Business Segments · Goodwill
Recorded Music — Goodwill
Warner Music Group Recorded Music — Goodwill decreased by 0.6% to $1.59B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 1.5%, from $1.57B to $1.59B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Recorded Music — Goodwill shows an upward trend with a 3.5% CAGR.
Analysis
StatementSegment
CategoryCapital Allocation
SignalContext dependent
VolatilityModerate
First reportedQ4 2014
Last reportedQ2 2026May 7, 2026
Rolls up toGoodwill
How to read this metric
Increases reflect recent M&A activity; significant write-downs may signal overpayment or declining value of acquired assets.
Detailed definition
The premium paid over the fair market value of net assets during the acquisition of music catalogs or labels within the...
Peer comparison
Common in media and entertainment companies that grow through catalog acquisitions.
Metric ID:
wmg_segment_recorded_music_goodwillHistorical Data
20 periods
| 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 | $1.37B | $1.37B | $1.48B | $1.46B | $1.47B | $1.46B | $1.49B | $1.50B | $1.50B | $1.53B | $1.55B | $1.54B | $1.54B | $1.56B | $1.55B | $1.57B | $1.60B | $1.60B | $1.60B | $1.59B |
| QoQ Change | — | -0.4% | +8.4% | -1.6% | +0.7% | -0.8% | +2.1% | +0.6% | +0.1% | +2.1% | +1.4% | -0.5% | -0.3% | +1.2% | -0.5% | +1.2% | +2.1% | -0.2% | +0.1% | -0.6% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +7.0% | +6.6% | +0.4% | +2.6% | +2.0% | +5.0% | +4.3% | +3.1% | +2.7% | +1.8% | -0.1% | +1.6% | +4.0% | +2.6% | +3.2% | +1.5% |
Range$1.37B – $1.60B
CAGR+3.2%
Avg YoY Growth+3.0%
Median YoY Growth+2.7%
Similar Metrics at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Warner Music Group's recorded music — goodwill?
- Warner Music Group (WMG) reported recorded music — goodwill of $1.59B in Q1 2026.
- How has Warner Music Group's recorded music — goodwill changed year-over-year?
- Warner Music Group's recorded music — goodwill increased by 1.5% year-over-year, from $1.57B to $1.59B.
- What is the long-term trend for Warner Music Group's recorded music — goodwill?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Warner Music Group's recorded music — goodwill has grown at a 3.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $5.50B to $6.31B.
- What does recorded music — goodwill mean?
- The value of intangible assets acquired through business combinations in the recorded music segment.