Sony Music revenues surpass $4.5bn in 2020

Sony Music’s global recorded music revenues across all categories reached $4.51bn in calendar 2020, representing an 8.1% increase year-on-year.

About $1.36bn of its total global recorded music revenues were generated in calendar quarter four (Q4), which is Sony’s fiscal Q3. The figure shows a 17.5% jump year-on-year and a quarterly revenue increase of more than $200m year-on-year.

Music streaming revenues increased by $467m to $2.87bn, a 19.5% surge in the 12 months. The final quarter of the year saw streaming revenues increase by $174m to $843m, a 26% jump year-on-year.

Sony's physical music category performed well in calendar Q4, with a significant increase in revenue of 41%, bringing its total to $336m. The quarterly figure also boosted annual global physical music sales, which climbed from $803m in calendar 2019 to $898m in calendar 2020.

The label’s top 10 artist projects in calendar Q4, based on revenue generated and excluding Sony Music Japan releases, included Power Up (AC/DC), Fine Line (Harry Styles), Letter To You (Bruce Springsteen), What You See Is What You Get (Luke Combs), Savage Mode II (21 Savage), Plastic Hearts (Miley Cyrus), F*CK LOVE (The Kid LAROI), The Goat (Polo G), Dropped Outta College (24kGoldn) and À l’aube revenant (Francis Cabrel).

Global music publishing revenue, which comprises Sony/ATV and Sony Music Publishing Japan, hit $430.6m, up 18% from the $365m made in the same period in the previous year.

Following the higher-than-expected sales of physical media in recorded music, Sony Corp has raised its expectation of annual revenue by a further 6% for its fiscal year end.

All the figures in this article have been calculated using a USD converted from Yen with the prevailing exchange rates.

Download the full quarterly report below.