Physical Games, Music Sales on the Rise Despite Overall Decline
- HMV and Game report growth in physical entertainment sales
- Nintendo Switch claims 22% of new generation console software spend
- Music buyers spent almost £4 more at HMV compared to last year
- Amazon customers spent less on music than previous year
Entertainment retailers HMV and Game have reported an increase in physical entertainment sales for the three months to 1 July, despite a decline of 11% in the overall market. Kantar Worldpanel’s latest data shows a resurgence in mint game sales, driven by the release of God of War. The Nintendo Switch accounted for 22% of new generation console software spend. HMV music buyers spent almost £4 more on average than last year, contributing to a 3 percentage point increase in physical music sales share (22.8%). Notable releases included Resistance Is Futile by Manic Street Preachers, The Greatest Showman film soundtrack, and Tranquillity Base Hotel + Casino by the Arctic Monkeys. In contrast, Amazon customers spent nearly £1 less on music and added fewer titles to their baskets compared to the previous year. Giulia Barresi, analyst at Kantar Worldpanel, commented that mint game sales rose by 0.3% year-on-year due to God of War’s success, which was purchased by double the number of people who bought Mario Kart 8 (last year’s top seller), preventing a 13% decline in category sales.
Factuality Level: 9
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about the increase in physical entertainment sales for HMV and Game, citing specific data from Kantar Worldpanel and mentioning notable releases that contributed to this growth. It also compares the spending behavior of customers on Amazon with HMV, providing context and analysis.
Noise Level: 4
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the increase in physical entertainment sales for HMV and Game, as well as specific examples like God of War and The Greatest Showman soundtrack contributing to this growth. However, it could benefit from more analysis or context on the overall market trends and potential long-term implications.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: The financial performance of HMV and Game is impacting their share prices in the entertainment retail market.
Financial Rating Justification: This article discusses the increase in physical entertainment sales for HMV and Game, which can affect their stock prices and overall financial performance. It also mentions a decline in Xbox software sales, potentially affecting Microsoft’s financials.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: No extreme event mentioned in the article.
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