Musical Chairs Continues at KCRW

In the time it took KCRW-FM (89.9) to find a new music director, the former music director had left his new job and come back to the Santa Monica-based public-radio station.

The station completed its drawn-out search for a music director this week when it announced that Chris Douridas, the host of its “Morning Becomes Eclectic” program, would fill the post last held by Tom Schnabel. Schnabel, who had left the station last October, returned earlier this month as host of a nighttime music show, replacing longtime host Deirdre O’Donoghue, who took a personal leave.

Douridas, 28, was formerly the music director of a public-radio station in Dallas and was news editor of “Marketplace,” American Public Radio’s daily business program. He was also a substitute classical music host at public-radio station KUSC-FM in Los Angeles before becoming a substitute host on “Morning Becomes Eclectic” last October. He took over full time in January.

As music director, Douridas will be responsible for overseeing KCRW’s musical programs, deciding which shows to air and what they will consist of, and maintaining the station’s music library.

No major changes are in the offing, he said.

“I think that it’s important to develop a vision that the station can adhere to musically, and that was beautifully laid down by Tom Schnabel in years past,” Douridas said. “As far as hard changes, I don’t think there’s going to be a noticeable difference in the on-air sound. I think it’ll be more in the nuances. For the first few months, I don’t have any grand scheme. Why fix what ain’t broke?”

As Schnabel did, Douridas will continue to host “Morning Becomes Eclectic.”

Schnabel, 43, had been at KCRW for 11 years before departing last year for a job in the world-music division of A&M; Records. But A&M; closed the division in June. He expressed interest in the KCRW music director’s job, which was still unfilled, but wound up being asked to launch a weeknight show when O’Donoghue left. He has been at the helm of “Evening Becomes Eclectic” since July 3 and also hosts “10:1,” a music program on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Schnabel said that he is enjoying his new assignment, especially without the demands of being music director.

“I’m very happy to be on the air at night,” he said. “In some ways it’s easier to produce an evening program, not having to take calls as music director and not having to get tied down to day-to-day administrative functions. At night you appeal a little more to the individual listener.”

“He really established the international, eclectic sound at KCRW,” said general manager Ruth Hirschmann. “And I like the fact that (Douridas and Schnabel) are both on and there’s now a complement to ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic.’ We’ve never had that before. The international eclectic sound . . . is so rich, and the number of people who know how to do this at all are very, very few and far between.”

Schnabel’s nightly 7-10 p.m. show replaced O’Donoghue’s “SNAP,” another eclectic music program that showcased what some called esoteric rock ‘n’ roll.

O’Donoghue, 43, who had been hosting the show for six years, was known for her knowledge of the latest trends in music and for her droll, literary discourses on the world of rock.

She said that medical reasons led to her request for a personal leave. Initially she had asked to broadcast “SNAP” from home or from outside the KCRW studio because of allergies she believes she developed at the station, but Hirschmann turned her down.

“Somebody who wants to be on the air every night and wants not to come into the station won’t be connected with the station,” Hirschmann said. “I don’t think it’s a very practical solution. It didn’t sound feasible.”

Hirschmann said she did not preclude O’Donoghue’s coming back. “The door is not closed,” she said.

O’Donoghue said that she plans to produce a weekly version of “SNAP” for national distribution. She expects that show to go on the air by October.

O’Donoghue also produces and hosts a program on KLSX-FM (97.1), “Breakfast With the Beatles,” which airs Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon.