Corporate Information
The Area
Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because it produces more than a third of Australia's sugar.
Airlie Beach is a seaside village in the shire of Whitsunday and is known as the Heart of Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR) which stretches for two thousand kilometers along the coast.
The Station
HOT FM was launched on Australia Day in 1995, originally owned by Australian media personality Mike Willissee. Subsequent owners included Rural Press, DMG and from September 2004, Macquarie Regional Radioworks.
The stations first Breakfast Announcer was Reg Mowat and the first Programme Manager was Andy Fox. Both have moved to senior positions in Geelong and Melbourne respectively.
Grant Cassidy was the inaugural Manager.
HOT FM's first home was next to the new Sydney Street Markets in Sydney Street. In 2005, administration moved to 123 Victoria Street followed by the on air teams in September 2006. We transmit through the main site at Mt Blackwood with translators at St Lawrence, Airlie Beach and Nebo.
HOT FM Mackay and the Whitsunday's is your local Hit Music station broadcasting from the Mackay Radio Centre Studios in Victoria Street Mackay.
Our coverage reaches as far south as St Lawrence and North to Bowen then west to Moranbar, Nebo and encompassing the Highlands and Coalfields.