Welcome to Music Enterprise Worldwide’s weekly round-up – the place we be sure that you caught the 5 largest tales to hit our headlines over the previous seven days. MBW’s round-up is supported by Centtrip, which helps over 500 of the world’s best-selling artists maximize their revenue and scale back their touring prices.
Earnings season is upon us, and this week Common Music Group reported 9.5% YoY income development for Q1, with subscription streaming revenues up 9.3% YoY.
In the meantime, Spotify posted one other record-high working revenue in Q1, at $535.6 million, whereas the paid subscriber base grew 12% YoY to 268 million.
Lastly, South Korea’s HYBE posted an almost 39% YoY leap in first-quarter income, to the equal of $348.4 million, pushed by a tripling in live performance income.
We additionally received phrase this week that music creation market Splice has acquired digital instrument library Spitfire Audio, marking Splice’s entry into the plugin sector.
Lastly, MBW reported this week that Ole Obermann, previously of ByteDance, and Rachel Newman have been named Co-Heads of Apple Music.
Common Music Group delivered a powerful begin to 2025 with its Q1 earnings report on Tuesday (April 29), posting income development of 9.5% YoY and adjusted EBITDA development of 10% YoY at fixed foreign money.
Subscription streaming revenues grew 9.3% YoY at fixed foreign money to achieve €1.252 billion ($1.317bn).
In the course of the earnings name, UMG’s Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge, COO and CFO Boyd Muir, and EVP and Chief Digital Officer Michael Nash provided insights into UMG’s efficiency and strategic initiatives.
Listed below are seven key takeaways from the decision…
Spotify grew its world Premium Subscriber base to 268 million paying customers in Q1.
That’s in line with the corporate’s newest monetary outcomes (for Q1 2025), filed Tuesday (April 29), through which SPOT reported that its Premium Subscriber base was up 12% YoY, and up by 5 million internet subscribers on the 263 million that SPOT counted on the finish of the prior quarter (This autumn 2024).
The streaming firm additionally posted a record-high quarterly Working Revenue of €509 million ($535.6m), which was beneath SPOT’s steering of €548 million for Q1.
Shortly earlier than the earnings got here out, information experiences advised Spotify is getting ready a sweeping worth improve throughout a number of world markets beginning this summer season, because the streaming big goals to maintain its profitability momentum…
South Korean leisure powerhouse HYBE has achieved its highest-ever first-quarter income haul, surpassing the 500 billion South Korean gained mark within the three months to the tip of March.
HYBE reported KRW 500.6 billion (approx. USD $348.4 million at present alternate charges) in first-quarter income on Tuesday (April 29), a 38.7% leap from KRW 360.9 billion ($251m) final yr.
This marked a restoration from Q1 2024 when HYBE’s income dropped 12.1% YoY to KRW 360.92 billion ($251.7m).
Live performance income emerged because the standout performer, greater than tripling YoY to KRW 155.2 billion ($108m) from KRW 44 billion ($30.7m), defying the market’s forecast for a 48.6% drop in live performance income to KRW 74.6 billion ($52m)…
Splice — valued in 2021 at practically USD $500 million after securing $55 million in funding – has acquired UK-based “high-end” digital instrument library Spitfire Audio.
Monetary phrases of the acquisition weren’t disclosed, however in line with the Monetary Occasions, which cited an individual acquainted with the matter, the deal is value about USD $50 million.
The acquisition marks Splice’s entry into the plugin sector, which it notes is valued at $640 million, and aligns with its present subscription and rent-to-own companies.
The transfer positions Splice to capitalize on the rising music creation market, forecast (by Midia Analysis) to just about double to $14 billion by 2031…
In February, MBW broke the information that Ole Obermann was leaving his position as World Head of Music Enterprise Growth at ByteDance after 5 and a half years.
Our sources informed us that he had lined up an enormous position at Apple Music.
Now we are able to verify that Obermann has certainly joined Apple, in a newly created position in music targeted on technique and innovation.
MBW understands that Obermann has taken up a joint management place at Apple Music alongside Rachel Newman as the brand new Co-Heads, Apple Music, reporting into Oliver Schusser…
