Yet another music company has posted record performance numbers for 2022, with Germany-based BMG watching annual revenue hit $911 million. That represents a stunning 30.6% year over year increase.

Why it matters: According to parent company, Bertelsmann, 2022 marked the fastest YoY growth in BMG’s history (since 2008). It comes as another sign that last year was massive for the music industry. 

How’d they do it: BMG cites a two-fold reason for the revenue spike:

• “organic growth in its recorded and publishing businesses,”

• “an investment offensive.”

Organics: BMG’s recorded music revenue grew by 38% YoY, while publishing business increased by 26%. The biggest revenue-generating records included releases by Nashville mainstay Jason Aldean, plus Backstreet Boys and Bryan Adams. Meanwhile, the catalogs of Bruno Mars, Mick Jagger and Kurt Cobain were winners on the publishing side. 

Offensive Investments: The big kicker seems to have come from the record $400 million BMG spent on acquiring music catalogs. New acquisitions for 2022 included the rights to work by Peter Frampton, Jean-Michel Jarre, Fools Garden, Harry Nilsson, Simple Minds, Primal Scream, and Chris Rea.

Over half (53.9%) of BMG’s 2022 revenue was made in the U.S., and operating EBITDA rose to $205m (+35.4%).