BMG Delivers Strong Profitability in 2025 Annual Results

BMG has released its 2025 financial results, highlighting record profitability driven by digital growth, catalog investments and AI integration.

Financial performance:

• Total revenue of €900 million ($1.02 billion), down 6.5% YoY on a reported basis/down 1.5% organic.

• The decline is attributed to the divestment of non-core businesses in its Live segment, as well as unfavorable foreign exchange rates.

• Adjusted operating EBITDA was €284 million ($321 million), up 7.2%, a record high.

• EBITDA margin was a record-breaking 31.5%, a jump from 27.5% in 2024.

• The growth was driven by digital revenues, and a focus on publishing and recorded music rights.

Record catalog investment:

• BMG spent a record €358 million ($405 million) on catalog acquisitions in 2025, up from €243 million in 2024.

• There were 30 catalog acquisitions in total, with the largest being Jason Aldean’s at $250 million.

AI & technology:

• BMG expanded its use of AI across core workflows.

• It furthered its strategic AI partnerships with Google Cloud and OpenAI, while extending its research collaboration with TUM School of Management’s GenAI Lab in Munich.

• It acknowledges that the “lack of adequate legal frameworks” has exposed it to “growing risks” around AI and its impact on royalty distribution.

What they said:

• Thomas Coesfeld, CEO, BMG: “2025 was a transformational year for BMG, defined by disciplined execution under our BMG Next strategy. We sharpened our focus on music publishing and recorded music, strengthened our digital capabilities, and supported that focus through our Boost investments and cutting-edge technology, including the integration of AI across our workflows.”