This week, Dwell Nation defied expectations by rising Q2 live performance revenues 19% YoY to $5.946 billion… regardless of selling fewer exhibits than it did in the identical interval of 2024.
The agency’s quarterly world attendance in Q2 2025 surged 14% YoY to 44.1 million followers.
In the meantime, Kobalt struck a groundbreaking AI licensing cope with ElevenLabs that establishes 50/50 income parity between publishing and recorded music, full with a ‘Most Favored Nation’ clause that would reshape business negotiations.
Elsewhere, Spotify‘s shares jumped 5% after the corporate introduced recent worth hikes throughout a number of worldwide markets. Two examples: particular person month-to-month Premium subscriptions rose to EUR €11.99 in Italy and Spain.
Additionally this week, Sony‘s music operations generated USD $2.768 billion in calendar Q2 2025, up 8.8% YoY, whereas Warner Music Group regained momentum with underlying recorded music revenues climbing 8.3% YoY.
Listed below are a number of the greatest headlines from the previous few days…
1. LIVE NATION JUST GREW CONCERTS REVENUE BY 19.0% YOY… DESPITE PUTTING ON FEWER SHOWS
Dwell Nation Leisure delivered a robust Q2 2025 efficiency, with live shows income hitting a document $5.946 billion – up 19% year-on-year – regardless of selling fewer whole occasions.
The corporate promoted 14,292 occasions globally, down from 14,678 in the identical quarter final yr, however whole world attendance exploded 14% YoY to 44.1 million followers.
The key to Dwell Nation’s success lies in its strategic shift towards larger, higher-value worldwide occasions.
Whereas its quantity of North American exhibits fell by 876 occasions YoY in Q2 2025 (vs. Q2 2024), the variety of its worldwide occasions rose from 4,688 to 5,268, as worldwide 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 probably precedent-setting licensing settlement with ElevenLabs’ new AI music platform, Eleven Music, that establishes 50/50 income parity between publishing and recorded music – a major departure from conventional streaming economics the place publishers usually obtain round 25% in comparison with recorded music’s 75% share.
Maybe most importantly, MBW has discovered that Kobalt secured a Most Favored Nation (MFN) clause within the deal, which means if any recorded music rightsholder negotiates higher phrases, Kobalt will robotically be upgraded to match them.
Kobalt’s opt-in settlement now exists alongside Merlin‘s separate cope 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 big introduced subscription worth hikes throughout a number of worldwide markets outdoors the US, protecting South Asia (together with India), the Center East, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific area.
Premium month-to-month particular person subscriptions have already elevated by €1 per thirty days in Italy, Portugal and Spain, with costs now at €11.99 in Italy and Spain, and €8.99 in Portugal. International locations that noticed worth will increase earlier within the yr seem unaffected by this newest spherical… (MBW)
4. SONY GENERATED $2.77BN FROM RECORDED MUSIC AND PUBLISHING IN CALENDAR Q2 2025, UP 8.8% YOY
Sony’s world music rights operation posted spectacular Q2 2025 outcomes, producing $2.768 billion throughout recorded music and publishing – an 8.8% year-on-year enhance representing roughly $223 million greater than the prior yr quarter.
Recorded music operations contributed $2.09 billion, up 8.4% year-on-year, whereas music publishing added $683 million, climbing 9.9% YoY.
Streaming income dominated Sony’s recorded music efficiency, producing $1.36 billion with 7.3% year-on-year progress… (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 again strongly in calendar Q2 2025, reporting whole income of $1.689 billion, representing 7.0% year-on-year progress in fixed foreign money.
When one-time objects are excluded, the corporate’s underlying efficiency was considerably stronger, with recorded music revenues up 8.3% year-on-year and subscription streaming revenues climbing 8.5% YoY – a marked reacceleration from the earlier quarter.
CEO Robert Kyncl emphasised that the outcomes exhibit the corporate’s technique is working, delivering “huge chart hits, breakthrough stars, robust income progress, and market share good points…” (MBW)
