This week, Live Nation defied expectations by rising Q2 live performance revenues 19% YoY to $5.946 billion… regardless of selling fewer reveals than it did in the identical interval of 2024.
The agency’s quarterly world attendance in Q2 2025 surged 14% YoY to 44.1 million followers.
Meanwhile, Kobalt struck a groundbreaking AI licensing cope with ElevenLabs that establishes 50/50 revenue parity between publishing and recorded music, full with a ‘Most Favored Nation’ clause that might reshape business negotiations.
Elsewhere, Spotify‘s shares jumped 5% after the corporate introduced recent value hikes throughout a number of worldwide markets. Two examples: particular person month-to-month Premium subscriptions rose to EUR €11.99 in Italy and Spain.
Also this week, Sony‘s music operations generated USD $2.768 billion in calendar Q2 2025, up 8.8% YoY, whereas Warner Music Group regained momentum with underlying recorded music revenues climbing 8.3% YoY.
Here are a few of the greatest headlines from the previous few days…
1. LIVE NATION JUST GREW CONCERTS REVENUE BY 19.0% YOY… DESPITE PUTTING ON FEWER SHOWS
Live Nation Entertainment delivered a robust Q2 2025 efficiency, with concerts revenue hitting a record $5.946 billion – up 19% year-on-year – regardless of selling fewer complete occasions.
The firm promoted 14,292 occasions globally, down from 14,678 in the identical quarter final yr, however complete world attendance exploded 14% YoY to 44.1 million followers.
The secret to Live Nation’s success lies in its strategic shift towards larger, higher-value worldwide occasions.
While its quantity of North American reveals fell by 876 occasions YoY in Q2 2025 (vs. Q2 2024), the variety of its worldwide occasions rose from 4,688 to 5,268, as worldwide attendance surged up 33% YoY… (MBW Explains)
2. KOBALT’S AI DEAL WITH SUNO RIVAL ELEVENLABS GUARANTEES PUBLISHING ‘PARITY’ WITH RECORDED MUSIC
Kobalt has secured a probably precedent-setting licensing settlement with ElevenLabs’ new AI music platform, Eleven Music, that establishes 50/50 revenue parity between publishing and recorded music – a big departure from conventional streaming economics the place publishers usually obtain round 25% in contrast to recorded music’s 75% share.
Perhaps most importantly, MBW has realized that Kobalt secured a Most Favored Nation (MFN) clause within the deal, which means if any recorded music rightsholder negotiates higher phrases, Kobalt will mechanically be upgraded to match them.
Kobalt’s opt-in settlement now exists alongside Merlin‘s separate cope with ElevenLabs for the recorded music rights of its members… (MBW)
3. SPOTIFY ANNOUNCES NEW PRICE HIKES
Spotify shares jumped 5% on Monday (August 4) after the streaming large introduced subscription value hikes throughout a number of worldwide markets exterior the US, overlaying South Asia (together with India), the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific area.
Premium month-to-month particular person subscriptions have already elevated by €1 per 30 days in Italy, Portugal and Spain, with costs now at €11.99 in Italy and Spain, and €8.99 in Portugal. Countries that noticed value will increase earlier within the yr seem unaffected by this newest spherical… (MBW)
4. SONY GENERATED $2.77BN FROM RECORDED MUSIC AND PUBLISHING IN CALENDAR Q2 2025, UP 8.8% YOY
Sony’s world music rights operation posted spectacular Q2 2025 outcomes, producing $2.768 billion throughout recorded music and publishing – an 8.8% year-on-year enhance representing roughly $223 million greater than the prior yr quarter.
Recorded music operations contributed $2.09 billion, up 8.4% year-on-year, whereas music publishing added $683 million, climbing 9.9% YoY.
Streaming revenue dominated Sony’s recorded music efficiency, producing $1.36 billion with 7.3% year-on-year progress… (MBW)
5. WARNER MUSIC GROUP REGAINS MOMENTUM: UNDERLYING RECORDED MUSIC REVENUES UP 8.3% YOY IN CALENDAR Q2, SUBSCRIPTION REVENUES UP 8.5%
Warner Music Group bounced again strongly in calendar Q2 2025, reporting complete revenue of $1.689 billion, representing 7.0% year-on-year progress in fixed forex.
When one-time objects are excluded, the corporate’s underlying efficiency was considerably stronger, with recorded music revenues up 8.3% year-on-year and subscription streaming revenues climbing 8.5% YoY – a marked reacceleration from the earlier quarter.
CEO Robert Kyncl emphasised that the outcomes display the corporate’s technique is working, delivering “large chart hits, breakthrough stars, robust revenue progress, and market share features…” (MBW)
Partner message: MBW’s Weekly Round-up is supported by BMI, the world chief in performing rights administration, devoted to supporting songwriters, composers and publishers and championing the worth of music. Find out extra about BMI right here. Music Business Worldwide
