Sony Music revenues surpass $3b in first quarter of 2026

According to calculations based on the company’s latest financial results, Sony generated an estimated $3.03 billion in combined music revenues between January and March 2026. The figure represents a 19.5% year-on-year increase from approximately $2.54 billion recorded during the same period in 2025.

The latest quarter also marked the end of Sony’s 2025 fiscal year, allowing the company to release full-year results for its music operations.

Streaming and live revenue drive growth

Sony’s recorded music division generated an estimated $2.35 billion in revenue during the quarter, up 23.2% year-on-year.

Streaming revenue accounted for approximately $1.44 billion of that total, reflecting growth of 13.6% compared with the previous year.

The company also recorded strong growth in its “Other” revenue category, which includes licensing, merchandising and live performance income. Revenue in this segment rose by 51% year-on-year to an estimated $631.9 million.

Physical music sales also increased significantly, rising 37.3% to approximately $241.7 million during the quarter.

Download revenue, however, continued to decline, falling 20.1% year-on-year to an estimated $38.9 million.

Publishing division records steady gains

Sony Music Publishing generated an estimated $684.2 million in revenue during the quarter, up 8.4% from the same period in 2025.

Publishing streaming revenue increased 10.8% year-on-year to approximately $402.5 million.

Sony’s wider Music division, which includes recorded music, music publishing and its Visual Media & Platform segment, reported operating income of 132.4 billion yen, equivalent to approximately $844.9 million.

The company stated that the figure included a one-time gain linked to the acquisition of additional equity in Peanuts Holdings LLC. Excluding that gain, quarterly operating income stood at approximately 97.7 billion yen, or $623.5 million.

Total divisional revenue, including animation and gaming-related activities within Visual Media & Platform, reached 570 billion yen, equivalent to approximately $3.64 billion.

Full-year music revenues exceed $11 billion

For the full fiscal year ending March 2026, Sony’s recorded music and publishing operations generated an estimated $11.71 billion in combined revenue, up 13.4% year-on-year.

Recorded music revenue for the year reached approximately $8.93 billion, while music publishing generated an estimated $2.79 billion.

Sony reported that full-year operating income for its Music division rose to 447 billion yen, or about $2.97 billion, representing a 25% increase compared with the previous fiscal year.

The company attributed the growth to higher streaming revenues, stronger live event and merchandising performance, and increased revenue from animation and mobile gaming projects. Among the top-performing projects for Sony Music Entertainment during the first quarter of 2026 were albums by Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, ATEEZ, BLACKPINK, Tate McRae and SZA.

Top-selling projects for the full fiscal year also included releases from Michael Jackson, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Tyler, The Creator and ROSALÍA.