Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl's label posted subscription streaming revenue up 11% year on year at constant currency in its preliminary calendar Q2 filing, Music Business Worldwide reported on August 3, days after CFO and COO Armin Zerza left the company on July 31 in a move WMG attributed to "personal reasons." Total revenue reached approximately $1.86 billion for the quarter, up 9% at constant currency, with Lou Dickler stepping up as acting CFO and Tom Corson promoted to COO.
WMG's official results, published August 5, confirmed the preliminary picture: total revenue of $1.864 billion, recorded music subscription streaming revenue up 10.8% to $758 million, and net income of roughly $200 million against a $16 million loss a year earlier. CEO Robert Kyncl called it the company's "fifth consecutive quarter" of meeting or beating targets, crediting "robust subscription streaming growth, market share gains, and disciplined operating leverage." Top sellers for the quarter included Bruno Mars, Don Toliver, sombr, Alex Warren and Madonna.
On the earnings call, Kyncl said WMG expects its licensing deals with AI music platforms Suno, Stability AI, KLAY and Udio to start contributing "materially" to subscription streaming revenue growth from fiscal 2027, which begins October 1. He pointed to a July 31 Munich court ruling that found Suno had infringed copyright by training on repertoire from German society GEMA, saying it "effectively confirmed the Warner Music Group contract and strategy" committing Suno to a licensed model. WMG signed its Suno deal in November 2025, becoming the first major label to settle with the AI company.
Kyncl said protecting artists and songwriters remained WMG's "top priority" as it strikes further AI deals, noting the company has expanded requirements for fully AI generated content to be flagged and removed from pro rata royalty pools. WMG's Q2 numbers followed a calendar Q1 in which total revenue rose 12.1% at constant currency.
TREBEL's acquisition of the superfan platform Sesh, reported the same week, named WMG's own in house superfan app as part of the same industry push.
The facts
- Subscription streaming revenue rose 11% year on year in calendar Q2
- Total quarterly revenue reached approximately $1.86 billion
- CFO and COO Armin Zerza left the company July 31
- Net income was roughly $200 million versus a $16 million loss a year earlier
- WMG expects AI licensing deals to add to growth from fiscal 2027
- WMG was the first major label to settle and license with Suno
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