AMARILLO, Texas, April 1, 1999--Hastings
Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAST), a leading multimedia entertainment superstore
retailer, today announced plans to launch www.gohastings.com, its new e-commerce Internet
Web site. Hastings' new site will enable customers to electronically access more than 10
million new and used entertainment products and unique, contemporary gifts and toys. The
new site will feature exceptional product and pricing offers, including best selling books
at up to 50% off list price. www.gohastings.com will be launched within the next 45 days
and will be supported by a national advertising campaign and a limited-time, free-freight
offer."Since our first entertainment superstore opened
in 1991, Hastings has offered its customers the widest possible selection of entertainment
products at the most competitive prices in the industry", said John H. Marmaduke,
president and chief executive officer. "We expect to achieve the same results with
our www.gohastings.com web site by extending our multimedia entertainment retailing style
to the electronic global marketplace. We want our new Web site to be a fun and informative
gathering place for our e-customers to shop, just as our entertainment superstores are in
the various communities they serve".
"Through strategic alliances with numerous trading partners
like Valley Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: VMIX), the site will provide one of the broadest
assortments of entertainment products currently offered on the Web",added Marmaduke.
"In addition, we plan to offer on-line downloading of music titles. Our new site is
designed to deliver fun to our e-customers with products ranging from books to yoyos and
will feature unique product and pricing offers not available on any other site".
In addition to 130 entertainment superstores in 18 states, Hastings
currently operates one of the largest fully integrated multimedia entertainment e-commerce
Internet Web sites, www.hastingsentertainment.com. The site, which will become a part of
www.gohastings.com, currently offers a broad selection of books, music, software,
videotapes and video games to the electronic global marketplace at competitive Internet
prices. General financial information about Hastings is also available to investors and
customers via the Internet at this site.
Certain statements set forth above are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are based upon
management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties
which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein. The
forward-looking statements set forth above are subject to the factors and uncertainties
set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 as filed with the SEC and declared effective on June 11, 1998.
and 
