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Universal Music Valuation Multiples

Discover revenue and EBITDA valuation multiples for Universal Music and similar public comparables like Live Nation, Liberty Media, Warner Bros. Discovery, Warner Music Group and more.

Universal Music Overview

About Universal Music

Universal Music is the largest of the three major record companies. Recorded music accounts for most of the firm’s revenue, with the segment housing more than a dozen record labels, including notable names like Interscope, Capital Music, Motown Records, and Def Jam. Some of the most successful current artists signed to record deals with Universal include Taylor Swift, Drake, The Weeknd, and Morgan Wallen. Most of Universal’s remaining revenue comes from its publishing segment, which generates revenue for songwriters and composers, including some of Universal’s recording artists as well as songwriters and composers who do not record music themselves or are attached to other labels. Universal’s publishing group has nearly 4.5 million owned or administered titles in its catalog.


Founded

2020

HQ

Netherlands

Employees

10.3K

Financials (LTM)

Revenue: $15B
EBITDA: $3B

EV

$48B

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Universal Music Financials

Universal Music reported last 12-month revenue of $15B and EBITDA of $3B.

In the same LTM period, Universal Music generated $5B in gross profit, $3B in EBITDA, and $2B in net income.

Revenue (LTM)


Universal Music P&L

In the most recent fiscal year, Universal Music reported revenue of $15B and EBITDA of $3B.

Universal Music is profitable as of last fiscal year, with gross margin of 42%, EBITDA margin of 21%, and net margin of 12%.

See analyst estimates for Universal Music
LTMLast FY202320242025202620272028
Revenue$15B$15B$13B$14B$15B
Gross Profit$5B$6B$6B$6B$6B
Gross Margin37%42%44%43%42%
EBITDA$3B$3B$3B$4B$3B
EBITDA Margin21%21%20%29%21%
EBIT Margin17%17%13%15%17%
Net Profit$2B$2B$1B$2B$2B
Net Margin12%12%11%18%12%
Net Debt—$3B———

Financial data powered by Morningstar, Inc.

Universal Music Stock Performance

Universal Music has current market cap of $44B, and enterprise value of $48B.

Market Cap Evolution


Universal Music's stock price is $24.26.

Universal Music share price increased by 16.5% in the last 30 days, and decreased by 25.3% in the last year.

Universal Music has an EPS (earnings per share) of $0.97.

See more trading valuation data for Universal Music
EVMarket CapPrice 1DPrice 1MPrice 3MPrice 12MEPS
$48B$44B-0.4%16.5%7.5%-25.3%$0.97

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Universal Music Valuation Multiples

Universal Music trades at 3.2x EV/Revenue multiple, and 15.1x EV/EBITDA.

See NTM and 2027E valuation multiples for Universal Music

EV / Revenue (LTM)


Universal Music Financial Valuation Multiples

As of May 21, 2026, Universal Music has market cap of $44B and EV of $48B.

Universal Music has a P/E ratio of 24.4x.

LTMLast FY202320242025202620272028
EV/Revenue3.2x3.3x3.8x3.5x3.3x
EV/EBITDA15.1x15.5x18.8x12.2x15.6x
EV/EBIT18.7x19.4x29.5x23.4x19.5x
EV/Gross Profit8.8x7.8x8.5x8.2x7.8x
P/E24.4x25.0x30.4x18.4x25.0x
EV/FCF28.5x29.2x26.3x31.9x34.7x

Multiples above and below 250x are considered non-meaningful (n/m). Valuation data powered by FactSet, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc.

Verified Universal Music Valuation Multiples

Access all public comps and forward-looking valuation multiples like EV/Revenue in 2027, based on consensus analyst estimates. Powered by FactSet and Morningstar.

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Universal Music Margins & Growth Rates

Universal Music grew revenue by 9% and EBITDA by 6% in the last fiscal year.

In the most recent fiscal year, Universal Music reported gross margin of 42%, EBITDA margin of 21%, and net margin of 12%.

See estimated margins and future growth rates for Universal Music

Universal Music Margins

Last FY202420252026202720282029
Gross Margin42%43%42%38%
EBITDA Margin21%29%21%21%
EBIT Margin17%15%17%17%
Net Margin12%18%12%12%
FCF Margin11%11%10%11%

Universal Music Growth Rates

FY+1/FY23/2424/2525/2626/2727/2828/29
Revenue Growth9%7%6%9%
Gross Profit Growth(3%)4%4%(3%)
EBITDA Growth6%54%(22%)7%
EBIT Growth9%26%20%10%
Net Profit Growth7%66%(27%)7%
FCF Growth6%(18%)(8%)26%

Data powered by FactSet, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc.

Universal Music Operational KPIs

Universal Music's revenue per employee in the last FY averaged $1.4M, while opex per employee averaged $0.4M for the same period.

Universal Music's Rule of 40 is 30% (metric relevant for SaaS companies only, counted as combined revenue growth rate and EBITDA margin).

Universal Music's Rule of X is 43% (created by Bessemer, Rule of X is another metric to measure SaaS companies, ~1.5x stronger vs. the traditional Rule of 40, counted as revenue growth rate multiplied by 2.5 plus EBITDA margin).

Access forward-looking KPIs for Universal Music
LTMLast FY202320242025202620272028
Rule of 4030%30%———
Bessemer Rule of X43%43%———
Revenue per Employee—$1.4M———
Opex per Employee—$0.4M———
G&A Expenses to Revenue—7%10%10%7%
Opex to Revenue—25%31%28%25%

Data powered by FactSet, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc.

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Universal Music Competitors

Universal Music competitors include Live Nation, Liberty Media, Warner Bros. Discovery, Warner Music Group, Tencent Music Entertainment, TKO, Paramount Skydance, Bilibili, Endeavor Group Holdings and Spotify.

Most Universal Music public comparables operate across Music and Content Production.

EV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
Last FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
Live Nation1.6x1.5x16.8x16.1x
Liberty Media5.8x5.7x19.0x23.3x
Warner Bros. Discovery2.6x2.6x4.6x11.3x
Warner Music Group3.3x3.1x15.2x13.5x
Tencent Music Entertainment2.5x2.4x5.5x7.0x
TKO4.0x3.6x11.8x10.1x
Paramount Skydance0.9x0.9x(5.3x)7.8x
Bilibili1.3x1.3x9.6x9.2x

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Universal Music Funding History

Before going public, Universal Music raised $8B in total equity funding, across 2 rounds.

Last private valuation of Universal Music was $40B, after raising $4B in June 2021 from Bill Ackman.


Universal Music Funding Rounds

DateStageRaised FromRaisedValuationRev. MultipleDeal Summary
Jun-21Secondary - privateBill Ackman$4B$40BUniversal Music Group (UMG), the world's largest music company controlling over four million tracks and roughly 30% of recorded music and publishing rights worldwide, engaged in negotiations with Bill Ackman in June 2021 that valued the company at an enterprise value of €35 billion. This valuation marked an increase from prior benchmarks, including €30 billion for a 20% stake sold to a Tencent-led consortium in March 2020 and €33 billion equity value in February 2021 preparations for an initial public offering. The deal context involved Vivendi, UMG's parent, planning a distribution of UMG shares following shareholder approval on June 22, 2021, with 99.9% positive votes. UMG's trailing twelve-month revenue as of June 30, 2021, stood at €7.804 billion, reflecting strong growth driven by the music streaming sector's double-digit increases since 2016. The company benefited from over 400 contracts with streaming platforms, contributing to rising valuations from under €10 billion seven years prior. UMG's financial performance included robust operating margins around 16.4% in recent years, with high free cash flow conversion.
Dec-20Strategic investmentTencent; Tencent Music Entertainment$4B$35BUniversal Music Group (UMG), the world's leading music company, sold a 10% equity stake to a Tencent-led consortium including Tencent Holdings, Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME), and other financial investors in March 2020 at an enterprise value of EUR30 billion. On December 18, 2020, the consortium exercised its call option to acquire an additional 10% stake from Vivendi at the same EUR30 billion enterprise value, increasing its total ownership to 20% upon closing in H1 2021. The transaction valued 100% of UMG's share capital at EUR30 billion (approximately $33.6 billion USD at the time). This strategic investment aims to support UMG's growth in Asia, deepen cooperation between Tencent/TME and UMG, and expand opportunities for artists and music fans. A separate agreement grants TME an option to acquire a minority stake in UMG's Greater China business.

Universal Music M&A Activity

Universal Music has acquired 9 companies to date.

Last acquisition by Universal Music was on March 7th 2025. Universal Music acquired 8Ball Music for undisclosed valuation.

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Latest Acquisitions by Universal Music

8Ball Music
PIAS
Mavin Records
Chabaka
Description
8Ball Music is an Amsterdam-based record label and management agency representing electronic and dance artists. It organizes events at venues like Paradiso and sponsors festivals including Dekmantel. 8Ball Music releases vinyl and digital tracks distributed via Ninja Tune.
PIAS is a London-headquartered independent music network providing licensing, distribution, sales, and marketing for recorded music, films, and comedy content. It operates labels like Play It Again Sam and distributes for artists through PIAS Group, reaching over 100 countries. With offices in Brussels, Berlin, and Paris, it handles catalog from indie acts to major releases via digital and physical channels.
Mavin Records is a Lagos-based Nigerian record label founded on May 8, 2012, by producer Don Jazzy following the dissolution of Mo' Hits Records. The label signs and promotes Afrobeats artists, releasing hit albums and singles that dominate African charts. Mavin Records operates a roster including international collaborators and maintains in-house production studios for music creation and distribution.
Chabaka is a Dubai-based digital music distribution and marketing company serving artists and labels in the Middle East and North Africa. It distributes content to platforms like Spotify, Anghami, and Apple Music, while providing publishing administration, playlist promotion, and sync licensing. The firm represents over 10,000 tracks from regional talents and global catalogs, operating from offices in UAE and Egypt.
HQ CountryNetherlandsUnited KingdomNigeriaLebanon
HQ City
—
London
Lagos
Beirut
Deal Date7 Mar 202515 Oct 202426 Feb 202430 Aug 2023
Valuationundisclosedundisclosed$125Mundisclosed
EV/Revenue
EV/EBITDA

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Universal Music Investment Activity

Universal Music has invested in 19 companies to date.

Latest investment by Universal Music was on March 15th 2026. Universal Music invested in What the Duck in their Strategic investment round.

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Latest Investments by Universal Music

What the Duck
Excel Entertainment
Music Health
Pex
Description
What the Duck is an independent record company that supports creative musicians in an environment promoting freedom and distinctiveness.
Excel Entertainment is a Mumbai-based film production company founded by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. The studio produces Hindi films and web series blending commercial appeal with strong storytelling, including hits like Dil Chahta Hai, the Don franchise, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and the Amazon Prime series Mirzapur.
Music Health is a London-based health technology company specializing in AI-powered music therapy for mental health management. Its flagship product, Vera, delivers personalized digital experiences targeting behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, such as aggression, agitation, and depression, for 60 million affected individuals worldwide and nearly 200 million caregivers. The platform integrates with care home systems and personal devices to provide accessible, affordable therapy sessions. Founded in 2021, Music Health partners with UK care providers and has secured seed funding to expand its reach across Europe.
Pex is a content rights management platform using AI to identify, license, and monetize video and audio across digital platforms. New York-headquartered and founded in 2015, it processes billions of assets daily for clients like Universal Music Group and TikTok. The technology enables real-time rights clearance and fair compensation for creators in 190 countries.
HQ CountryThailandIndiaUnited StatesUnited States
HQ City
Bangkok
—
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Deal Date15 Mar 20265 Jan 20266 Feb 20239 Oct 2017
RoundStrategic investmentSecondary - privateSeedSeed
Raisedundisclosed$80M$2M$7M
InvestorsUniversal MusicUniversal MusicBerkeley SkyDeck Fund; Giant Leap Fund; Happenco; Sprint Ventures; Universal MusicBlibros; Illuminate Ventures; Susa Ventures; Universal Music; Warner Music Group
Valuationundisclosed$290Mundisclosedundisclosed
EV/Revenue
EV/EBITDA

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About Universal Music

When was Universal Music founded?Universal Music was founded in 2020.
Where is Universal Music headquartered?Universal Music is headquartered in Netherlands.
How many employees does Universal Music have?As of today, Universal Music has over 10K employees.
Who is the CEO of Universal Music?Universal Music's CEO is Lucian Grainge.
Is Universal Music publicly listed?Yes, Universal Music is a public company listed on Euronext Amsterdam.
What is the stock symbol of Universal Music?Universal Music trades under UMG ticker.
When did Universal Music go public?Universal Music went public in 2021.
Who are competitors of Universal Music?Universal Music main competitors include Live Nation, Liberty Media, Warner Bros. Discovery, Warner Music Group, Tencent Music Entertainment, TKO, Paramount Skydance, Bilibili, Endeavor Group Holdings, Spotify.
What is the current market cap of Universal Music?Universal Music's current market cap is $44B.
What is the current revenue of Universal Music?Universal Music's last 12 months revenue is $15B.
What is the current revenue growth of Universal Music?Universal Music revenue growth (NTM/LTM) is 9%.
What is the current EV/Revenue multiple of Universal Music?Current revenue multiple of Universal Music is 3.2x.
Is Universal Music profitable?Yes, Universal Music is EBITDA-positive (as of the last 12 months).
What is the current EBITDA of Universal Music?Universal Music's last 12 months EBITDA is $3B.
What is Universal Music's EBITDA margin?Universal Music's last 12 months EBITDA margin is 21%.
What is the current EV/EBITDA multiple of Universal Music?Current EBITDA multiple of Universal Music is 15.1x.
What is the current FCF of Universal Music?Universal Music's last 12 months FCF is $2B.
What is Universal Music's FCF margin?Universal Music's last 12 months FCF margin is 11%.
What is the current EV/FCF multiple of Universal Music?Current FCF multiple of Universal Music is 28.5x.
How many companies Universal Music has acquired to date?As of May 2026, Universal Music has acquired 9 companies.
What was the largest acquisition by Universal Music?$125M acquisition of Mavin Records on 26th February 2024 was the largest M&A Universal Music has done to date.
What companies Universal Music acquired?Universal Music acquired Mavin Records, Fame House, Chabaka, 8Ball Music, INgrooves Music Group, Hyperion Records, PIAS, Shoelace Records, and Eagle Rock Entertainment.
In how many companies Universal Music has invested to date?As of May 2026, Universal Music has invested in 19 companies.
What was the last Universal Music investment?On 15th March 2026 Universal Music invested in What the Duck, participating in a Strategic investment round.
In what companies Universal Music invested in?Universal Music invested in Excel Entertainment, Stance, ROLI, Jelli, Pluto TV, VULCUN, Pollen, Shazam Entertainment, Pex, Mass Appeal, Bellabeat, Wool and the Gang, Pogoseat, Music Health, VIDA, WillCall, Rockbot, Merchbar, and What the Duck.

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