investor relations

Warner Music Group Corp. Reports Results for the Fiscal Third Quarter
Ended June 30, 2011

08/04/11
Digital Revenue Approaching Half of U.S. Recorded Music Revenue; Music Publishing Grows Digital, Synchronization and Performance Revenue
--  Total revenue of $686 million grew 5% from the prior-year quarter and
    declined 1% on a constant-currency basis.


--  Digital revenue was $203 million, or 30% of total revenue, up 13% from
    $179 million in the prior-year quarter, and up 9% on a
    constant-currency basis.


--  Operating income was $10 million compared to an operating loss of $1
    million in the prior-year quarter. Operating income included $10
    million of severance charges ($3 million in Recorded Music, $2 million
    in Music Publishing and $5 million in Corporate) compared to $9
    million of severance charges in the prior-year quarter ($7 million in
    Recorded Music and $2 million in Corporate) (the "Severance Charges").
    Operating income in the quarter also included a $12 million benefit
    from a recorded music legal settlement with LimeWire (the "LimeWire
    Settlement"), as well as $5 million in expenses related to our sale to
    Access Industries (the "Transaction Expenses").


--  Operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) of $77
    million was up 20% from the prior-year quarter. This quarter's OIBDA
    results reflect the impact of the LimeWire Settlement, which was
    partially offset by the Transaction Expenses. OIBDA for the current-
    and prior-year quarters reflects the Severance Charges.


--  Net loss was $0.30 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $0.37
    per diluted share in the prior-year quarter. The Severance Charges had
    a $0.07 per diluted share impact in the quarter and a $0.06 per
    diluted share impact in the prior-year quarter. The LimeWire
    Settlement had a positive $0.08 per diluted share impact in the
    quarter and the Transaction Expenses had a negative $0.03 per diluted
    share impact in the quarter.



Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) today announced its third-quarter financial results for the period ended June 30, 2011. WMG closed its sale to Access Industries, Inc. on July 20th.

"Our focus on disciplined A&R investments, revenue diversification and innovative digital strategies has helped us to grow our Recorded Music revenue and deliver healthy increases in three key segments of our Music Publishing revenue," said Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Warner Music Group's CEO. "We are approaching the point where the majority of our U.S. Recorded Music business will be digital while continuing to transform our approach to artist signings with more than 60% of the artists on our active global recorded music roster being signed to deals with a comprehensive suite of expanded rights."

Steven Macri, Warner Music Group's Executive Vice President and CFO, said, "An improved revenue profile, growth in digital and our artist development and cost-management efforts all contributed to enhanced OIBDA margins in the quarter and continue to position us well for the long term."

For the quarter, revenue grew 5.2% to $686 million from $652 million in the prior-year quarter. Revenue for the quarter reflected growth in digital downloads and growth in the company's European concert promotion business. On a constant-currency basis, revenue declined 1.0%, reflecting the impact of foreign currency exchange rates.

Domestic revenue was down 8.3% while international revenue improved 16.2%, or 4.5% on a constant-currency basis. Revenue growth in France and Japan offset declines in the U.S., U.K. and other parts of Europe.

Digital revenue of $203 million grew 13.4% over the prior-year quarter, or 9.1% on a constant-currency basis. Digital revenue was down 7.7% sequentially from the second quarter of fiscal 2011, or 9.0% on a constant-currency basis, and represented 29.6% of total revenue for the quarter. The growth in digital revenue over the prior-year quarter primarily reflected strength in global digital downloads and streaming. The sequential decline in digital revenue reflects a seasonal dip following the holiday sales period.

Operating income was $10 million compared to an operating loss of $1 million in the prior-year quarter. Operating margin increased by 1.7 percentage points to 1.5% compared to the prior-year quarter. OIBDA increased 20.3% to $77 million from $64 million in the prior-year quarter and OIBDA margin expanded 1.4 percentage points to 11.2% (see below for calculations and reconciliations of OIBDA and OIBDA margin). Operating income and OIBDA for the current- and prior-year quarters included the Severance Charges and, in the current quarter, the LimeWire Settlement and the Transaction Expenses.

Net loss was $46 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $55 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. The Severance Charges had a $0.07 per diluted share impact in the quarter and a $0.06 per diluted share impact in the prior-year quarter. The LimeWire Settlement had a positive $0.08 per diluted share impact in the quarter while the Transaction Expenses had a negative $0.03 impact.

As of June 30, 2011, the company reported a cash balance of $290 million, total long-term debt of $1.952 billion and net debt (total long-term debt minus cash) of $1.662 billion.

Net cash used in operating activities was $11 million compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $49 million in the prior-year quarter. Free Cash Flow (defined as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures and cash paid or received for investments) was negative $36 million compared to positive $29 million in the prior-year quarter. The decrease in Free Cash Flow was driven primarily by the differential in year-over-year timing of sales and collections in the Recorded Music business as well as higher cash used for investments, partially offset by lower capital expenditures. Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow (defined as Free Cash Flow excluding cash interest paid) was $52 million, compared to $117 million in the prior-year quarter (see below for calculations and reconciliations of Free Cash Flow and Unlevered After-Tax Cash Flow).

Below is the business segment discussion for the quarter.

Recorded Music Revenue from the company's Recorded Music business increased 5.0% from the prior-year quarter to $545 million and declined 0.5% on a constant-currency basis, which reflects the impact of foreign-currency exchange rates. Domestic Recorded Music revenue fell 8.1% from the prior-year quarter to $227 million, while international Recorded Music revenue grew 16.9%, or 5.6% on a constant-currency basis, to $318 million. Revenue in the quarter reflected strength in France and Japan partially offset by declines in the U.S., U.K. and other parts of Europe.

Top sellers for the quarter included Bruno Mars, Superfly, Wiz Khalifa, Hugh Laurie and Cee Lo Green. Recorded Music revenue in the quarter also reflects growth in our European concert promotion business, as compared with the prior-year quarter.

Recorded Music digital revenue of $191 million grew 13.0% over the prior-year quarter, or 8.5% on a constant-currency basis, and represented 35.0% of total Recorded Music revenue, compared with 32.6% in the prior-year quarter. Domestic Recorded Music digital revenue grew 6.9% to $108 million, or 47.6% of total domestic Recorded Music revenue, compared with 40.9% in the prior-year quarter. International Recorded Music digital revenue grew 22.1%, or 10.7% on a constant-currency basis, to $83 million, and represented 26.1% of total international Recorded Music revenue, compared with 25.0% in the prior-year quarter. Growth in digital revenue was driven by strength in global digital downloads and streaming.

Recorded Music operating income improved to $40 million from $21 million in the prior-year quarter, resulting in an operating margin of 7.3%, up 3.3 percentage points from 4.0% in the prior-year quarter. Recorded Music OIBDA increased 29.2% to $84 million for the quarter, from $65 million in the prior-year quarter, and Recorded Music OIBDA margin expanded 2.9 percentage points from the prior-year quarter to 15.4%. The improvement in operating income and OIBDA reflects increased revenue, changes in our sales mix, proceeds from the LimeWire Settlement and lower Recorded Music Severance Charges.

Music Publishing Music Publishing revenue was up 5.0% from the prior-year quarter, and declined 2.7% on a constant-currency basis, to $146 million. Domestic Music Publishing revenue dropped 9.3% from the prior-year quarter to $49 million, while international Music Publishing revenue grew 14.1%, or 1.0% on a constant-currency basis.

Digital revenue from Music Publishing grew to $15 million from $13 million, up 15.4% on both an as-reported and a constant-currency basis, and represented 10.3% of total Music Publishing revenue. Synchronization revenue improved by 25.0%, performance revenue improved by 18.0% and mechanical revenue declined by 24.0%. On a constant-currency basis, synchronization revenue grew 20.0%, performance revenue increased 7.3% and mechanical revenue fell 29.6%.

Synchronization revenue reflected the company's focused effort to drive this business and is seeing increased inflows from streaming services. Digital revenue benefitted from the success of streaming services and the general expansion of digital services around the world. The improvement in performance revenue reflects the improved advertising market, the timing of cash flows and recent acquisitions. Mechanical revenue decline was attributable to the ongoing transition in the recorded music industry.

Music Publishing operating income increased to $2 million from $1 million in the prior-year quarter, resulting in an operating margin of 1.4%, up 0.7 percentage points from the prior-year quarter. Music Publishing OIBDA improved 22.2% to $22 million while Music Publishing OIBDA margin expanded 2.2 percentage points to 15.1%. Music Publishing operating income and OIBDA for the quarter included the Severance Charges.

Financial details for the quarter can be found in the company's current Form 10-Q, filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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, Cordless, 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 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 and Nine Months 6/30/11 versus 6/30/10 (dollars in
 millions, except per share amounts)


                 Three      Three                Nine       Nine
                 Months     Months              Months     Months
                 Ended      Ended               Ended      Ended
                June 30,   June 30,     %      June 30,   June 30,     %
                  2011       2010    Change      2011       2010    Change
               ---------  ---------  ------   ---------  ---------  ------
              (unaudited) (unaudited)        (unaudited) (unaudited)
Revenues       $     686  $     652       5%  $   2,157  $   2,232      (3%)
Costs and
 expenses:
Cost of
 revenues           (378)      (353)      7%     (1,177)    (1,193)     (1%)
Selling,
 general and
 administrative
 expenses           (242)      (245)     (1%)      (762)      (804)     (5%)
Amortization
 of intangible
 assets              (56)       (55)      2%       (165)      (165)      -
               ---------  ---------  ------   ---------  ---------  ------
Total costs
 and expenses  $    (676) $    (653)      4%  $  (2,104) $  (2,162)     (3%)
               ---------  ---------  ------   ---------  ---------  ------
Operating
 income (loss) $      10  $      (1)      -   $      53  $      70     (24%)
Interest
 expense, net        (47)       (46)      2%       (141)      (143)     (1%)
Other income
 (expense),
 net                   6          1       -           5         (2)      -
               ---------  ---------  ------   ---------  ---------  ------
Loss before
 income taxes  $     (31) $     (46)    (33%) $     (83) $     (75)     11%
Income tax
 expense             (15)        (9)     67%        (20)       (24)    (17%)
               ---------  ---------  ------   ---------  ---------  ------
Net loss       $     (46) $     (55)    (16%) $    (103) $     (99)      4%
Less: loss
 attributable
 to
 noncontrolling
 interest              -          -       -           1          2     (50%)
               ---------  ---------  ------   ---------  ---------  ------
Net loss
 attributable
 to Warner
 Music Group
 Corp.         $     (46) $     (55)    (16%) $    (102) $     (97)      5%
               =========  =========  ======   =========  =========  ======


Net loss per
 common share
 attributable
 to Warner
 Music Group
 Corp. :
Basic          $   (0.30) $   (0.37)          $   (0.68) $   (0.65)
Diluted        $   (0.30) $   (0.37)          $   (0.68) $   (0.65)

Weighted
 average
 common
 shares:
Basic              151.8      149.7               150.8      149.6
Diluted            151.8      149.7               150.8      149.6


Figure 2. Warner Music Group Corp. - Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
 6/30/11 and 09/30/10 (dollars in millions)

                                                   September 30,
                                   June 30, 2011       2010       % Change
                                  --------------  --------------  --------
                                    (unaudited)     (unaudited)
Assets:
Current Assets
  Cash & cash equivalents         $          290  $          439       (34%)
  Accounts receivable, less
   allowances of $83 and $111                357             434       (18%)
  Inventories                                 28              37       (24%)
  Royalty advances (expected to
   be recouped w/in 1 year)                  160             143        12%
  Deferred tax assets                         30              30         -
  Other current assets                        89              78        14%
                                  --------------  --------------  --------
Total Current Assets              $          954  $        1,161       (18%)
Royalty advances (expected to be
 recouped after 1 year)                      196             189         4%
Property, plant & equipment, net             124             121         2%
Goodwill                                   1,087           1,057         3%
Intangible assets subject to
 amortization, net                         1,062           1,119        (5%)
Intangible assets not subject to
 amortization                                100             100         -
Other assets                                  60              64        (6%)
                                  --------------  --------------  --------
Total Assets                      $        3,583  $        3,811        (6%)
                                  ==============  ==============  ========

Liabilities & Deficit:
Current Liabilities
  Accounts payable                $          141  $          206       (32%)
  Accrued royalties                        1,038           1,034         -
  Accrued liabilities                        226             314       (28%)
  Accrued interest                            15              59       (75%)
  Deferred revenue                           132             100        32%
  Other current liabilities                   32              40       (20%)
                                  --------------  --------------  --------
Total Current Liabilities         $        1,584  $        1,753       (10%)

Long-term debt                             1,952           1,945         -
Deferred tax liabilities                     164             169        (3%)
Other noncurrent liabilities                 172             155        11%
                                  --------------  --------------  --------
Total Liabilities                 $        3,872  $        4,022        (4%)

Common stock                                   -               -
Additional paid-in capital                   627             611         3%
Accumulated deficit                       (1,031)           (929)       11%
Accumulated other comprehensive
 income, net                                  66              53        25%
                                  --------------  --------------  --------
Total Warner Music Group Corp.
 Shareholders' Deficit            $         (338) $         (265)       28%

Noncontrolling interest                       49              54        (9%)
                                  --------------  --------------  --------
Total Deficit                               (289)           (211)       37%
                                  --------------  --------------  --------

                                  --------------  --------------  --------
Total Liabilities & Deficit       $        3,583  $        3,811        (6%)
                                  ==============  ==============  ========


Figure 3. Warner Music Group Corp. - Summarized Statements of Cash Flows,
 Three and Nine Months 6/30/11 versus 6/30/10 (dollars in millions)

                     Three      Three               Nine       Nine
                     Months     Months             Months     Months
                     Ended      Ended              Ended      Ended
                    June 30,   June 30,     %     June 30,   June 30,    %
                      2011       2010    Change     2011       2010   Change
                   ---------  ---------  ------  ---------  --------- ------
                  (unaudited) (unaudited)       (unaudited) (unaudited)
Net cash (used in)
 provided by
 operating
 activities        $     (11) $      49       -  $     (18) $     100      -
Net cash used in
 investing
 activities              (25)       (20)     25%      (151)       (61)     -
Net cash provided
 by (used in)
 financing
 activities                6          -       -          5         (2)     -
Effect of foreign
 currency exchange
 rates on cash             1        (12)      -         15        (21)     -
                   ---------  ---------  ------  ---------  --------- ------
Net (decrease)
 increase in cash  $     (29) $      17       -  $    (149) $      16      -
                   =========  =========  ======  =========  ========= ======

Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information

OIBDA We evaluate our operating performance based on several factors, including our primary financial measure of 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 (which we refer to as OIBDA). 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 our 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 and Nine Months 6/30/11 versus 6/30/10 (dollars in millions)

                Three      Three                 Nine       Nine
                Months     Months               Months     Months
                Ended      Ended                Ended      Ended
               June 30,   June 30,      %      June 30,   June 30,     %
                 2011       2010     Change      2011       2010    Change
              ---------  ---------   ------   ---------  ---------  ------
             (unaudited) (unaudited)         (unaudited) (unaudited)
OIBDA         $      77  $      64       20%  $     249  $     263      (5%)
Depreciation
 expense            (11)       (10)      10%        (31)       (28)     11%
Amortization
 expense            (56)       (55)       2%       (165)      (165)      -
              ---------  ---------   ------   ---------  ---------  ------
Operating
 income
 (loss)       $      10  $      (1)       -   $      53  $      70     (24%)
Interest
 expense, net       (47)       (46)       2%       (141)      (143)     (1%)
Other income
 (expense),
 net                  6          1        -           5         (2)      -
              ---------  ---------   ------   ---------  ---------  ------
Loss before
 income taxes $     (31) $     (46)     (33%) $     (83) $     (75)     11%
Income tax
 expense            (15)        (9)      67%        (20)       (24)    (17%)
              ---------  ---------   ------   ---------  ---------  ------
Net loss      $     (46) $     (55)     (16%) $    (103) $     (99)      4%
Less: loss
 attributable
 to
 noncontrolling
 interest             -          -        -           1          2     (50%)
              ---------  ---------   ------   ---------  ---------  ------
Net loss
 attributable
 to Warner
 Music Group
 Corp.        $     (46) $     (55)     (16%) $    (102) $     (97)      5%
              =========  =========   ======   =========  =========  ======


Operating
 income
 margin             1.5%      (0.2%)                2.5%       3.1%
OIBDA margin       11.2%       9.8%                11.5%      11.8%


Figure 5. Warner Music Group Corp. - Reconciliation of Segment Operating
 Income to OIBDA, Three and Nine Months 6/30/11 versus 6/30/10 (dollars in
 millions)


                  Three      Three               Nine       Nine
                 Months     Months              Months     Months
                 Ended      Ended               Ended      Ended
                June 30,   June 30,      %     June 30,   June 30,     %
                  2011       2010     Change     2011       2010    Change
               ---------- ----------  ------  ---------- ---------- ------
              (unaudited) (unaudited)        (unaudited) (unaudited)
Total WMG
 Operating
 Income (Loss)
 - GAAP        $       10 $       (1)      -  $       53 $       70    (24%)
Depreciation
 and
 Amortization          67         65       3%        196        193      2%
               ---------- ----------  ------  ---------- ---------- ------
Total WMG
 OIBDA         $       77 $       64      20% $      249 $      263     (5%)
               ========== ==========  ======  ========== ========== ======

Recorded Music
 Operating
 Income - GAAP $       40 $       21      90% $       97 $       95      2%
Depreciation
 and
 Amortization          44         44       -         131        132     (1%)
               ---------- ----------  ------  ---------- ---------- ------
Recorded Music
 OIBDA         $       84 $       65      29% $      228 $      227      -
               ========== ==========  ======  ========== ========== ======

Music
 Publishing
 Operating
 Income - GAAP $        2 $        1     100% $       33 $       48    (31%)
Depreciation
 and
 Amortization          20         17      18%         57         53      8%
               ---------- ----------  ------  ---------- ---------- ------
Music
 Publishing
 OIBDA         $       22 $       18      22% $       90 $      101    (11%)
               ========== ==========  ======  ========== ========== ======

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 $41 million, $29 million and $11 million favorable impact of exchange rates on our Total, Recorded Music and Music Publishing revenue, in the three months ended June 30, 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 and Nine Months 6/30/11 versus 6/30/10 as Reported and Constant
 Currency (dollars in millions)

             Three      Three      Three       Nine       Nine       Nine
             Months     Months     Months     Months     Months     Months
             Ended      Ended      Ended      Ended      Ended      Ended
            June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
              2011       2010       2010       2011       2010       2010
           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
              As         As      Constant      As         As      Constant
           reported   reported      $       reported   reported      $
         (unaudited) (unaudited)(unaudited)(unaudited)(unaudited)(unaudited)


US revenue
  Recorded
   Music   $     227  $     247  $     247  $     730  $     780  $     780
  Music
   Publish-
   ing            49         54         54        149        155        155

International
 revenue
  Recorded
   Music         318        272        301      1,038      1,056      1,073
  Music
   Publish-
   ing            97         85         96        254        259        266

Intersegment
 elimina-
 tions            (5)        (6)        (5)       (14)       (18)       (18)
           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Total
 Revenue   $     686  $     652  $     693  $   2,157  $   2,232  $   2,256
           =========  =========  =========  =========  =========  =========


Revenue by
 Segment:
Recorded
 Music     $     545  $     519  $     548  $   1,768  $   1,836  $   1,853
Music
 Publishing
    Mechan-
     ical         38         50         54        111        137        139
    Perfor-
     mance        59         50         55        153        155        157
    Synchr-
     oniza-
     tion         30         24         25         85         73         74
    Digital       15         13         13         43         41         41
    Other          4          2          3         11          8         10
           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Total
 Music
 Publishing      146        139        150        403        414        421
Intersegment
 eliminati-
 ons              (5)        (6)        (5)       (14)       (18)       (18)
           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Total
 Revenue   $     686  $     652  $     693  $   2,157  $   2,232  $   2,256
           =========  =========  =========  =========  =========  =========


           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Total
 Digital
 Revenue   $     203  $     179  $     186  $     610  $     562  $     571
           =========  =========  =========  =========  =========  =========

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 -- "cash flow 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 our ability to fund our 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 and Nine Months 6/30/11 versus
 6/30/10 (dollars in millions)

                            Three        Three         Nine         Nine
                            Months       Months       Months       Months
                            Ended        Ended        Ended        Ended
                           June 30,     June 30,     June 30,     June 30,
                             2011         2010         2011         2010
                         -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                         (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited)
Net cash flow (used in)
 provided by operating
 activities              $       (11) $        49  $       (18) $       100
Less: Capital
 expenditures                     12           15           34           30
Less: Net cash paid for
 investments                      13            5          117           31

                         -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Free Cash Flow (a)       $       (36) $        29  $      (169) $        39
                         ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========


(a) - Free Cash Flow
 includes cash paid for
 interest as follows
 (dollars in millions):
                             Three        Three        Nine         Nine
                            Months       Months       Months       Months
                             Ended        Ended        Ended        Ended
                           June 30,     June 30,     June 30,     June 30,
                             2011         2010         2011         2010
                         -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                          (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited)
  Free Cash Flow         $       (36) $        29  $      (169) $        39
  Plus: Cash paid for
   interest                       88           88          176          169
                         -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  Unlevered After-Tax
   Cash Flow             $        52  $       117  $         7  $       208
                         ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

Media Contact:
Will Tanous
(212) 275-2244
Will.Tanous@wmg.com

Investor Contact:
Jill Krutick
(212) 275-4790
Jill.Krutick@wmg.com


SOURCE: Warner Music Group

mailto:Will.Tanous@wmg.com
mailto:Jill.Krutick@wmg.com