Harcourt is leaving KCRW director post

Nic Harcourt, the music director of Santa Monica-based public radio station KCRW-FM (89.9), will step down Nov. 30, the station said Monday. Harcourt has presided over KCRW’s nationally known “Morning Becomes Eclectic” music program for 10 years.

Harcourt won’t be completely splitting from the station: He will continue to host a three-hour music program on Sunday evenings.

“As a parent of two young children, I believe it’s time for me to explore new career opportunities and expand upon my other activities in movie, television, voice-over work, advertising and the Internet,” Harcourt said in a statement.

With Harcourt at the helm, “Morning Becomes Eclectic,” which first aired in 1977, became a nationally known brand, one that’s attached to concerts, compilation CDs and music events around the country.

KCRW General Manager Ruth Seymour said the nonprofit is “in the process of choosing a new music director.”

The statement doesn’t spell out specifically what projects Harcourt will pursue outside of KCRW, but he has been active in music supervision roles in film and television. He was behind the music on the short-lived CBS series “Love Monkey” and has worked on such films as “Ice Age,” “Igby Goes Down” and “Anchorman.”

-- Todd Martens