數碼收入 減少 0.2% (或增加恆定貨幣) 0.2% 成本收益(或恆定貨幣)和串流收入增加了1.0% (或 1.3% 。 在固定貨幣兌換率下)。錄音音樂串流收入 增加 2.1% (或 2.5% 在固定貨幣兌換率下);但是,根據BMG終止 $2400萬 以及數碼授權更新 $400萬,記錄 音樂串流營收上升 5.6% (或 6.0% 以固定貨幣計算,音樂發行串流營收減少 4.2% (固定貨幣計算相同);然而,在考慮CRb匯率益處影響後 1700萬美元,音樂發行串流營收增加 5.2% (the same in constant currency). Revenue increases in the quarter were driven by growth in Recorded Music licensing, physical and artist services and expanded-rights revenue and Music Publishing synchronization revenue, partially offset by lower Music Publishing mechanical revenue. Music Publishing performance revenue was flat compared to the prior-year quarter on an as-reported basis (or decreased 2.3% in constant currency).
Operating income decreased to $14300萬 compared to $21200萬 in the prior-year quarter. The decrease in operating income was driven by the factors affecting Adjusted OIBDA discussed below, as well as an increase in restructuring charges of $8200萬 compared to the prior-year quarter in connection with the Company’s restructuring plan announced in February 2024 (the “Strategic Restructuring Plan”), higher non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $1800萬, and $600萬 of incremental expenses related to transformation initiatives.
Cash provided by operating activities decreased 10% to $30400萬 from $33800萬 in the prior-year quarter. The decrease was largely the result of timing of working capital, partially offset by the timing of severance payments related to the Company’s restructuring plans. Capital expenditures decreased to $3300萬, from $3800萬 in the prior-year quarter. Free Cash Flow, as defined below, decreased 10% to $27100萬 from $30000萬 in the prior-year quarter.
Last week, the Company’s board of directors authorized a new $10000萬 share repurchase program.
Full-Year Results
Total revenue increased 6.4% (or 6.5% in constant currency). As previously disclosed, the year includes $6800萬 of Recorded Music licensing revenue from a licensing agreement extension for an artist’s catalog (the “Licensing Extension”). In addition, revenue growth was unfavorably impacted by the BMG Termination, which resulted in $8600萬 of lower Recorded Music digital revenue, partially offset by $1600萬 in incremental Recorded Music streaming revenue resulting from the Digital License Renewal. Music Publishing digital revenue growth was also unfavorably impacted by the CRb Rate Benefit of $2400萬 in the prior year. Adjusted for these items, total revenue was up 7.0% (or 7.1% in constant currency).
Digital revenue increased 7.3% (or 7.6% in constant currency) and streaming revenue increased 8.2% (or 8.5% in constant currency). Recorded Music streaming revenue increased 6.9% (or 7.3% in constant currency); however, adjusted for the impact of the BMG Termination of $8100萬 and the Digital License Renewal of $1600萬, Recorded Music streaming revenue increased 9.1% (or 9.6% in constant currency). Music Publishing streaming revenue increased 14.6% (或 14.1% in constant currency); however, adjusted for the impact of the CRb Rate Benefit of $2400萬 in the prior year, Music Publishing streaming revenue was up 19.0% (or 18.5% in constant currency). Revenue increases in the year were also driven by growth in Recorded Music licensing and physical revenue and Music Publishing performance and synchronization revenue, partially offset by lower Recorded Music artist services and expanded-rights revenue and Music Publishing mechanical revenue.
Operating income increased by $3300萬 to $82300萬 compared to $79000萬 in the prior year. The increase in operating income was primarily due to the same factors affecting Adjusted OIBDA discussed below, as well as $2100萬 of lower amortization expenses due to certain intangible assets becoming fully amortized, partially offset by $178 million of restructuring and non-cash impairment charges in the year in connection with the Strategic Restructuring Plan, compared to $4000萬 of restructuring charges in the prior year related to the 2023 Restructuring Plan, $2300萬 of incremental expenses related to transformation initiatives and a $900萬 decrease in net gain on divestitures.
Adjusted OIBDA increased 16.0% to $143200萬 from $123500萬 (the same in constant currency) and Adjusted OIBDA margin increased 1.8 percentage points to 22.3% from 20.5% in the prior year (the same in constant currency). The increases in Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA margin include the favorable impacts of the Licensing Extension of $6700萬 and the Digital License Renewal of $600萬, partially offset by the unfavorable impacts of the BMG Termination of $300萬 and the CRb Rate Benefit of $600萬. Excluding the impact of the Licensing Extension, Digital License Renewal, BMG Termination and the CRb Rate Benefit, Adjusted OIBDA margin increased 0.7 percentage points to 21.4% from 20.7% in the prior year (the same in constant currency), primarily due to strong operating performance and savings from the Company’s restructuring programs, the majority of which was reinvested in the Company’s business.
Net income increased by $3900萬 to $47800萬 compared to $43900萬 in the prior year. The increase in net income was primarily due to the factors described above, as well as a loss on extinguishment of debt of $400萬 in the prior year, lower income tax expense of $4700萬 due to the impact from winding down the Company’s owned and operated media properties, return to provision adjustments and nontaxable income from partnerships, partially offset by higher interest expense, net, primarily due to increased costs on the Company’s variable rate debt.
We evaluate our operating performance based on several factors, including the following non-GAAP financial measures:
調整後的營業利益前稅息折舊及攤提前收益 (OIBDA)
We evaluate our operating performance based on several factors, including our primary financial measure of operating income (loss) before non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and non-cash amortization of intangible assets adjusted to exclude the impact of non-cash stock-based compensation and other related expenses and certain items that affect comparability including but not limited to gains or losses on divestitures and expenses related to restructuring and transformation initiatives (“Adjusted OIBDA”). We consider Adjusted OIBDA to be an important indicator of the operational
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strengths and performance of our businesses. However, a limitation of the use of Adjusted OIBDA as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in our businesses. Accordingly, Adjusted OIBDA should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). In addition, our definition of Adjusted OIBDA may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies.
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Figure 5. Warner Music Group Corp. - Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted OIBDA, Three and Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2024 versus September 30, 2023