# Universal Music posts €3.3bn revenue, restricts India releases

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/universal-music-hits-3-8-billion-in-quarterly-revenue-pushes-for-paid-listening-in-india/
- Published: 2026-07-30T20:32:06+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-31T02:47:58+00:00
- Original publisher: The Hollywood Reporter
- Original article: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-industry-news/umg-posts-3-8b-in-revenue-for-second-quarter-2026-1236660184/
- Topics: Art, Asia, Culture, Entertainment, Music, World

## Key points

- UMG’s quarterly revenue rose 10.5% to €3.294 billion.
- India releases will be paid-only for their first 72 hours.
- Merchandise revenue declined 13% amid weaker touring-related income.

## Summary

Universal Music Group reported strong second-quarter revenue growth while introducing a paid-streaming release window in India. The policy, which keeps new domestic and international music off free, advertising-supported tiers for 72 hours, is intended to encourage subscriptions in a market UMG considers under-monetised.

Revenue rose 10.5% year on year to €3.294 billion ($3.795 billion), though it was just over €3 billion excluding the recently acquired Downtown Music. Recorded-music revenue increased about 13% to €2.516 billion and publishing rose roughly 8% to €616 million, while merchandising fell 13% to €167 million due to tour timing and weaker direct-to-consumer sales; UMG said it has no plans to extend the India approach to the US or UK.

## Coverage

- [The Hollywood Reporter: Universal Music posts €3.3bn revenue, restricts India releases](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-industry-news/umg-posts-3-8b-in-revenue-for-second-quarter-2026-1236660184/)
- [Music Business Worldwide: Universal Music Group generated $3.83bn in Q2, up 13.3% YoY – driven by Noah Kahan, BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake, and Olivia Dean](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/universal-music-group-generated-3-83bn-in-q2-up-13-3-yoy-driven-by-noah-kahan-bts-olivia-rodrigo-drake-and-olivia-dean/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.