NPD: Music Genre Sales Down 46 Per Cent Year-To-Date

Sales of music videogames are down 46 per cent year-to-date in the US marketplace, according to the NPD Group.

However, the category remains the third bestselling genre of 2009, and will see a boost in the coming months following the release of The Beatles: Rock Band and Guitar Hero 5 in September, said NPD analyst Anita Frazier.

"With the introduction of Beatles: Rock Band and Guitar Hero 5 in September, a lot of folks have inquired about the performance of these titles and the music/dance genre," she said. "While sales of this genre are down 46 per cent year-to-date, unit sales are down much less because lower prices are playing into the dollar sales decline. It's still the third bestselling genre for the year after general action and multiple/other sports (where Wii Fit resides)."