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Recorded Music operating margin expanded 1.7 percentage points to 11.3% from 9.6% in the prior-year quarter. Recorded Music OIBDA margin expanded 1.6 percentage points to 17.4% from 15.8% in the prior-year quarter. OIBDA and OIBDA margin improvement were driven by lower artist and repertoire costs and variable compensation expense.
Music Publishing
Music Publishing Summary Results(dollars in millions) For the Three For the Three Months ended Months ended December 31, December 31, 2012 2011 % Change ------------- -------------- --------- (unaudited) (unaudited)Revenue $ 116 $ 121 (4%)Digital Revenue 19 15 27%Operating income (loss) (1) - -OIBDA 16 16 -
Music Publishing revenue declined 4.1%, or 3.3% in constant currency. 26.7% growth in digital revenue, driven by increases in subscription and streaming revenue and download revenue, was more than offset by the expected decline in mechanical revenue of 21.2%, reflecting the ongoing transition from physical to digital sales in the recorded music industry. Performance revenue was relatively flat, declining 2.1% as a result of an unfavorable currency impact, and synchronization revenue declined 4.3%, reflecting lower video game revenue.
Music Publishing operating margin contracted 0.9 percentage points to negative 0.9% from zero in the prior-year quarter due to a slight increase in depreciation expense. Music Publishing OIBDA margin expanded 0.6 percentage points to 13.8% from 13.2% as a result of lower variable compensation expense.
Financial details for the quarter can be found in the company's current Form 10-Q, for the period ended December 31, 2012, filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This morning, management will be hosting a conference call to discuss the results at 8:30 A.M. EST. The call will be webcast on www.wmg.com.
About Warner Music Group
With its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music Group is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Asylum, Atlantic, East West, Elektra, Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Rykodisc, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word, as well as Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music publishers, with a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This communication includes forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Warner Music Group about future events and financial performance. Words such as "estimates," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "plans," "intends," "believes," "forecasts" and variations of such words or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends, or that do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are made as of today, and we disclaim any duty to update such statements. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, we cannot assure you that management's expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Please refer to our Form 10-K, Form 10-Qs and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements.
