“This is a wonderful KCRW story. Jason began as a phone volunteer in the front office when he was still in high school,” KCRW General Manager Ruth Seymour said in a statement.

“He grew up on KCRW because his parents were listeners. When he returned from college he reconnected with the station and debuted on the air here 16 years ago. He has a passion for the music and a deep connection to the local music scene. Moreover KCRW is in his DNA.”

Bentley is stepping down from his evening slot to take over the influential music program from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.

Hundreds of artists have been introduced to SoCal and national audiences through live performances on “Morning Becomes Eclectic.”

“I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity and humbled by the task, which is to open a new chapter for the station,” Bentley said. “It’s a reinvention of myself to match the gold standards set by previous music directors. It’s no longer the hypnotic pulse of the city at night – it’s the ever-evolving optimism of weekday mornings.

“My show has always reflected the continual evolution of music and emerging artists. And while I built my foundation as a champion of dance and electronic music, this is a great opportunity for me to grow, a challenge I will take very seriously,” Bentley said.

In addition to being a KCRW DJ, Bentley worked as a music supervisor on “The Matrix” soundtracks, a music executive as the co-founder of the Quango Music Group and an A&R exec at Madonna’s Maverick imprint and as a music producer and remixer.

After 10 years at the music director and programmer, Harcourt will step down at the end of November to pursue several independent projects. He’s not leaving the station behind altogether, as he will host a three-hour show on Sunday nights from 6 to 9 p.m.