Sony reports strong Q3 performance as music revenues rise 13%

According to the company’s financial results for the three months ending September 2025, total revenue from its recorded music and music publishing businesses reached $2.89 billion, an increase of 13.3% year on year at constant currency. This represents an improvement of about $341 million compared to the same period in 2024.

Recorded music

Sony’s recorded music division generated $2.18 billion in revenue during the quarter, marking a 12.1% increase year on year. Streaming contributed $1.42 billion, up 11.7%, combining both subscription and ad-supported platforms.

Physical music sales rose by 8.4% to $184.9 million, while the “Other” category, which includes licensing, merchandising and live performance income, grew by 16.8% to $529 million.

The company’s top ten recorded music projects outside Japan during the quarter were led by Bruce Springsteen’s Tracks II: The Lost Albums, followed by SZA’s SOS, and Tyler, The Creator’s Don’t Tap the Glass. Other major contributors included releases from Bad Bunny, Tate McRae, Beéle, Fuerza Regida, Michael Jackson, and Sleep Token.

Music publishing

Sony’s music publishing arm, led by Sony Music Publishing, generated $718 million in quarterly revenue, representing a 17.2% increase year on year. Streaming revenue within publishing accounted for approximately $442 million, up 24.8% from the previous year.

Profitability

Across its broader corporate Music division, which includes Recorded Music, Music Publishing, and Visual Media & Platform, Sony reported an operating income of 115.4 billion yen (USD $783 million) for the quarter, equating to an operating margin of 21.3%.

The division’s total revenue reached 542.4 billion yen ($3.68 billion). Adjusted OIBDA (Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortisation) stood at 139.8 billion yen $949 million, representing an Adjusted OIBDA margin of 25.8%.