investor relations

Warner Music Group Corp. Reports Results for the Fiscal First Quarter
Ended December 31, 2011

02/09/12
--  Digital revenue up 17% year over year
--  OIBDA grew 10% and OIBDA margin expanded
--  Cash balance and Free Cash Flow increased

Warner Music Group Corp. today announced its fiscal first quarter financial results for the period ended December 31, 2011.

"This quarter's results reflect a solid performance throughout WMG as we grew digital Recorded Music revenue and total Music Publishing revenue," said Stephen Cooper, Warner Music Group's CEO. "Going forward we will continue to focus on long-term artist development, revenue diversification and cost management."

"Our continued focus on executing cost savings and disciplined investing enabled us to increase OIBDA, OIBDA margin, total cash and Free Cash Flow in the quarter," added Brian Roberts, Warner Music Group's Executive Vice President and CFO.

Total WMG

Total WMG Summary Results
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(dollars in millions)
                                      For the Three  For the Three
                                       Months ended   Months ended
                                       December 31,   December 31,     %
                                           2011           2010       Change
                                      -------------  -------------  -------
                                       (unaudited)    (unaudited)
Revenue                               $         779  $         778        0%
Digital Revenue                                 219            187       17%
Operating income                                 39             27       44%
OIBDA                                            99             90       10%
Net loss attributable to Warner Music
 Group Corp.                                    (26)           (18)      44%

For the quarter, the company's revenue results reflect a solid performance from key releases and strong digital revenue growth in both Recorded Music and Music Publishing, partially offset by the effect of continued physical revenue declines in the recorded music industry. Revenue growth in the U.S., Japan, Canada, Germany and certain other parts of Europe was offset by concert promotion-related declines in France, as well as some weakness in the U.K., Italy, Spain and parts of Asia. Digital revenue represented 28.1% of total revenue for the quarter, compared to 24.0% in the prior-year quarter. Increased digital revenue reflects growth in global downloads and subscription/streaming services.

Operating margin expanded 1.5 percentage points to 5.0% from 3.5%. OIBDA margin expanded 1.1 percentage points to 12.7% from 11.6%. Improvements in OIBDA and OIBDA margin reflect the company's continued focus on cost management and the strong performance of the company's recorded music releases in the quarter. Operating income and OIBDA for the quarter included $3 million of costs incurred in connection with our bid to acquire EMI (all in Corporate) and $7 million of severance charges ($5 million in Recorded Music and $2 million in Corporate), compared to $11 million of severance charges in the prior-year quarter (all in Recorded Music) (the "Quarterly Severance Charges"). (See Figures 4 and 5 below for calculations and reconciliations of OIBDA and OIBDA margin.)

Net loss reflects the impact of an increase in interest expense, to $57 million from $47 million, related to the July 2011 refinancing of certain existing indebtedness in connection with the acquisition of the company by Access Industries.

As of December 31, 2011, the company reported a cash balance of $168 million, total long-term debt of $2.21 billion and net debt (total long-term debt minus cash) of $2.05 billion.

Cash provided by operating activities was $25 million compared to cash used in operating activities of $113 million in the prior-year quarter. Free Cash Flow was $14 million compared to negative $179 million in the prior-year quarter. Free Cash Flow in the prior-year quarter reflects higher cash severance and bonus payments as well as investments in Roadrunner and 615 Music. (See Figure 7 below for a calculation and reconciliation of Free Cash Flow.)

Recorded Music

Recorded Music Summary Results
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(dollars in millions)
                                       For the Three  For the Three
                                       Months ended   Months ended
                                       December 31,   December 31,     %
                                           2011           2010      Change
                                      -------------- -------------- ------
                                        (unaudited)    (unaudited)
Revenue                               $          661 $          662     (0%)
Digital Revenue                                  205            178     15%
Operating income                                  61             47     30%
OIBDA                                            102             90     13%

The company's Recorded Music business experienced an increase in digital revenue, as download revenue and subscription/streaming revenue were both strong. Recorded Music digital revenue represented 31.0% of total Recorded Music revenue, compared to 26.9% in the prior-year quarter. Domestic Recorded Music digital revenue was $115 million, or 44.6% of total domestic Recorded Music revenue, compared to 38.6% in the prior-year quarter. Even with strong physical sales from the company's top seller in the quarter, Michael Buble's "Christmas," digital revenue growth was partially offset by continued contracting demand for physical product. Non-traditional Recorded Music revenue declined due to the variability of touring cycles, which created difficult year-over-year comparisons for the company's European concert promotion business. Licensing revenue also declined due to timing. Major sellers included Michael Buble, Nickelback, Bruno Mars, Udo Lindenberg, Ed Sheeran and The Black Keys.

Recorded Music operating margin expanded 2.1 percentage points to 9.2% from 7.1% in the prior-year quarter. Recorded Music OIBDA margin expanded 1.8 percentage points to 15.4% from 13.6% in the prior-year quarter. In addition to cost management, OIBDA and OIBDA margin improvement was driven by the strong performance of Michael Buble's "Christmas," which helped to drive down marketing expense as a percentage of revenue. Operating income and OIBDA reflect the negative impact of the Quarterly Severance Charges.

Music Publishing

Music Publishing Summary Results
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(dollars in millions)
                                       For the Three For the Three
                                        Months ended  Months ended
                                        December 31,  December 31,
                                            2011          2010     % Change
                                       ------------- ------------- --------
                                        (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Revenue                                $         123 $         120        3%
Digital Revenue                                   15            11       36%
Operating income                                   2             -        -
OIBDA                                             18            18        -

The company's Music Publishing business experienced 9.1% growth in performance revenue, which reflects strength in the advertising market as well as recent acquisitions, and 36.4% growth in digital revenue, driven by increases in download and subscription/streaming revenue. Synchronization revenue was flat, as strength in advertising-related revenue was offset by falloffs in other areas including videogames. Mechanical revenue declined 15.4%, reflecting the ongoing transition in the recorded music industry.

Music Publishing operating margin expanded 1.6 percentage points to 1.6% from zero in the prior-year quarter. Music Publishing OIBDA margin contracted 0.4 percentage points from 15.0% to 14.6% as a result of increased investment in new songwriters.

Financial details for the quarter can be found in the company's current Form 10-Q, for the period ended December 31, 2011, 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.

We maintain an Internet site at www.wmg.com. We use our website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding Warner Music Group is routinely posted on and accessible at http://investors.wmg.com. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about Warner Music Group by enrolling your email by visiting the "email alerts" section at http://investors.wmg.com. Our website and the information posted on it or connected to it shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this communication.

Figure 1. Warner Music Group Corp. - Consolidated Statements of
 Operations, Three Months Ended 12/31/11 versus 12/31/10
(dollars in millions)


                                      Successor     Predecessor
                                    -------------  -------------
                                    For the Three  For the Three
                                     Months Ended   Months Ended
                                     December 31,   December 31,
                                         2011           2010      % Change
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
                                     (unaudited)    (unaudited)
Revenues                            $         779  $         778         -
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues                             (424)          (431)       (2%)
Selling, general and administrative
 expenses                                    (268)          (266)        1%
Amortization of intangible assets             (48)           (54)      (11%)
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Total costs and expenses            $        (740) $        (751)       (1%)
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Operating income                    $          39  $          27        44%
Interest expense, net                         (57)           (47)       21%
Other expense, net                             (2)             -         -
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Loss before income taxes            $         (20) $         (20)        -
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Income tax (expense) benefit                   (6)             2         -
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Net loss                            $         (26) $         (18)       44%
Less: loss attributable to
 noncontrolling interest                        -              -         -
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Net loss attributable to Warner
 Music Group Corp.                  $         (26) $         (18)       44%
                                    =============  =============  ========

Figure 2. Warner Music Group Corp. - Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
 12/31/11 and 09/30/11
(dollars in millions)

                                     December 31,  September 30,
                                         2011           2011      % Change
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
                                     (unaudited)    (unaudited)
Assets:
Current Assets
  Cash & cash equivalents           $         168  $         154         9%
  Accounts receivable, less
   allowances of $90 and $40                  421            385         9%
  Inventories                                  29             29         -
  Royalty advances (expected to be
   recouped w/in 1 year)                      143            135         6%
  Deferred tax assets                          54             54         -
  Other current assets                         42             45        (7%)
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Total Current Assets                $         857  $         802         7%
Royalty advances (expected to be
 recouped after 1 year)                       175            173         1%
Property, plant & equipment, net              177            182        (3%)
Goodwill                                    1,376          1,372         -
Intangible assets subject to
 amortization, net                          2,612          2,678        (2%)
Intangible assets not subject to
 amortization                                 102            102         -
Other assets                                   73             71         3%
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Total Assets                        $       5,372  $       5,380         -
                                    =============  =============  ========

Liabilities & Equity:
Current Liabilities
  Accounts payable                  $         136  $         165       (18%)
  Accrued royalties                         1,034            974         6%
  Accrued liabilities                         232            217         7%
  Accrued interest                             32             55       (42%)
  Deferred revenue                            128            101        27%
  Other current liabilities                    16             10        60%
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Total Current Liabilities           $       1,578  $       1,522         4%

Long-term debt                              2,214          2,217         -
Deferred tax liabilities                      403            411        (2%)
Other noncurrent liabilities                  135            148        (9%)
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Total Liabilities                   $       4,330  $       4,298         1%

Common stock                                    -              -
Additional paid-in capital                  1,129          1,129         -
Accumulated deficit                           (57)           (31)       84%
Accumulated other comprehensive
 loss, net                                    (47)           (33)       42%
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Total Warner Music Group Corp.
 Equity                             $       1,025  $       1,065        (4%)

Noncontrolling interest                        17             17         -
                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Total Equity                                1,042          1,082        (4%)
                                    -------------  -------------  --------

                                    -------------  -------------  --------
Total Liabilities & Equity          $       5,372  $       5,380         -
                                    =============  =============  ========

Figure 3. Warner Music Group Corp. - Summarized Statements of Cash Flows,
 Three Months Ended 12/31/11 versus 12/31/10
(dollars in millions)


                                                 Successor     Predecessor
                                               -------------  -------------
                                               For the Three  For the Three
                                                Months Ended   Months Ended
                                                December 31,   December 31,
                                                    2011           2010
                                               -------------  -------------
                                                (unaudited)    (unaudited)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating
 activities                                    $          25  $        (113)
Net cash used in investing activities                    (11)           (66)
Net cash used in financing activities                     (1)             -
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on
 cash and equivalents                                      1              3
                                               -------------  -------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and
 equivalents                                   $          14  $        (176)
                                               =============  =============

Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We evaluate our operating performance based on several factors, including the following non-GAAP financial measures:

OIBDA OIBDA reflects our operating income before non-cash depreciation of tangible assets, non-cash amortization of intangible assets and non-cash impairment charges to reduce the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets. We consider OIBDA to be an important indicator of the operational strengths and performance of our businesses, and believe the presentation of OIBDA helps improve the ability to understand the company's operating performance and evaluate our performance in comparison to comparable periods. However, a limitation of the use of OIBDA as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenue in our businesses. Accordingly, OIBDA should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income, net income (loss) and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S ("GAAP"). In addition, OIBDA, as we calculate it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies.

Figure 4. Warner Music Group Corp. - Reconciliation of OIBDA to Net Loss,
 Three Months Ended 12/31/11 versus 12/31/10
(dollars in millions)


                                       Successor     Predecessor
                                     -------------  -------------
                                     For the Three  For the Three
                                      Months Ended   Months Ended
                                      December 31,   December 31,
                                          2011           2010     % Change
                                     -------------  ------------- --------
                                      (unaudited)    (unaudited)
OIBDA                                $          99  $          90       10%
Depreciation expense                           (12)            (9)      33%
Amortization expense                           (48)           (54)     (11%)
                                     -------------  ------------- --------
Operating income                     $          39  $          27       44%
Interest expense, net                          (57)           (47)      21%
Other expense, net                              (2)             -        -
                                     -------------  ------------- --------
Loss before income taxes             $         (20) $         (20)       -
                                     -------------  ------------- --------
Income tax (expense) benefit                    (6)             2        -
                                     -------------  ------------- --------
Net loss                             $         (26) $         (18)      44%
Less: loss attributable to
 noncontrolling interest                         -              -        -
                                     -------------  ------------- --------
Net loss attributable to Warner
 Music Group Corp.                   $         (26) $         (18)      44%
                                     =============  ============= ========


Operating income margin                        5.0%           3.5%
OIBDA margin                                  12.7%          11.6%

Figure 5. Warner Music Group Corp. - Reconciliation of Segment Operating
 Income to OIBDA, Three Months Ended 12/31/11 versus 12/31/10
(dollars in millions)




                                        Successor    Predecessor
                                      ------------- -------------
                                      For the Three For the Three
                                       Months Ended  Months Ended
                                       December 31,  December 31,
                                           2011          2010     % Change
                                      ------------- ------------- --------
                                       (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Total WMG Operating Income - GAAP     $          39 $          27       44%
Depreciation and Amortization                    60            63       (5%)
                                      ------------- ------------- --------
Total WMG OIBDA                       $          99 $          90       10%
                                      ============= ============= ========

Recorded Music Operating Income -
 GAAP                                 $          61 $          47       30%
Depreciation and Amortization                    41            43       (5%)
                                      ------------- ------------- --------
Recorded Music OIBDA                  $         102 $          90       13%
                                      ============= ============= ========

Music Publishing Operating Income -
 GAAP                                 $           2 $           -        -
Depreciation and Amortization                    16            18      (11%)
                                      ------------- ------------- --------
Music Publishing OIBDA                $          18 $          18        -
                                      ============= ============= ========

Constant Currency Because exchange rates are an important factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons, we believe the presentation of revenue on a constant-currency basis in addition to reported revenue helps improve the ability to understand our operating results and evaluate our performance in comparison to prior periods. Constant-currency information compares results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period over period. We use results on a constant-currency basis as one measure to evaluate our performance. We calculate constant-currency results by applying current-year foreign currency exchange rates to prior-year results. However, a limitation of the use of the constant-currency results as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the impact of exchange rates on our revenue, including, for example, the $5 million and $4 million favorable impact of exchange rates on our Total and Recorded Music revenue, in the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to the prior-year quarter. These results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, results reported in accordance with GAAP. Results on a constant-currency basis, as we present them, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and are not a measure of performance presented in accordance with GAAP.

Figure 6. Warner Music Group Corp. - Revenue by Geography and Segment,
 Three Months Ended 12/31/11 versus 12/31/10 as Reported and Constant
 Currency
(dollars in millions)




                                  Successor     Predecessor    Predecessor
                                -------------  -------------  -------------
                                For the Three  For the Three  For the Three
                                 Months Ended   Months Ended   Months Ended
                                 December 31,   December 31,   December 31,
                                     2011           2010           2010
                                -------------  -------------  -------------
                                 As reported    As reported     Constant $
                                 (unaudited)    (unaudited)    (unaudited)


US revenue
  Recorded Music                $         258  $         249  $         249
  Music Publishing                         41             39             39

International revenue
  Recorded Music                          403            413            417
  Music Publishing                         82             81             81

Intersegment eliminations                  (5)            (4)            (3)

                                -------------  -------------  -------------
Total Revenue                   $         779  $         778  $         783
                                =============  =============  =============


Revenue by Segment:
Recorded Music                  $         661  $         662  $         666
Music Publishing
  Mechanical                               33             39             39
  Performance                              48             44             44
  Synchronization                          24             24             24
  Digital                                  15             11             11
  Other                                     3              2              2
                                -------------  -------------  -------------
Total Music Publishing                    123            120            120
Intersegment eliminations                  (5)            (4)            (3)
                                -------------  -------------  -------------
Total Revenue                   $         779  $         778  $         783
                                =============  =============  =============


                                -------------  -------------  -------------
Total Digital Revenue           $         219  $         187  $         189
                                =============  =============  =============

Free Cash Flow Free Cash Flow reflects our cash flow provided by operating activities less capital expenditures and cash paid or received for investments. We use Free Cash Flow, among other measures, to evaluate our operating performance. Management believes Free Cash Flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available to service debt, fund ongoing operations and working capital needs, make strategic acquisitions and investments and pay any dividends or fund any repurchases of our outstanding notes or common stock in open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases or otherwise. As a result, Free Cash Flow is a significant measure of our ability to generate long-term value. It is useful for investors to know whether this ability is being enhanced or degraded as a result of our operating performance. We believe the presentation of Free Cash Flow is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. In addition, Free Cash Flow is also a primary measure used externally by our investors and analysts for purposes of valuation and comparing the operating performance of our company to other companies in our industry.

Because Free Cash Flow is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, Free Cash Flow should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, net income (loss) as an indicator of operating performance or cash flow provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Free Cash Flow, as we calculate it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. In addition, Free Cash Flow does not necessarily represent funds available for discretionary use and is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. Because Free Cash Flow deducts capital expenditures and cash paid or received for investments from "cash flow provided by operating activities" (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure), users of this information should consider the types of events and transactions that are not reflected. We provide below a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to the most directly comparable amount reported under GAAP, which is net cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities."

Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow Free Cash Flow includes cash paid for interest. We also review our cash flow adjusted for cash paid for interest, a measure we call Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow. Management believes this measure provides investors with an additional important perspective on our cash generation ability. We consider Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow to be an important indicator of the performance of our businesses and believe the presentation is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. A limitation of the use of this measure is that it does not reflect the charges for cash interest and, therefore, does not necessarily represent funds available for discretionary use, and is not necessarily a measure of the company's ability to fund its cash needs. Accordingly, this measure should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of liquidity reported in accordance with GAAP.

Figure 7. Warner Music Group Corp. - Calculation of Free Cash Flow and
 Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow, Three Months Ended 12/31/11 versus 12/31/10
(dollars in millions)


                                                  Successor    Predecessor
                                                ------------- -------------
                                                For the Three For the Three
                                                 Months Ended  Months Ended
                                                 December 31,  December 31,
                                                     2011          2010
                                                ------------- -------------
                                                 (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating
 activities                                     $          25 $        (113)
Less: Capital expenditures                                  6             8
Less: Net cash paid for investments                         5            58

                                                ------------- -------------
Free Cash Flow                                  $          14 $        (179)
                                                ============= =============

  Plus: Cash paid for interest                             79            88
                                                ------------- -------------
  Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow                 $          93 $         (91)
                                                ============= =============

Media Contact:
Will Tanous
(212) 275-2244
Email Contact

Investor Contact:
Erika Begun
(212) 275-4850
Email Contact


SOURCE: Warner Music Group

http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=6BCC47938564A848
http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=295DB7E464106577