Courtesy Sony Music
Sony’s global music rights operation posted stellar financial results for the three months ending September 2025 (Calendar Q3 2025), confirming the robust health of the music industry giants. The company’s combined recorded music and music publishing divisions generated an impressive $2.89 billion in revenue. This substantial figure marks a notable 13.3% year-over-year increase on a constant currency basis, according to analysis of Sony Group Corp’s latest filing. These strong figures demonstrate that streaming continues to be the undisputed engine of growth, translating hit songs into massive financial gains.
Recorded Music: The Streaming Mainstream
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), the recorded music operation led by CEO Rob Stringer, was the largest contributor, generating $2.18 billion for the quarter. The continued strength of the business is evident in the numbers: recorded music streaming alone pulled in $1.42 billion, showcasing an 11.7% year-over-year increase. This massive revenue stream was fueled by a diverse and globally successful roster. The top ten revenue-generating projects for the quarter included contemporary stars like SZA and Tyler, The Creator, alongside legendary artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson. This broad base of hits, combined with a healthy 8.4% jump in physical music sales, underpinned the division’s success.
Music Publishing’s Record Surge
Perhaps the most notable takeaway from the Q3 results is the explosive performance of Sony Music Publishing (SMP), headed by CEO Jon Platt. The publishing division generated $718 million, up an impressive 17.2% year-over-year, confirming the immense and growing value of song copyrights. Crucially, SMP’s streaming revenue grew by a staggering 24.8% year-over-year. This high double-digit growth rate underscores the accelerating monetization of publishing catalogs on digital platforms, confirming that the value of the underlying composition is climbing even faster than the recorded music stream itself.
Sony Music Group’s Q3 2025 earnings provide compelling evidence that the global music rights market is thriving. With overall operating income for the division hitting approximately $783 million, the profitability of the business remains exceptionally high. The message is clear: whether through recorded music or publishing, streaming is driving significant and sustainable growth for industry powerhouses like Sony, ensuring that the work of artists and songwriters continues to be monetized effectively across digital platforms.
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