Hot Topic Inc. to Be the Hot Topic at Ozzfest 2000 at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Mich

Business Wire, July 11, 2000

Business Editors

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 11, 2000

Co-Sponsorship of National Rock Festival to Bring Hot Topic and

hottopic.com to Thousands of Rock and Roll Fans

Hot Topic Inc. (Nasdaq:HOTT), a nationwide 239-store mall-based specialty retailer and e-commerce Web site of music-licensed and music-influenced apparel, accessories and gift items for teens, is co-sponsoring Ozzfest 2000, one of the country's biggest touring rock festivals of the summer, in Clarkston, Mich., on July 12.

The 29-city tour is expected to attract more than 800,000 music fans.

As a co-sponsor and major participant, Hot Topic and hottopic.com are placed in the Ozzfest Never Never Land tent, a bazaar-like "street vendor" environment with products, games and computer-hosted interactive media. Hot Topic is providing thousands of specially designed Hot Topic bags for the music fans and is sponsoring a national contest to win Ozzy's throne.

Registration for the Ozzy throne promotion along with tour information is available at local Hot Topic locations. Local stores include Oakland Mall in Troy, Genesee Valley Mall in Flint, Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills, Lansing Mall in Lansing, Grand Traverse Mall in Traverse City, Rivertown Crossings in Grand Rapids, Crossroads Mall in Portage and soon to open Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor.

For years, Ozzfest's mainstay has been the infamous Ozzy Osbourne, the vocalist and songwriter that shaped an image and original musical direction that remains popular to this day. Ozzfest 2000 features many of today's hottest rock bands including Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera, Primer 55, Disturbed, Kittie, Static-X, and Methods of Mayhem.

Hot Topic operates 239 stores in 44 states throughout the United States and an Internet store -- www.hottopic.com.