Sony Music Delivers Double-Digit Revenue Growth in Strong Fiscal Q1

Sony's Music segment – covering Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and Sony Music Publishing – reported a strong fiscal first quarter for the period ending June 30, 2026, with double-digit revenue and profit growth driven by continued streaming gains and sharp increases in merchandising and live revenue.

Fiscal Q1 highlights:

• Total revenue for Sony’s Music segment rose 20.8% YoY to 562 billion yen (US$3.51bn).

• Recorded music streaming revenue grew 9.7% YoY to US$1.488bn, while music publishing streaming revenue increased 8% YoY.

• Overall recorded music revenue rose 26.4% YoY to 381 billion yen (US$2.38bn), with physical sales up 14% to 30 billion yen ($180m).

• Music publishing revenue rose 17.5% YoY when measured in yen, reaching 116 billion yen ($728.2m).

• Revenue from merchandising, live and sync surged 53.8% YoY, highlighting growing diversification beyond streaming.

• Operating income increased 14.1% to 106 billion yen (US$660m), while adjusted OIBDA climbed 14.8% to 134 billion yen (US$830m).

Top-sellers:

• Michael Jackson was Sony’s top-selling artist after the global success of the Michael biopic drove nearly fourfold growth in catalog consumption.

• Ella Langley also delivered a standout quarter, with latest record Dandelion topping the US albums chart and joining previous album still hungover among Sony’s Top 10 sellers.

• Other major contributors included Raye, Bad Bunny, SZA, Luke Combs, and Peso Pluma & Tito Double P.

Improved forecast:

• Sony raised its full-year streaming revenue forecast, citing favorable foreign exchange movements and the consolidation of Recognition Music Group.