SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): JANUARY 9, 2002




                                 HOT TOPIC, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                   CALIFORNIA
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)



     0-28784                                              77-0198182
(Commission File No.)                          (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                           18305 EAST SAN JOSE AVENUE
                       CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIFORNIA 91748
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (626) 839-4681



ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         On January 9, 2002, Hot Topic, Inc. ("Hot Topic") announced the Board
of Directors of Hot Topic approved a three-for-two stock split to be implemented
as a 50% stock dividend (the "Stock Split"). Each Hot Topic shareholder of
record as of January 23, 2002 will receive one-half additional shares of Common
Stock for each share of Common Stock held (i.e. one additional share of Common
Stock for each two shares of Common Stock held). Any shareholder who would
otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a share will receive, in lieu of
the fraction of a share, the cash equal to the fair market value thereof, which
shall be based upon the closing sales price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq
National Market on February 6, 2002, the distribution date of the stock
dividend. In addition, the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance or subject to outstanding options granted under Hot Topic's employee
stock plans or outside of any Company stock plan will increase by 50%. The
following Registration Statements will cover the increase in the number of
shares as a result of the Stock Split: 333-13875; 333-58173; and 333-43992. Hot
Topic hereby incorporates by reference the contents of the news release
announcing the Stock Split filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (C)      EXHIBITS.

                  99.1     News Release dated January 9, 2002.



                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                               HOT TOPIC, INC.



Dated:  January 9, 2002                        By: /s/ Jim McGinty
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                   Jim McGinty
                                                   Chief Financial Officer



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


         99.1     News Release dated January 9, 2002.