Big Changes Afoot At KX FM, Laguna Beach's Radio Station

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Big changes are coming to Laguna Beach's radio station, KX FM 104.7, they reported Tuesday. Founding general manager Tyler Russell McCusker will step down and be succeeded by Alyssa Hayek, KX FM’s former music director. Monica Silva-McCusker is also stepping down, passing the torch to Jayne Herring. Promotions are in order for Erica Delamare, the new music director. On-Air personality Ed Steinfeld will remain at his chair during the changes, they reported.

Though stepping down, Russell McCusker will serve as an on-staff consultant for the remainder of the year and then be considered for an advisory role on the Board of Directors. Monica Silva-McCusker, who has been with the station for almost seven years will pass the torch of development director to Herring, a non-profit professional.

Delamare, who started two years ago at KX FM as an intern, will be promoted to music director.

Steinfeld, KX FM’s morning show host, will now also host middays from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by Hayek in the afternoons.

Russell McCusker says that he chose to minimize his role at the station he built because he finally felt he could be successfully replaced.

“It’s very hard for me to summarize nearly a decade of work into one statement,” he said.

Russell McCusker started the station at 23, working by his father's side.

"I knew it was something Laguna needed, but I never could have imagined how much," he said. "This many years later, I am beyond proud we are still standing and have cemented ourselves as an indispensable part of this community."

His decision for Alyssa to run day-to-day operations was twofold.

"I believe I have given everything I personally can to the business and to the community, and I know she can do an even better job than me growing us into the future," Russell McCusker said.

While at the station, he met his wife, had his first child and worked with countless individuals, organizations, and artists.

As far as “what’s next,” Russell McCusker said he will be launching a new Podcast network called Snippet, which will produce and curate short-form on-demand audio shows (Podcasts) in the categories of music, lifestyle, and audiodrama.

He is hopeful for a May launch.

Russell McCusker’s list of accomplishments at KX FM include bringing back concerts to Irvine

Bowl, becoming the first low-power FM to receive Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding and bolstering a partnership with the City of Laguna Beach as an emergency broadcast resource.

Russell McCusker also said it’s very important the community sees the station as a leading arts non-profit, rather than a family-run business. That is part of the reason the Development Director Monica Silva-McCusker has also decided to move on from KX FM.

Silva-McCusker has worked at the station since 2014. She joined the non-profit because of the
youthful energy KX promised and felt that a lateral move in non-profit work was what was needed in her career at the time. She said she was inspired by the grassroots feel of the station’s origin and impressed by the leadership of Russell McCusker.

Since then, Silva-McCusker has broken fundraising records year after year, executing successful fundraising events and on-air pledge drives. When she joined the station, she set out to make it as integrated and involved with as many organizations as possible. According to Russell McCusker, the station’s reputation in the community today is due to Silva-McCusker’s vision and leadership.

“Of all my years at KX FM, what I am most proud of are the connections I was able to form with virtually every entity in Laguna Beach,” she said. “I think I learned that my strength is
connecting, and I utilized that skill in nearly everything I did: sales, grant writing, campaign creations, even finding the perfect person to host your event! I really see people and their
talents, and KX FM was always filled with talented people waiting to be discovered.”

Silva-McCusker is working on developing something new of her own: A consultancy connecting ethnically diverse individuals or groups with entities seeking to diversify their employment landscape.

The station’s new General Manager Hayek has 15 years of experience working in the top 50 markets in the radio industry.

She moved to Orange County from New Jersey more than two years ago, after she was hired at KX FM as its new music director. Alyssa said she is humbled and excited to help the station grow into its next stage of life.

“I am so humbled and honored to be given this opportunity with KX FM. I know I have big shoes to fill and I look forward to taking this next step in my career. I want every Laguna resident to know that I am here for them because that is what community radio is all about: the people,” said Hayek.

Delamare grew up in San Juan Capistrano and graduated from UCSB with a degree in Communications and a minor in French. She has been passionate about music and community involvement from a young age, formerly working for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, as well as working as a DJ, producer, singer and jingle-writer.

“Having been with KX FM for almost 2 years as an intern and administrative manager, I am very excited to continue my career with KX FM as music director. Working in the music industry has been a dream of mine, so I’m grateful to have found a place with KX FM and the Laguna Beach community,” said Delamare.

Herring first moved to Laguna Beach in 2014. She is the mother of two young daughters, one at Anneliese and one at Thurston. In New York and Dallas, Herring worked in event planning, hospitality management and public relations, before enrolling at Southern Methodist University to complete a rare degree in Human Rights and International Studies. She is passionate about
cultures, communities, the arts, and the right to life with dignity.

“I’m eager to embrace being back in Laguna and to apply my experience and passions to make our community an even better place,” said Herring. “I also can’t wait to return to theaters,
events, and art festivals … and hugging everybody new I meet!”

Finally, Ed Steinfeld is excited to welcome the changes at KX FM, where he has served as the host of the station’s flagship morning show for two years.

“It delights me to know that when filling important management positions, Tyler, Monica, and the board seek out the smartest, most qualified and hardest working professionals in the field," Steinfeld said. "The fact that these professionals happen to be women lends to my long-held notion that this radio station is all about equality and getting the job done by the best person possible."

The McCuskers can still be reached at their KX FM email addresses.