Nashville River Stages Signs Best Buy as Name and Title Sponsor.

Business Editors/Entertainment & Lifestyle Writers

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2002

Nashville River Stages, the city's premier music event, has signed a name and title sponsor. Best Buy, North America's leading specialty retailer of digital technology and

Best Buy Nashville River Stages, known as the unofficial kick-off to summer in Middle Tennessee, will celebrate its fifth year when the gates open on May 3. The three-day music festival along the banks of the Cumberland River downtown features music from a variety of genres with the majority being pop/rock and Americana performers. Past festivals have showcased Widespread Panic, Cracker, Steve Earle, Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Kid Rock, Hootie & the Blowfish, Everclear, Train, Wallflowers, John Prine and Bob Dylan.

Best Buy, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, will receive name and title rights and will be incorporated into the festival logo. The interactive mobile "Best Buy Fun Zone," a 53-foot trailer featuring kiosks with interactive gaming and digital music zones, products featured in an integrated home office, high-definition home theater and a high-tech kitchen, will be on site at the riverfront. Best Buy will also be included in signage, advertising and other event opportunities.

Budweiser, AmSouth and Bell South will sponsor stages at the 2002 event, and Jack Daniels, Red Lobster, The US Army, Cingular Wireless, Fast Signs, Hilton Suites, Optima Multimedia and Deer Park water are among this year's additional sponsors.

A discounted "early bird" pass that allows entrance to all three days of the festival goes on sale March 19, the same day the majority of the entertainment lineup for this year is announced. While the discounted three-day pass is available only through April 1, regular three-day and one day passes will be on sale April 2 through festival time. Tickets will be available at www.bestbuynashvilleriverstages.com, all TicketMaster outlets or you can charge by phone at (615) 255-9600.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

Minneapolis-based Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) is North America's number one specialty retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software and appliances. The Company operates retail stores and commercial Web sites under the names: Best Buy (BestBuy.com), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca); Magnolia Hi-Fi (MagnoliaHiFi.com), Media Play (MediaPlay.com), On Cue (OnCue.com), Sam Goody (SamGoody.com), and Suncoast (Suncoast.com). The Company reaches consumers through more than 1,800 retail stores in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.