Report: 25 million played music games in April, banjo sales at all-time low
You may not know this, but April is actually the biggest month of the year for banjo sales in the US. You see, the annual Jugband Jamboree takes place in April each year, across various states in the country, but nobody attended this year thanks to those darn Guitar Heroes, Rock Bands, and Singstars.
A new report (via GI.biz) came up with the data, based on research done by firm Interpret. In fact, aside from the staggering 25 million US gamers that got down with one music game or another, data showed that these gamers purchased 67% more CDs than those who didn't enjoy rhythm-based games. In addition, 29% of these wannabe rockers actually downloaded or streamed a music video in the past three months (compared to the 15% that partook overall), and 45% listened to music via a social network (versus 32% overall). So, as much as celebrities like to bash these kinds of games, it's helping more folks get into music, which, to us, is a good thing.
A new report (via GI.biz) came up with the data, based on research done by firm Interpret. In fact, aside from the staggering 25 million US gamers that got down with one music game or another, data showed that these gamers purchased 67% more CDs than those who didn't enjoy rhythm-based games. In addition, 29% of these wannabe rockers actually downloaded or streamed a music video in the past three months (compared to the 15% that partook overall), and 45% listened to music via a social network (versus 32% overall). So, as much as celebrities like to bash these kinds of games, it's helping more folks get into music, which, to us, is a good thing.






Get a WordPress.com Blog





Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tyler @ Jun 26th 2009 5:52PM
I think that is great.
linx-ibarra @ Jun 26th 2009 5:53PM
let the music begin
DaveMcRae the Haiku Artist @ Jun 26th 2009 5:54PM
Oh my sweet Banjo
Nobody likes to play you
It is really sad
Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jun 26th 2009 6:13PM
Guitar Hero Time
While my banjo gently weeps
I rock out on screen
DaveMcRae the Haiku Artist @ Jun 26th 2009 6:26PM
Plug in the guitar
Choose your song and jam away
You are a rock star!
Hashbrown Hunter (OneGiantCluster.blogspot.com) @ Jun 26th 2009 6:35PM
Are these haikus or something?
Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jun 26th 2009 6:41PM
But why no banjo?
We could all use some country
In our Fire and Flames
DaveMcRae the Haiku Artist @ Jun 26th 2009 6:56PM
It's a Haiku-off!
Sharpen your pencils and write
poetry prevails
Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jun 26th 2009 7:46PM
Haikus are easy
Five,Seven,Five syllables
Creates a nice poem
DaveMcRae the Haiku Artist @ Jun 26th 2009 8:13PM
This has not been wise
Now I get spammed with emails
me and my ideas
juanissimo07 @ Jun 26th 2009 5:58PM
I only clicked on this story for the Banjo details... which unfortunately there weren't any.
David Hinkle @ Jun 26th 2009 7:23PM
Welcome to Joystiq, gaming blog. Hope you enjoy it! :)
False @ Jun 26th 2009 6:02PM
But most of the comments here complain about how music games are tired and played out. I'm so confused!
Apollo @ Jun 26th 2009 6:08PM
This is good news..........
.....Now when is the Floyd going to join a piece of the action?
Nap @ Jun 26th 2009 6:26PM
Guitar Hero: Banjo-Kazooie
Rodrigo @ Jun 26th 2009 6:38PM
please don't give activision ideas!
Dahk @ Jun 26th 2009 6:27PM
Ahem, here we go:
CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SOOOOOON
Coldbrand @ Jun 26th 2009 6:38PM
Celebrities can go suck off a gorilla, they're not special, people discovering new meaningful music is universally a good thing if it'll draw them away from what's jammed down our throats on MTV and the radio.
Dethgar @ Jun 26th 2009 6:41PM
You can get laid by playing the guitar. You likely won't get laid playing Guitar Hero/Rock Band, unless you're in some kind of tournament and a bus of fat chicks shows up.
Obi-Habby @ Jun 26th 2009 7:59PM
Are you reading my blog again?
rkrocks123 @ Jun 26th 2009 9:13PM
People who don't play guitar get laid too, you know.
Nickytetlow @ Jun 27th 2009 3:31PM
Or maybe
Just Maybe
That's not why some people learn to play guitar in the first place
LE GASP!
eipxen @ Jun 26th 2009 8:51PM
I agree with the statement in the last line, and think it's true, and think it's a good thing, but technically these stats don't prove that, since the whole increased music appreciation trend reflected in the stats could mean that the people who bought music video games were the people more interested in music games in the first place
I've certainly found more music through rock back/guitar hero though, so I certainly believe it
Obi-Habby @ Jun 26th 2009 8:53PM
Amplitude on the PS2 introduced me to house and drum and bass. Best video game I ever played just for that reason.
holyice7 @ Jun 28th 2009 9:39AM
Yeah, a lot of people were complaining about the new vehicle playstyle in Nuts & Bolts...
Wait, different banjo?