BMG has reported over $1 billion in revenue for 2024, which is said to have delivered approximately $540 million worth of catalog acquisitions and signings. Photo Credit: BMG
Thanks to its direct-distribution pivot, several acquisitions, and more, BMG has reported north of $1 billion in revenue for 2024.
Berlin-based BMG reached out with an overview of its full-year financials today, which also delivered a comprehensive earnings report from its Bertelsmann parent. As we noted this past August, BMG reported $497 million/€459 million (up 11.1% YoY) in revenue for 2024’s opening half.
And for the entirety of 2024, the rebrand-minded business posted $1.04 billion/€963 million in revenue, with $545 million/€504 million or so therefore attributable to Q3 and Q4. All told, the 2024 sum ($3.3 million/€3 million of which was classified as intersegment) represents 6.4% YoY growth as well as 8.1% YoY “organic growth,” according to BMG.
By region, BMG generated almost half its 2024 revenue from the U.S., followed by 12.9% for the U.K., 8.1% for Germany, and an even 6% for France. All other markets kicked in the remaining 23.4% of revenue, the company indicated.
Like with the majors’ financials, the aforementioned acquisitions (plus fresh publishing admin tie-ups, lawsuit settlements, and a whole lot else) are factoring into the numbers.
Among different things, BMG dropped approximately $540 million/€500 million on some 24 catalogs as well as signings during 2024, with 10 of the catalog deals having wrapped in H1, higher-ups disclosed.
(Narrowing down the half-billion-euro figure from BMG, Bertelsmann’s 2024 report emphasizes $338 million/€313 million in 2024 “investments,” including on catalogs, for the music company.)
Meanwhile, the above-highlighted distribution shift is also worth keeping in mind. Having parted ways with Warner Music’s ADA, BMG identified 20.3% YoY digital revenue growth for H1 2024 and 16% for the whole year.
Additionally, about 68% of the business’s revenue derived from digital on the year – up from 63% in 2023 but down slightly from 69% in H1 2024.
(However, BMG is allied with Universal Music on physical distribution and acknowledged an $18.4 million/€17 million YoY slip in revenue from “products and merchandise” for 2024.)
On the operating EBITDA side, BMG pointed to a 37% YoY spike to $286 million/€265 million; the full-year percentage outpaced its H1 counterpart, which was up 35.5% YoY to $132 million/€122 million.
In a statement, BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld touted his company’s ongoing reorganization and “incredible 2024” showing.
“Our BMG Next strategy has been instrumental in driving a successful 2024 with a step-change performance in a fast-evolving music market,” Coesfeld communicated.
“Building on the strong performance of our artists and songwriters, ongoing go-to-market improvements, such as insourcing digital distribution, and continued high investment into our people, catalog acquisitions and technology development, we achieved an incredible 2024,” he concluded.
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