ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PEI’s New Music Showcase HOT 105.5
By Rebecca Spinner Photos Story Sheidow
Hot 105.5’s listeners never waver from the station’s flawless playlist of great new music: Hedley, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, and the rest. But “hotties” (as listeners are called) also keep an ear open for the station’s irrepressible on-air hosts—Ashley Bee, Johnny Novak, Angela McNally, Matt MacLeod, and Hot Dan. The “Morning Hot Tub” with Ashley Bee and Johnny Novak provides hit music, topical conversation, and more from 6 a.m. onwards. Ashley and Johnny (both Ontarians) are relatively recent Island arrivals; Novak hails from Ottawa, Bee from New Hamburg. However, program director Matt MacLeod notes, Bee recently purchased a home locally.
it ‘the Maritime tour,’” he jokes) before returning home. He originally hosted Hot 105.5’s morning program; now that he’s awaiting his first child, he’s switched to helming the afternoon broadcast. Music director “Hot” Dan Gallant also hails from PEI; a Holland College alumnus, he snagged his spot at the station through an exceptionally successful internship. Hot Dan handles the station’s evening entertainment, including the Hot 6 @ 6 spotlight (“PEI’s only daily countdown of the day’s hottest songs,” Matt notes) plus the latter part of the Saturday Night Throwdown. Midday host Angela McNally takes Hot 105.5’s reins from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; she presents the throwback-focused 30 Minute Lunch Jam. Angela originally arrived here from Moncton. Now, Matt says, she’s lived
in PEI for years. “She’s really in touch with what’s happening in the community,” he notes. That’s important, since Hot 105.5’s “Hotties” are integral to the station. In fact, the station’s storefront studios, located on Great George Street, allows listeners to glimpse the hosts in action. Hosts are also happy to swing by local events in the station cruiser. Broadcasting an impeccable music selection (and handling everything from birthday requests to blizzard warnings) Hot 105.5 is PEI’s new music touchstone. While you’re enjoying music from Sia, Demi, and Ed, it’s a pleasure to catch up with Ashley, Johnny, Matt, Dan, and Angela, Hot 105.5’s motley crew.
Matt himself is originally from Uigg, and worked in multiple Atlantic locales (“I call
88 www.pei-living.ca WINTER 2017
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