This week, Reside 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.
In the meantime, Kobalt struck a groundbreaking AI licensing cope with ElevenLabs that establishes 50/50 income parity between publishing and recorded music, full with a ‘Most Favored Nation’ clause that would reshape trade negotiations.
Elsewhere, Spotify‘s shares jumped 5% after the corporate introduced contemporary worth 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.
Additionally 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.
Listed below are a number 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
Reside Nation Leisure delivered a powerful Q2 2025 efficiency, with concert events income hitting a file $5.946 billion – up 19% year-on-year – regardless of selling fewer complete occasions.
The corporate promoted 14,292 occasions globally, down from 14,678 in the identical quarter final 12 months, however complete world attendance exploded 14% YoY to 44.1 million followers.
The key to Reside Nation’s success lies in its strategic shift towards larger, higher-value worldwide occasions.
Whereas 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 income parity between publishing and recorded music – a major departure from conventional streaming economics the place publishers sometimes obtain round 25% in comparison with recorded music’s 75% share.
Maybe most importantly, MBW has discovered that Kobalt secured a Most Favored Nation (MFN) clause within the deal, that means if any recorded music rightsholder negotiates higher phrases, Kobalt will robotically 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 worth hikes throughout a number of worldwide markets exterior the US, masking South Asia (together with India), the Center 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. International locations that noticed worth will increase earlier within the 12 months 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 12 months 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 income dominated Sony’s recorded music efficiency, producing $1.36 billion with 7.3% year-on-year development… (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 income of $1.689 billion, representing 7.0% year-on-year development in fixed forex.
When one-time gadgets 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 show the corporate’s technique is working, delivering “large chart hits, breakthrough stars, sturdy income development, and market share positive factors…” (MBW)
Companion message: MBW’s Weekly Spherical-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. Discover out extra about BMI right here. Music Enterprise Worldwide
