Hot Topic Branded Music Podcasts and Web Radio Take Licensed Business Entertainment to New Level.Thousands of Podcast Downloads and Online Listening Sessions Provide Positive Results for Retailer, its Customers and the Featured Artists LAS VEGAS Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. -- Specialty retailer Hot Topic, Inc. (Nasdaq:HOTT HOTT - (Hot Off The Tree) An Internet-based electronic magazine edited by David Scott Lewis <d.s.lewis@ieee.org> and distributed by electronic mail. ) has successfully taken its branded music experience outside of the store environment and into iPods and online communities. PlayNetwork Inc., the leading provider of integrated media experiences for business, announced at the GlobalShop 2007 expo at the Sands Expo The Sands Expo and Convention Center, at 1.2 million square feet (110,000 m²), is the second largest convention center in the Las Vegas, Nevada area. It opened in 1990 across the street from the original Sands Hotel. an innovative and highly branded music-oriented experience via portable media devices and the Internet. Hot Topic has teamed up with PlayNetwork to license and distribute branded music compilations via an innovative and highly branded Hot Topic Podcast series and a streaming music channel for online shoppers dubbed HT Radio. "PlayNetwork has been an excellent partner in helping us reach out to our customers," said Brian Elliott Brian Elliott (born April 9 1985 in Newmarket, Ontario) is a goaltender for the Binghamton Senators of the AHL. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 2003 draft with the 291st pick. He went on to play 4 seasons for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. , in Hot Topic's Music Business Development Department. "We have worked with PlayNetwork to customize the music we play in our stores for some time, which has proven to be a very positive among Hot Topic employees and customers. With podcasts and HT Radio, we're taking our branded music even further with customers who are mobile, spend a good deal of time on the Internet, and are very choosy choos·y also choos·ey adj. choos·i·er, choos·i·est Very careful in choosing; highly selective. choos  i·ness n. about the music that appeals
to their lifestyle interests."
Three episodes of the Hot Topic Podcast series are currently available at iTunes[R] (www.itunes.com) and have led to thousands of listening subscriber downloads within just weeks of being posted, due mostly to word-of-mouth among teenagers that make up the target audience. Hot Topic's Web Radio feature on its web site (www.hottopic.com) attracts hundreds to thousands of listeners daily as online browsers activate the customized media stream and, in many cases, keep the music playing long after their shopping is done. "PlayNetwork is excited to have Hot Topic as a launch partner for our Branded Podcasting services," said PlayNetwork's Senior VP, Promotional Services, David Brewster For other persons named David Brewster, see David Brewster (disambiguation). Sir David Brewster FRS, (11 December 1781 – 10 February 1868) was a Scottish scientist, inventor and writer. . "Close, creative collaboration between Hot Topic and PlayNetwork has resulted in strong brand-specific music programming in Hot Topic stores and through the online Hot Topic experience." Hot Topic is a growing mall-based specialty retailer whose target customers are young men and women between the ages of 12 and 22. Their customers are identified as 'passionate about rock music, pop culture and music-inspired fashion.' The brand touts "feeling" the energy just by walking inside any store. The branding initiatives PlayNetwork has helped develop for Hot Topic enable those same customers to experience that same "energy" when online with web-based radio or anytime with podcast episodes. PlayNetwork has gone beyond traditional background music services for business by licensing music for new, unique branding efforts. Hot Topic's success extending a branded influence outside of its stores is echoed by an increasing interest among fashion retailers, restaurants, heath clubs, and other businesses looking to creatively promote their business with compelling music in new formats and lifestyle scenarios. "Epitaph epitaph, strictly, an inscription on a tomb; by extension, a statement, usually in verse, commemorating the dead. The earliest such inscriptions are those found on Egyptian sarcophagi. is an independent label, so we work to be savvy marketers; it is much easier for us to be flexible and embrace emerging technologies," said Matt McGreevy, Head of New Media and Internet Marketing See Internet advertising. for Epitaph Records, Inc. "We believe that however people are going to find new music is a space we want to be aware of and involved in." Included with the music is a Hot Topic spokesperson's narration that provides additional information on Hot Topic, music artists and their featured music. PlayNetwork-produced podcasts can also include special product and merchandise tie-ins to enable brands to market their business. "We felt that working with PlayNetwork on this podcast was a natural extension of a very positive collaborative effort," said Elloitt. "We are optimistic and look forward to great results." About PlayNetwork PlayNetwork Inc. is an integrated media services leader for worldwide business. PlayNetwork provides branded video (digital signage Digital signage is a form of out-of-home advertising in which content and messages displayed on an electronic screen, or digital sign, can be changed without modification to the physical sign, typically with the goal of delivering targeted messages to specific locations at ), audio (music and messaging), promotional media, quality audio/video systems, and professional services (job) professional services - A department of a supplier providing consultancy and programming manpower for the supplier's products. that deliver compelling experiences for retail, hospitality, health and fitness, retail banking and other businesses. Established in 1996, Redmond, Washington Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, USA. It is situated on the eastern edge of the Seattle urban area, in what is known as the Eastside. In 2003 the Census Bureau estimated the city population was 46,391. , based PlayNetwork services leading national brands such as: Abercrombie & Fitch, Brinker International, Chico's, CompUSA, Diesel, Hot Topic, Houlihan's, Petco Animal Supplies, Starbucks Coffee Company, TGI TGI Tribunal de Grande Instance TGI Target Group Index TGI Thank God It's Friday (US restaurant chain) TGI Tracheal Gas Insufflation TGI Tumor Growth Inhibition TGI Trato Gastrointestinal (Portugese) Friday's and The Finish Line. More information is available at www.playnetwork.com. About Hot Topic Inc. On January 5th, 2004, Hot Topic operated 592 stores located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. In 2004, the brand opened a total of 91 Hot Topic stores, and 65 locations in 2005. The brand, projected to add some 60 locations in 2006 (totaling 687), as it became a publicly traded company publicly traded company A company whose shares of common stock are held by the public and are available for purchase by investors. The shares of publicly traded firms are bought and sold on the organized exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. on the NASDAQ under the symbol HOTT. For more information or to hear the web radio program see: www.hottopic.com. |
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