BMG has posted revenue of €444 million for H1 2026, up 5% on a reported basis and 8% organically.
The company also reported operating EBITDA of €127m, up 4%, while maintaining an EBITDA margin of 29%, in line with the level achieved in the prior-year period.
Performance was driven by continued growth in recorded music streaming subscriptions, strong frontline releases, continued progress under the company's BMG Next strategy, and investment in music rights through Bertelsmann's Boost programme.
During the first six months of the year, BMG made the highest first-half investment in music rights in the company's history. The company’s investments in music rights catalogues have reached $1.8bn since lanching its Bertelsmann's Boost programme in 2021.
“Our first-half results reflect the strength of the business we have built over the past several years," said BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld. "Through BMG Next, we have become a more focused, more profitable, digital-first business – one that is better able to invest in artists, songwriters, and music rights for the long term. Sustained organic growth, record profitability, and our highest-ever first half investment in music rights give us a strong foundation for the opportunities ahead.
"AI is now being applied at scale across BMG to better serve our clients and rightsholders by connecting music with the right audiences, deepening fan engagement, driving revenue opportunities, and improving productivity.“
Together with Concord, we will have greater scale, broader capabilities, and increased capacity to invest in artists and songwriters
Thomas Coesfeld, BMG
Major catalogue acquisitions included rights from Jelly Roll, Fuji Music Group, Snap! co-founder Luca Anzilotti and Jet, while new publishing signings included Gary Barlow, Tricky Stewart, Kybba and MCR-T. Elsewhere, Jamiroquai, Yung Gravy, Ocean Sleeper, Carly Pearce and Tash Sultana joined BMG for recordings.
Frontline releases included Lily Allen, Louis Tomlinson and Marteria, alongside publishing successes from Bruno Mars and Jelly Roll. Catalogue performance was led by Blue by Yung Kai, What Is Love by Haddaway, and Lost On You by LP.
The company says it also continued to expand its technology capabilities, using AI and data to "identify the audiences most likely to engage with specific artists and releases, sharpen digital marketing and fan engagement, activate catalogue more effectively and generate additional revenue opportunities". It also applied AI to "improve workflows and productivity" across the business.
It added that the proposed merger between BMG and Concord, announced in April, will mark the next step in BMG's long-term strategy. Subject to regulatory approval, the combined company will be owned approximately 67% by Bertelsmann and approximately 33% by affiliates of Great Mountain Partners.
“Together with Concord, we will have greater scale, broader capabilities, and increased capacity to invest in artists and songwriters, strengthen the support we provide creators and partners, and create greater long-term value from music rights," added Coesfeld.
