This week, Live Nation defied expectations by growing Q2 concert revenues 19% YoY to $5.946 billion… despite promoting fewer shows than it did in the same period of 2024.
The firm’s quarterly global attendance in Q2 2025 surged 14% YoY to 44.1 million fans.
Meanwhile, Kobalt struck a groundbreaking AI licensing deal with ElevenLabs that establishes 50/50 revenue parity between publishing and recorded music, complete with a ‘Most Favored Nation’ clause that could reshape industry negotiations.
Elsewhere, Spotify‘s shares jumped 5% after the company announced fresh price hikes across multiple international markets. Two examples: individual monthly Premium subscriptions rose to EUR €11.99 in Italy and Spain.
Also this week, Sony‘s music operations generated USD $2.768 billion in calendar Q2 2025, up 8.8% YoY, while Warner Music Group regained momentum with underlying recorded music revenues climbing 8.3% YoY.
Here are some of the biggest headlines from the past few days…
1. LIVE NATION JUST GREW CONCERTS REVENUE BY 19.0% YOY… DESPITE PUTTING ON FEWER SHOWS
Live Nation Entertainment delivered a strong Q2 2025 performance, with concerts revenue hitting a record $5.946 billion – up 19% year-on-year – despite promoting fewer total events.
The company promoted 14,292 events globally, down from 14,678 in the same quarter last year, but total global attendance exploded 14% YoY to 44.1 million fans.
The secret to Live Nation’s success lies in its strategic shift toward bigger, higher-value international events.
While its volume of North American shows fell by 876 events YoY in Q2 2025 (vs. Q2 2024), the number of its international events rose from 4,688 to 5,268, as international 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 potentially precedent-setting licensing agreement with ElevenLabs’ new AI music platform, Eleven Music, that establishes 50/50 revenue parity between publishing and recorded music – a significant departure from traditional streaming economics where publishers typically receive around 25% compared to recorded music’s 75% share.
Perhaps most significantly, MBW has learned that Kobalt secured a Most Favored Nation (MFN) clause in the deal, meaning if any recorded music rightsholder negotiates better terms, Kobalt will automatically be upgraded to match them.
Kobalt’s opt-in agreement now exists alongside Merlin‘s separate deal 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 giant announced subscription price hikes across multiple international markets outside the US, covering South Asia (including India), the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.
Premium monthly individual subscriptions have already increased by €1 per month in Italy, Portugal and Spain, with prices now at €11.99 in Italy and Spain, and €8.99 in Portugal. Countries that saw price increases earlier in the year appear unaffected by this latest round… (MBW)
4. SONY GENERATED $2.77BN FROM RECORDED MUSIC AND PUBLISHING IN CALENDAR Q2 2025, UP 8.8% YOY
Sony’s global music rights operation posted impressive Q2 2025 results, generating $2.768 billion across recorded music and publishing – an 8.8% year-on-year increase representing approximately $223 million more than the prior year quarter.
Recorded music operations contributed $2.09 billion, up 8.4% year-on-year, while music publishing added $683 million, climbing 9.9% YoY.
Streaming revenue dominated Sony’s recorded music performance, generating $1.36 billion with 7.3% year-on-year growth… (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 back strongly in calendar Q2 2025, reporting total revenue of $1.689 billion, representing 7.0% year-on-year growth in constant currency.
When one-time items are excluded, the company’s underlying performance was significantly stronger, with recorded music revenues up 8.3% year-on-year and subscription streaming revenues climbing 8.5% YoY – a marked reacceleration from the previous quarter.
CEO Robert Kyncl emphasized that the results demonstrate the company’s strategy is working, delivering “massive chart hits, breakthrough stars, strong revenue growth, and market share gains…” (MBW)
Partner message: MBW’s Weekly Round-up is supported by BMI, the global leader in performing rights management, dedicated to supporting songwriters, composers and publishers and championing the value of music. Find out more about BMI here. Music Business Worldwide
