From Warner Music Group’s revenues to Pollen going bust… It’s MBW’s Weekly Spherical-Up

Welcome to Music Enterprise Worldwide’s weekly round-up – the place we be certain that you caught the 5 greatest 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 maximise their revenue and scale back their touring prices.

Following within the footsteps of Common Music Group and Sony Corp, Warner Music Group this week introduced its monetary outcomes for the three months to finish of June (calendar Q2).

The corporate’s total gross sales – throughout recorded music, music publishing and different actions – had been up 12.1% YoY.

Recorded music streaming turnover reached $773 million in calendar Q2 at WMG, up simply 2.7% YoY in fixed foreign money.

Nevertheless, that quantity was affected by a one-time “catch up” fee despatched to Warner by a digital platform within the prior-year quarter.

Elsewhere within the information this week, reside music startup Pollen collapsed into administration – the UK’s equal of chapter safety within the States.

Probably the most stunning ingredient of Pollen’s demise was the truth that the corporate had raised roughly USD $150 million in funding simply three months earlier.

Additionally introduced this week: Hipgnosis and SESAC are each securitizing property to launch nine-figure bond choices, whereas TikTok is hiring for specialists in AI music-making.

Right here’s what occurred prior to now few days…

1) Warner Music Group revenues up 12.1% YoY in calendar Q2; recorded music streaming up 2.7% 

Warner Music Group introduced a combined bag of outcomes for its calendar Q2 (fiscal Q3) 2022 outcomes, with one notably constructive topline stat: At fixed foreign money, WMG’s company-wide revenues – throughout recorded music, publishing, and different actions – had been up 12.1% YoY within the quarter to $1.43 billion.

That double-digit rise was partly pushed by the efficiency of Warner’s music publishing firm, Warner Chappell Music, which noticed its calendar Q2 revenues hit $245 million within the quarter (the three months to finish of June) – up 34.6% YoY at fixed foreign money. (MBW)

2) Pollen falls into administration, three months after elevating $150m

UK-born journey and music-related experiences firm Pollen has fallen into administration.

Streetteam Software program Restricted, Pollen’s UK-based guardian firm, has known as in New York-headquartered restructuring and insolvency specialists Kroll to manage its restructuring.

The British Authorities has beforehand invested in Pollen via the taxpayer-backed Future Fund.(MBW)

3) Music’s bond journey continues: SESAC and Hipgnosis each launch nine-figure choices

The music-companies-doing-bonds narrative has dried up a bit in current months, as macro-economic pressures have continued to swirl across the leisure enterprise (and the broader world).

However now that narrative may be very a lot again: In a strong signal that music royalties stay a really investible proposition, the previous few weeks have seen not one however two important music trade firms start securitizing their property into bonds. (MBW)

4) TikTok goes on AI music-making and machine studying hiring spree

In keeping with a lot of job adverts noticed by MBW, TikTok and guardian firm ByteDance are hiring for a lot of highly-skilled specialists in machine studying and AI music creation in each the US and China.

TikTok, which acquired AI Music startup Jukedeck in 2019, seems to be doubling down on its AI-powered music-making ambitions. (MBW)

5) Germany’s music publishing panorama transforms through €10m+ acquisition

One other headline-worthy acquisition within the eight-figure vary arrives, because it’s introduced that German music writer, ROBA, has teamed with AP Music Royalties Fund to amass the catalog of German music writer, GERIG.

The deal value isn’t being formally disclosed, however sources near the transaction have confirmed to MBW that it sits within the EUR €10 million to €20 million vary.

Based in 1946, GERIG consists of greater than 20 separate owned and administered music publishers. It homes roughly 30,000 songs and 1000’s of grasp rights. (MBW)

MBW’s Weekly Spherical-Up is supported by Centtrip, which helps over 500 of the world’s best-selling artists maximise their revenue and scale back their touring prices.

 Music Enterprise Worldwide