CapEx
Warner Music Group CapEx increased by 35.0% to $27M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 25.0%, from $36M to $27M. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), CapEx shows an upward trend with a 10.6% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.
Analysis
How to read this metric
High capital expenditures suggest expansion or modernization, whereas low levels may indicate operational efficiency or underinvestment.
Detailed definition
Cash outflows used to acquire, upgrade, and maintain physical assets such as property, buildings, or equipment. This met...
Peer comparison
Typically lower for media and entertainment companies compared to capital-intensive manufacturing or utility firms.
capital_expendituresHistorical Data
| Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | Q2 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $20M | $35M | $34M | $28M | $35M | $38M | $21M | $35M | $33M | $38M | $29M | $26M | $28M | $33M | $36M | $36M | $39M | $28M | $20M | $27M |
| QoQ Change | — | +75.0% | -2.9% | -17.6% | +25.0% | +8.6% | -44.7% | +66.7% | -5.7% | +15.2% | -23.7% | -10.3% | +7.7% | +17.9% | +9.1% | +0.0% | +8.3% | -28.2% | -28.6% | +35.0% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +75.0% | +8.6% | -38.2% | +25.0% | -5.7% | +0.0% | +38.1% | -25.7% | -15.2% | -13.2% | +24.1% | +38.5% | +39.3% | -15.2% | -44.4% | -25.0% |
Business Segments
| Segment | FY'21 | FY'22 | FY'23 | FY'24 | FY'25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded Music | $33M | $52M | $39M | $28M | $22M |
| Music Publishing | $1M | $1M | $1M | $1M | $3M |
| Total | $93M | $135M | $127M | $116M | $139M |
All segment values are derived from annual filings.
CapEx at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Warner Music Group's capex?
- Warner Music Group (WMG) reported capex of $27M in Q1 2026.
- How has Warner Music Group's capex changed year-over-year?
- Warner Music Group's capex decreased by 25.0% year-over-year, from $36M to $27M.
- What is the long-term trend for Warner Music Group's capex?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Warner Music Group's capex has grown at a 10.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $93M to $139M.
- What does capex mean?
- Cash spent on physical assets like buildings, machinery, or technology infrastructure.