE went steadily downhill with the dreary ramblings and mediocre/mainstream tastes of Harcourt. May Jason Bentley bring more of the experimental tastes that Tom Schnabel and Chris Douridas championed!

[gopher]

Nic will be missed. He did well to champion those he believed in whether you agreed or not. This is admirable and is part of the reason people listen to the station, the DJ has influence on programming. Those who would overly critize his decisions to play these artists sound much like the hipsters that leave bars when they become too "mainstream".
Jason is an excellent choice and will do well to move the station forward.

[Eric]

I will not miss Nic's horrific musical taste, which generally causes me to flee to KPCC for my morning drive. I'm a little concerned about the techno tedium I associate with Jason Bentley, but maybe that's just his late-night persona. Personally I think Anne Litt (sp?) would have been a great choice for MBE. The times I've heard her fill in it's been like getting to eat a big bowl of peppermint patties after years of eating pine bark.

[Chris]

I'll miss Nic's UK rock connections and the overall depth of knowledge he displays across so many musical genres. I think he's done an amazing job increasing the size and scope of the KCRW presents events. I hope he doesn't get bored and do more Land Rover voice overs.

[Gawd]

Nic won't be missed at all. Neither will his poor and bizarre taste in noise that he calls music.

He's a FRAUD.

[jaz k.]

i enjoyed each MBE host- tom, chris, nic-- jason is going to be great too. i'll be curious what live bands jason brings to the station. looking forward to a new alchemy.

[Dan]

Do I hear any votes for Gary Calamar?

[teambentley]

Jason is great, and I think he will bring KCRW into the future. Nic was getting tired, and even he knew it. I look forward to Jason's show! Maybe he will even tell the listeners what they just heard after three songs instead of SIX. Nic was annoying that way. That said, he was good at times.

[Eric]

Yes Dan, Gary Calamar would get my vote (assuming my fave Anne Litt wasn't an option). I always enjoy The Open Road when I stumble across it, and his attitude seems a good fit for a morning show. Another good option: whatever happened to Cathy Tampkin (of Pop Secret)?

[covertops]

Yay, I can listen to MBE again. No more "morning becomes acoustic." Bentley introduced me to artists like Sigur Ros, Natacha Atlas and Timo Maas - now THAT is eclectic. I look forward to listening to the radio with a pen in hand again...well hell, I look forward to actually listening to the show again.

[Rosemary]

Nic Harcourt was horrible almost from the beginning. People tolerated him because the the high profile of MBE that was pioneered by Tom and Chris. I can't wait enjoy my mornings again, while listening to the radio!! We love you Jason! Thanks you, thank you for freeing us from the drone of acoustic, bland and whiny folk music!! I can now begin to donate and volunteer again. I stopped to show my disgust for the Narcoleptic. Yay! First Obama and now this!