Warner Music (WMG) 10-Q 4 May 21 2021 Q2 Quarterly report Financial data

Cover Page

Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Apr. 27, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-32502
Entity Registrant Name	Warner Music Group Corp.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-4271875
Entity Address, Address Line One	1633 Broadway
Entity Address, City or Town	New York
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10019
City Area Code	(212)
Local Phone Number	275-2000
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	WMG
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Central Index Key	0001319161
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Class A Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		116,921,411
Class B Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		397,461,268

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Un

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents	$ 588	$ 553
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $24 million and $23 million	783	771
Inventories	79	79
Royalty advances expected to be recouped within one year	246	220
Prepaid and other current assets	60	55
Total current assets	1,756	1,678
Royalty advances expected to be recouped after one year	301	269
Property, plant and equipment, net	339	331
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	267	273
Goodwill	1,842	1,831
Intangible assets subject to amortization, net	1,927	1,653
Intangible assets not subject to amortization	154	154
Deferred tax assets, net	42	68
Other assets	202	153
Total assets	6,830	6,410
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	235	264
Accrued royalties	1,752	1,628
Accrued liabilities	315	382
Accrued interest	30	30
Operating lease liabilities, current	42	39
Deferred revenue	298	297
Other current liabilities	112	80
Total current liabilities	2,784	2,720
Long-term debt	3,354	3,104
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent	288	299
Deferred tax liabilities, net	162	163
Other noncurrent liabilities	169	169
Total liabilities	6,757	6,455
Equity (deficit):
Additional paid-in capital	1,924	1,907
Accumulated deficit	(1,659)	(1,749)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(209)	(222)
Total Warner Music Group Corp. equity (deficit)	57	(63)
Noncontrolling interest	16	18
Total equity (deficit)	73	(45)
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)	6,830	6,410
Class A Common Stock
Equity (deficit):
Common stock	0	0
Class B Common Stock
Equity (deficit):
Common stock	$ 1	$ 1

Consolidated Balance Sheets (_2

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Accounts receivable, allowances	$ 24	$ 23
Class A Common Stock
Par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Shares issued (in shares)	116,921,411	88,578,361
Shares outstanding (in shares)	116,921,411	88,578,361
Class B Common Stock
Par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Shares issued (in shares)	397,461,268	421,450,000
Shares outstanding (in shares)	397,461,268	421,450,000

Consolidated Statements of Oper

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Revenue		$ 1,250	$ 1,071	$ 2,585	$ 2,327
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenue		(623)	(535)	(1,309)	(1,200)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	[1]	(418)	(538)	(819)	(917)
Amortization expense		(58)	(47)	(110)	(94)
Total costs and expenses		(1,099)	(1,120)	(2,238)	(2,211)
Operating income (loss)		151	(49)	347	116
Interest expense, net		(32)	(33)	(63)	(66)
Other income (expense)		49	(4)	18	(9)
Income (loss) before income taxes		168	(86)	302	41
Income tax (expense) benefit		(51)	12	(86)	7
Net income (loss)		117	(74)	216	48
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interest		0	0	(1)	(2)
Net income (loss) attributable to Warner Music Group Corp.		117	(74)	215	46
Class A Common Stock
Costs and expenses:
Net income (loss) attributable to Warner Music Group Corp.		$ 27	$ 0	$ 46	$ 0
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic and Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.23	$ 0	$ 0.41	$ 0
Weighted average common shares:
Basic and Diluted (in shares)		113,623,893	0	103,922,919	0
Class B Common Stock
Costs and expenses:
Net income (loss) attributable to Warner Music Group Corp.		$ 90	$ (74)	$ 169	$ 46
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic and Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.22	$ (0.15)	$ 0.41	$ 0.09
Weighted average common shares:
Basic and Diluted (in shares)		400,705,856	501,991,944	408,669,332	501,991,944
[1]	Includes depreciation expense of $(19) and $(14) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, respectively, and $(38) and $(38) for the six months ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, respectively.

Consolidated Statements of Op_2

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Depreciation expense	$ (19)	$ (14)	$ (38)	$ (38)

Consolidated Statements of Comp

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 117	$ (74)	$ 216	$ 48
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
Foreign currency adjustment	(27)	(15)	7	(8)
Deferred gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments	3	(23)	6	(20)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(24)	(38)	13	(28)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	93	(112)	229	20
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	(1)	(2)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Warner Music Group Corp.	$ 93	$ (112)	$ 228	$ 18

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 216	$ 48
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	148	132
Unrealized losses (gains) and remeasurement of foreign-denominated loans and foreign currency forward exchange contracts	4	(7)
Deferred income taxes	14	(31)
Net (gain) loss on divestitures and investments	(32)	15
Non-cash interest expense	2	3
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	21	160
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(4)	6
Inventories	1	9
Royalty advances	(53)	(47)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(119)	(109)
Royalty payables	96	38
Accrued interest	0	0
Operating lease liabilities	(1)	(2)
Deferred revenue	(3)	(14)
Other balance sheet changes	29	(37)
Net cash provided by operating activities	319	164
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of music publishing rights and music catalogs, net	(327)	(18)
Capital expenditures	(38)	(28)
Investments and acquisitions of businesses, net of cash received	(39)	(5)
Net cash used in investing activities	(404)	(51)
Cash flows from financing activities
Deferred financing costs paid	(4)	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest holder	(1)	(1)
Dividends paid	(125)	(244)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	114	(245)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	6	(3)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	35	(135)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	553	619
Cash and equivalents at end of period	588	484
3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of 3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031	$ 244	$ 0

Consolidated Statements of Ca_2

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031
Interest rate	3.00%	3.00%

Consolidated Statements of Equi

Consolidated Statements of Equity (Deficit) (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Class A Common Stock	Class B Common Stock	Common StockClass A Common Stock	Common StockClass B Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated DeficitCumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total Warner Music Group Corp. Equity (Deficit)	Total Warner Music Group Corp. Equity (Deficit)Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Non-controlling Interest
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019					0	505,830,022
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ (269)				$ 0	$ 1	$ 1,127	$ (1,177)		$ (240)	$ (289)		$ 20
Beginning balance (ASC 842) at Sep. 30, 2019		$ 7							$ 7			$ 7
Beginning balance (ASC 718) at Sep. 30, 2019		33							33			33
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	48							46			46		2
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(28)									(28)	(28)
Dividends (per share)	(75)							(75)			(75)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest holders	(1)												(1)
Other (in shares)						4,169,978
Other	0
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020					0	510,000,000
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ (285)				$ 0	$ 1	1,127	(1,166)		(268)	(306)		21
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]	us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Member
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019					0	510,000,000
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ (169)				$ 0	$ 1	1,127	(1,088)		(230)	(190)		21
Beginning balance (ASC 718) at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 33							$ 33			$ 33
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(74)							(74)			(74)		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(38)									(38)	(38)
Dividends (per share)	(37)							(37)			(37)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020					0	510,000,000
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020	(285)				$ 0	$ 1	1,127	(1,166)		(268)	(306)		21
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020			88,578,361	421,450,000	88,578,361	421,450,000
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2020	(45)				$ 0	$ 1	1,907	(1,749)		(222)	(63)		18
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	216							215			215		1
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	13									13	13
Dividends (per share)	(125)							(125)			(125)
Stock-based compensation expense	17						17				17
Distribution to noncontrolling interest holders	(3)												(3)
Exchange of LLC units for class A shares (in shares)					19,234,103	19,234,106
Shares issued under the Plan (in shares)					4,321,259
Conversion of Class B shares (in shares)					4,754,626	4,754,626
Shares issued under Omnibus Incentive Plan (in shares)					33,062
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021			116,921,411	397,461,268	116,921,411	397,461,268
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2021	73				$ 0	$ 1	1,924	(1,659)		(209)	57		16
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020					111,167,356	403,184,814
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	33				$ 0	$ 1	1,913	(1,713)		(185)	16		17
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	117							117			117		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(24)									(24)	(24)
Dividends (per share)	(63)							(63)			(63)
Stock-based compensation expense	11						11				11
Distribution to noncontrolling interest holders	(1)												(1)
Exchange of LLC units for class A shares (in shares)					968,920	968,920
Exchange of Class B shares for Class A shares							0				0
Conversion of Class B shares (in shares)					4,754,626	4,754,626
Shares issued under Omnibus Incentive Plan (in shares)					30,509
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021			116,921,411	397,461,268	116,921,411	397,461,268
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 73				$ 0	$ 1	$ 1,924	$ (1,659)		$ (209)	$ 57		$ 16

Consolidated Statements of Eq_2

Consolidated Statements of Equity (Deficit) (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Dividends (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.07	$ 0.24	$ 0.15

Description of Business

Description of Business	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business Warner Music Group Corp. (the “Company”) was formed on November 21, 2003. The Company is the direct parent of WMG Holdings Corp. (“Holdings”), which is the direct parent of WMG Acquisition Corp. (“Acquisition Corp.”). Acquisition Corp. is one of the world’s major music entertainment companies. Acquisition of Warner Music Group by Access Industries Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 6, 2011 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, AI Entertainment Holdings LLC (formerly Airplanes Music LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent”) and an affiliate of Access Industries, Inc., and Airplanes Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), on July 20, 2011 (the “Merger Closing Date”), Merger Sub merged with and into the Company with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger, the Company delisted its common stock from the New York Stock Exchange. Initial Public Offering On June 5, 2020, the Company completed an initial public offering (“IPO”) of 77,000,000 shares of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”) at a public offering price of $25 per share. The Company listed these shares on the NASDAQ stock market under the ticker symbol “WMG.” The offering consisted entirely of secondary shares sold by Access Industries, LLC (collectively with its affiliates, “Access”) and certain related selling stockholders. On July 7, 2020, the Company completed the sale of an additional 11,550,000 shares of Class A Common Stock from the selling stockholders to the underwriters of the Company’s IPO pursuant to the exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A Common Stock. The Company did not receive any of the proceeds of the IPO or exercise of the underwriters’ option. Following the completion of the IPO and the exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, Access and its affiliates held an aggregate of 421,450,000 shares of Class B common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), representing approximately 99% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding common stock and approximately 83% of the economic interest. As a result, the Company is a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of NASDAQ. Recorded Music Operations Our Recorded Music business primarily consists of the discovery and development of recording artists and the related marketing, promotion, distribution, sale and licensing of music created by such recording artists. We play an integral role in virtually all aspects of the recorded music value chain from discovering and developing talent to producing, distributing and selling music to marketing and promoting recording artists and their music. In the United States, our Recorded Music business is conducted principally through our major record labels—Atlantic Records and Warner Records. In October 2018, we launched Elektra Music Group in the United States as a standalone label group, which comprises the Elektra, Fueled by Ramen and Roadrunner labels. Our Recorded Music business also includes Rhino Entertainment, a division that specializes in marketing our recorded music catalog through compilations, reissuances of previously released music and video titles and releasing previously unreleased material from our vault. We also conduct our Recorded Music business through a collection of additional record labels including Asylum, Big Beat, Canvasback, East West, Erato, FFRR, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Reprise, Sire, Spinnin’ Records, Warner Classics and Warner Music Nashville. Outside the United States, our Recorded Music business is conducted in more than 70 countries through various subsidiaries, affiliates and non-affiliated licensees. Internationally, we engage in the same activities as in the United States: discovering and signing artists and distributing, selling, marketing and promoting their music. In most cases, we also market, promote, distribute and sell the music of those recording artists for whom our domestic record labels have international rights. In certain smaller markets, we license the right to distribute and sell our music to non-affiliated third-party record labels. Our Recorded Music business’ distribution operations include Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Corporation (“WEA Corp.”), which markets, distributes and sells music and video products to retailers and wholesale distributors; Alternative Distribution Alliance (“ADA”), which markets, distributes and sells the products of independent labels to retail and wholesale distributors; and various distribution centers and ventures operated internationally. In addition to our music being sold in physical retail outlets, our music is also sold in physical form to online physical retailers, such as amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and bestbuy.com, and distributed in digital form to an expanded universe of digital partners, including streaming services such as those of Amazon, Apple, Deezer, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tencent Music Entertainment Group and YouTube, radio services such as iHeart Radio and SiriusXM and download services. We have integrated the marketing of digital content into all aspects of our business, including artists and repertoire (“A&R”) and distribution. Our business development executives work closely with A&R departments to ensure that while music is being produced, digital assets are also created with all distribution channels in mind, including streaming services, social networking sites, online portals and music-centered destinations. We also work side-by-side with our online and mobile partners to test new concepts. We believe existing and new digital businesses will be a significant source of growth and will provide new opportunities to successfully monetize our assets and create new revenue streams. The proportion of digital revenues attributable to each distribution channel varies by region and proportions may change as the introduction of new technologies continues. As one of the world’s largest music entertainment companies, we believe we are well positioned to take advantage of growth in digital distribution and emerging technologies to maximize the value of our assets. We have diversified our revenues beyond our traditional businesses by entering into expanded-rights deals with recording artists in order to partner with such artists in other aspects of their careers. Under these agreements, we provide services to and participate in recording artists’ activities outside the traditional recorded music business such as touring, merchandising and sponsorships. We have built and acquired artist services capabilities and platforms for marketing and distributing this broader set of music-related rights and participating more widely in the monetization of the artist brands we help create. We believe that entering into expanded-rights deals and enhancing our artist services capabilities in areas such as merchandising, VIP ticketing, fan clubs, concert promotion and management has permitted us to diversify revenue streams and capitalize on other revenue opportunities. This provides for improved long-term relationships with our recording artists and allows us to more effectively connect recording artists and fans. Music Publishing Operations While Recorded Music is focused on marketing, promoting, distributing and licensing a particular recording of a musical composition, Music Publishing is an intellectual property business focused on generating revenue from uses of the musical composition itself. In return for promoting, placing, marketing and administering the creative output of a songwriter, or engaging in those activities for other rightsholders, our Music Publishing business garners a share of the revenues generated from use of the musical compositions. The operations of our Music Publishing business are conducted principally through Warner Chappell Music, our global music publishing company headquartered in Los Angeles, with operations in over 70 countries through various subsidiaries, affiliates and non-affiliated licensees and sub-publishers. We own or control rights to more than one million musical compositions, including numerous pop hits, American standards, folk songs and motion picture and theatrical compositions. Assembled over decades, our award-winning catalog includes over 80,000 songwriters and composers and a diverse range of genres including pop, rock, jazz, classical, country, R&B, hip-hop, rap, reggae, Latin, folk, blues, symphonic, soul, Broadway, techno, alternative and gospel. Warner Chappell Music also administers the music and soundtracks of several third-party television and film producers and studios. We have an extensive production music catalog collectively branded as Warner Chappell Production Music.

Summary of Significant Accounti

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Interim Financial Statements The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021. The consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2020 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 (File No. 001-32502). Basis of Consolidation The accompanying financial statements present the consolidated accounts of all entities in which the Company has a controlling voting interest and/or variable interest required to be consolidated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”) requires the Company first evaluate its investments to determine if any investments qualify as a variable interest entity (“VIE”). A VIE is consolidated if the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, which is the party involved with the VIE that has both (i) the power to control the most significant activities of the VIE and (ii) either the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. If an entity is not deemed to be a VIE, the Company consolidates the entity if the Company has a controlling voting interest. The Company maintains a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the last Friday in each reporting period. As such, all references to March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020 relate to the periods ended March 26, 2021 and March 27, 2020, respectively. For convenience purposes, the Company continues to date its second-quarter financial statements as of March 31. The fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 ended on September 25, 2020. The Company has performed a review of all subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that no additional disclosures are necessary. Common Stock On February 28, 2020, the Company amended its certificate of incorporation to increase its authorized capital stock to 2,100,000,000 shares, consisting of 1,000,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 1,000,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. In addition, the February 28, 2020 amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation also gave effect to the reclassification and 477,242.614671815-for-1 stock split of the Company’s existing common stock outstanding into 510,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock. This stock split has been retrospectively presented throughout the interim financial statements. Upon completion of the IPO and the exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, 88,550,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 421,450,000 shares of Class B Common Stock and no shares of preferred stock were outstanding. In connection with the IPO, the Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved the Warner Music Group Corp. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or the “Omnibus Incentive Plan.” The aggregate number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the Omnibus Incentive Plan is 31,169,099 shares of Class A Common Stock over the 10-year period from the date of adoption, including up to 1,000,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock in connection with the IPO. Since the IPO, a total of 61,423 shares of restricted stock has been issued under the Omnibus Incentive Plan to the Company’s directors, which includes 30,509 and 33,062 shares issued during the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. Refer to “Stock-Based Compensation” below regarding additional shares issued under our Omnibus Incentive Plan. In December 2020, all of the outstanding equity interests held by certain participants in the Second Amended and Restated Warner Music Group Corp. Senior Management Free Cash Flow Plan (the “Plan”) were settled or redeemed in accordance with the terms of the Plan. The Class A and Class B equity units held by certain participants in WMG Management Holdings, LLC (“Management LLC”) were redeemed in exchange for 18,265,183 shares of Class B Common Stock. These shares of Class B Common Stock converted to shares of Class A Common Stock upon exchange. The Company also issued a total of 4,321,259 additional shares of Class A Common Stock to settle the participants’ remaining deferred equity units previously issued under the Plan. In March 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved an amendment to the Plan that allowed certain remaining Plan participants to redeem a portion of their vested Class B equity units of Management LLC. These Class B equity units were redeemed in exchange for a total of 968,920 shares of Class B Common Stock, which shares of Class B Common Stock converted to shares of Class A Common Stock upon the exchange. In February 2021, Access converted 4,754,626 shares of Class B Common Stock to the same number of shares of Class A Common Stock, which it subsequently sold through open market sales, which is reflected as an exchange of Class B Common Stock for Class A Common Stock in the consolidated statements of equity for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021. Earnings per Share The consolidated statements of operations present basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”). Prior to the completion of the IPO, basic and diluted earnings per share were computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of outstanding common shares less shares issued for the exercise of the deferred equity units since these units were mandatorily redeemable in cash. As such, the deferred equity units were excluded from the denominator of the basic and diluted EPS calculation prior to the IPO completion. Subsequent to the completion of the IPO, the Company utilizes the two-class method to report earnings per share. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities are subtracted from net income in determining net income attributable to common stockholders. Stock-Based Compensation The Company accounts for stock-based payments as required by ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). Under the recognition provision of ASC 718, the Company’s liability classified stock-based compensation costs are measured each reporting date until settlement. In February 2020, the Company filed a Form S-1 registration statement with the SEC in connection with the IPO, which required a change in accounting policy during the three months ended March 31, 2020 from the intrinsic value method to fair value method in determining the basis of measurement of its stock-based compensation liability. Upon completion of the IPO in June 2020, the Plan was amended to remove the cash-settlement feature on all future redemptions. As a result, all awards previously issued under the Plan required settlement in equity. The participants in such plan were also allowed to sell a pro rata portion, consistent with Access’s percentage reduction in shares of Class B Common Stock as a result of the IPO, of their vested profits interests and acquired units of Management LLC, in the IPO through a “tag-along right.” Under the provision of ASC 718, the Company determined the Plan was modified as of June 3, 2020, and as such, converted the awards from liability-classified to equity-classified. Prior to conversion, the Company performed a final measurement of its stock-based compensation liability under the fair value method. Subsequent to the amendment, the awards issued under the Plan will no longer be adjusted for changes in the value of the Company’s common stock. The Company will continue to incur non-cash stock-based compensation expense for awards that were unvested as of the modification date of the Plan and awards issued under the Omnibus Incentive Plan. During the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, the Company granted restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the Omnibus Incentive Plan to eligible employees and executives. The Company recognized approximately $15 million and $21 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, respectively, of which $11 million and $17 million was recorded to additional paid-in capital, and a remaining $4 million has been classified as a share-based compensation liability as of March 31, 2021. The share-based liability represents executive awards that have not yet been granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan, where a total value is known and settlement will occur in a variable number of RSUs. Income Taxes The Company uses the estimated annual effective tax rate method in computing its interim tax provision. Certain items, including those deemed to be unusual and infrequent are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate. In such cases, the actual tax expense or benefit is reported in the same period as the related item. Certain tax effects are also not reflected in the estimated annual effective tax rate, primarily certain changes in the realizability of deferred tax assets and uncertain tax positions. New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 requires that expected credit losses relating to financial assets measured on an amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. ASU 2016-13 limits the amount of credit losses to be recognized for available-for-sale debt securities to the amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value and also requires the reversal of previously recognized credit losses if fair value increases. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and this adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). This ASU eliminates certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740, Income Taxes . Specifically, it eliminates the exception to (1) the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations, and income or a gain from other items; (2) the requirement to recognize a deferred tax liability for equity method investments when a foreign subsidiary becomes an equity method investment; (3) the ability not to recognize a deferred tax liability for a foreign subsidiary when a foreign equity

Earnings per Share

Earnings per Share	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings per Share	Earnings per Share The Company utilizes the two-class method to report earnings per share. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to each class of stock by the weighted average number of outstanding common shares for each class of stock. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to each class of stock by the weighted average number of outstanding common shares, plus dilutive potential common shares, which is calculated using the treasury-stock method. Under the treasury-stock method, potential common shares are excluded from the computation of EPS in periods in which they have an anti-dilutive effect. The Company did not have any securities with a dilutive effect for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. In computing earnings per share subsequent to the completion of our IPO, the Company has allocated dividends declared to Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock based on timing and amounts actually declared for each class of stock and the undistributed earnings have been allocated to Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock pro rata on a basic weighted average shares outstanding basis since the two classes of stock participate equally on a per share basis upon liquidation. Subsequent to the completion of the IPO, and modification of our stock-based compensation awards as described in Note 2, the Class B Common Stock issued to Management LLC for the exercise of the vested deferred equity units is included in the basic weighted average number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock. Upon issuance to the participants in the Plan, the Class B Common Stock will be converted into Class A Common Stock and included in the basic weighted average number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. Since the shares expected to satisfy the vested portion of the deferred equity units are already included in the basic weighted average number of outstanding common shares, there is no potential dilutive effect associated with the vested portion of these stock-based compensation awards. Refer to Note 2 for a description of current period activity. The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net income per common share under the two-class method for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (in millions, except share and per share data): Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Class A Class B Class A Class B Basic and Diluted EPS: Numerator Net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. $ 27 $ 90 $ — $ (74) Less: Net income attributable to participating securities (1) — — — Net income attributable to common stockholders $ 26 $ 90 $ — $ (74) Denominator Weighted average shares outstanding 113,623,893 400,705,856 0 501,991,944 Basic and Diluted EPS $ 0.23 $ 0.22 $ — $ (0.15) Six Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Class A Class B Class A Class B Basic and Diluted EPS: Numerator Net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. $ 46 $ 169 $ — $ 46 Less: Net income attributable to participating securities (3) — — — Net income attributable to common stockholders $ 43 $ 169 $ — $ 46 Denominator Weighted average shares outstanding 103,922,919 408,669,332 0 501,991,944 Basic and Diluted EPS $ 0.41 $ 0.41 $ — $ 0.09

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition For our operating segments, Recorded Music and Music Publishing, the Company accounts for a contract when it has legally enforceable rights and obligations and collectability of consideration is probable. The Company identifies the performance obligations and determines the transaction price associated with the contract, which is then allocated to each performance obligation, using management’s best estimate of standalone selling price for arrangements with multiple performance obligations. Revenue is recognized when, or as, control of the promised services or goods is transferred to the Company’s customers, and in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company is contractually due in exchange for those services or goods. An estimate of variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in the Company’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur. Certain of the Company’s arrangements include licenses of intellectual property with consideration in the form of sales- and usage-based royalties. Royalty revenue is recognized when the subsequent sale or usage occurs using the best estimates available of the amounts that will be received by the Company. Disaggregation of Revenue The Company’s revenue consists of the following categories, which aggregate into the segments – Recorded Music and Music Publishing: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 2021 2020 2021 2020 (in millions) Revenue by Type Digital $ 756 $ 626 $ 1,483 $ 1,259 Physical 118 94 292 278 Total Digital and Physical 874 720 1,775 1,537 Artist services and expanded-rights 118 115 298 303 Licensing 67 72 147 151 Total Recorded Music 1,059 907 2,220 1,991 Performance 35 41 65 87 Digital 104 74 203 147 Mechanical 12 15 23 30 Synchronization 38 34 71 70 Other 3 2 5 5 Total Music Publishing 192 166 367 339 Intersegment eliminations (1) (2) (2) (3) Total Revenues $ 1,250 $ 1,071 $ 2,585 $ 2,327 Revenue by Geographical Location U.S. Recorded Music $ 469 $ 380 $ 950 $ 833 U.S. Music Publishing 96 87 187 168 Total U.S. 565 467 1,137 1,001 International Recorded Music 590 527 1,270 1,158 International Music Publishing 96 79 180 171 Total International 686 606 1,450 1,329 Intersegment eliminations (1) (2) (2) (3) Total Revenues $ 1,250 $ 1,071 $ 2,585 $ 2,327 Recorded Music Recorded Music mainly involves selling, marketing, distribution and licensing of recorded music produced by the Company’s recording artists. Recorded Music revenues are derived from four main sources, which include digital, physical, artist services and expanded-rights and licensing. Digital revenues are generated from the expanded universe of digital partners, including digital streaming services and download services. These licenses typically contain a single performance obligation, which is ongoing access to all intellectual property in an evolving content library, predicated on: (1) the business practice and contractual ability to remove specific content without a requirement to replace the content and without impact to minimum royalty guarantees and (2) the contracts not containing a specific listing of content subject to the license. Digital licensing contracts are generally long-term with consideration in the form of sales- and usage-based royalties that are typically received monthly. Certain contracts contain non-recoupable fixed fees or minimum guarantees, which are recoupable against royalties. Upon contract inception, the Company will assess whether a shortfall or breakage is expected (i.e., where the minimum guarantee will not be recouped through royalties) in order to determine timing of revenue recognition for the fixed fee or minimum guarantee. For fixed fee and minimum guarantee contracts where breakage is expected, the total transaction price (fixed fee or minimum guarantee) is recognized proportionately over the contract term using an appropriate measure of progress which is typically based on the Company’s digital partner’s subscribers or streaming activity as these are measures of access to an evolving catalog, or on a straight-line basis. The Company updates its assessment of the transaction price each reporting period to see if anticipated royalty earnings exceed the minimum guarantee. For contracts where breakage is not expected, royalties are recognized as revenue as sales or usage occurs based upon the licensee’s usage reports and, when these reports are not available, revenue is based on historical data, industry information and other relevant trends. Additionally, for certain licenses where the consideration is fixed and the intellectual property being licensed is static, revenue is recognized at the point in time when control of the licensed content is transferred to the customer. Physical revenues are generated from the sale of physical products such as vinyl, CDs and DVDs. Revenues from the sale of physical Recorded Music products are recognized upon transfer of control to the customer, which typically occurs once the product has been shipped and the ability to direct use and obtain substantially all of the benefit from the asset have been transferred. In accordance with industry practice and as is customary in many territories, certain products, such as CDs and DVDs, are sold to customers with the right to return unsold items. Revenues from such sales are generally recognized upon shipment based on gross sales less a provision for future estimated returns. Artist services and expanded-rights revenues are generated from artist services businesses and participations in expanded-rights associated with artists, including merchandising, touring, concert promotion, ticketing, sponsorship, fan clubs, artist websites, and artist and brand management. Artist services and expanded-rights contracts are generally short term. Revenue is recognized as or when services are provided (e.g., at time of an artist’s event) assuming collectability is probable. In some cases, the Company is reliant on the artist to report revenue generating activities. For certain artist services and expanded-rights contracts, collectability is not considered probable until notification is received from the artist’s management. Licensing revenues represent royalties or fees for the right to use sound recordings in combination with visual images such as in films or television programs, television commercials and video games. In certain territories, the Company may also receive royalties when sound recordings are performed publicly through broadcast of music on television, radio and cable and in public spaces such as shops, workplaces, restaurants, bars and clubs. Licensing contracts are generally short term. For fixed-fee contracts, revenue is recognized at the point in time when control of the licensed content is transferred to the customer. Royalty based contracts are recognized as the underlying sales or usage occurs. Music Publishing Music Publishing acts as a copyright owner and/or administrator of the musical compositions and generates revenues related to the exploitation of musical compositions (as opposed to recorded music). Music publishers generally receive royalties from the use of the musical compositions in public performances, digital and physical recordings and in combination with visual images. Music publishing revenues are derived from five main sources: mechanical, performance, synchronization, digital and other. Performance revenues are received when the musical composition is performed publicly through broadcast of music on television, radio and cable and in retail locations (e.g. bars and restaurants), live performance at a concert or other venue (e.g., arena concerts and nightclubs) and performance of musical compositions in staged theatrical productions. Digital revenues are generated with respect to the musical compositions being embodied in recordings licensed to digital streaming services and digital download services and for digital performance. Mechanical revenues are generated with respect to the musical compositions embodied in recordings sold in any physical format or configuration such as vinyl, CDs and DVDs. Synchronization revenues represent the right to use the composition in combination with visual images such as in films or television programs, television commercials and video games as well as from other uses such as in toys or novelty items and merchandise. Other revenues represent earnings for use in printed sheet music and other uses. Digital and synchronization revenue recognition is similar for both Recorded Music and Music Publishing, therefore refer to the discussion within Recorded Music. Included in these revenue streams, excluding synchronization and other, are licenses with performing rights organizations or collecting societies (e.g., ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GEMA), which are long-term contracts containing a single performance obligation, which is ongoing access to all intellectual property in an evolving content library. The most common form of consideration for these contracts is sales- and usage-based royalties. The collecting societies submit usage reports, typically with payment for royalties due, often on a quarterly or biannual reporting period, in arrears. Royalties are recognized as the sale or usage occurs based upon usage reports and, when these reports are not available, royalties are estimated based on historical data, such as recent royalties reported, company-specific information with respect to changes in repertoire, industry information and other relevant trends. Also included in these revenue streams are smaller, short-term contracts for specified content, which generally involve a fixed fee. For fixed-fee contracts, revenue is recognized at the point in time when control of the license is transferred to the customer. The Company excludes from the measurement of transaction price all taxes assessed by governmental authorities that are both (i) imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and (ii) collected from customers. Sales Returns and Uncollectible Accounts In accordance with practice in the recorded music industry and as customary in many territories, certain physical revenue products (such as vinyls, CDs and DVDs) are sold to customers with the right to return unsold items. Revenues from such sales are recognized when the products are shipped based on gross sales less a provision for future estimated returns. In determining the estimate of physical product sales that will be returned, management analyzes vendor sales of product, historical return trends, current economic conditions, changes in customer demand and commercial acceptance of the Company’s products. Based on this information, management reserves a percentage of each dollar of physical product sales that provide the customer with the right of return and records an asset for the value of the returned goods and liability for the amounts expected to be refunded. Similarly, management evaluates accounts receivables to determine if they will ultimately be collected. In performing this evaluation, significant judgments and estimates are involved, including an analysis of specific risks on a customer-by-customer basis for larger accounts and customers and a receivables aging analysis that determines the percent that has historically been uncollected by aged category, in addition to other factors to estimate an allowance for credit losses. The time between the Company’s issuance of an invoice and payment due date is not significant; customer payments that are not collected in advance of the transfer of promised services or goods are generally due no later than 30 days from invoice date. Based on this information, management provides a reserve for estimated credit losses. Based on management’s analysis of sales returns, refund liabilities of $26 million and $24 million were established at March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020, respectively. Based on management’s analysis of estimated credit losses, reserves of $24 million and $23 million were established at March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020, respectively. Principal versus Agent Revenue Recognition The Company reports revenue on a gross or net basis based on management’s assessment of whether the Company acts as a principal or agent in the transaction. The determination of whether the Company acts as a principal or an agent in a transaction is based on an evaluation of whether the Company controls the good or service before transfer to the customer. When the Company concludes that it controls the good or service before transfer to the customer, the Company is considered a principal in the transaction and records revenue on a gross basis. When the Company concludes that it does not control the good or service before transfer to the customer but arranges for another entity to provide the good or service, the Company acts as an agent and records revenue on a net basis in the amount it earns for its agency service. In the normal course of business, the Company distributes music content on behalf of third-party record labels. Based on the above guidance, the Company records the distribution of content of third-party record labels on a gross basis, subject to the terms of the contract, as the Company controls the content before transfer to the customer. Conversely, recorded music compilations distributed by other record companies where the Company has a right to participate in the profits are recorded on a net basis. Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue principally relates to fixed fees and minimum guarantees received in advance of the Company’s performance or usage by the licensee. Reductions in deferred revenue are a result of the Company’s performance under the contract or usage by the licensee. Deferred revenue increased by $236 million during the six months ended March 31, 2021 related to cash received from customers for fixed fees and minimum guarantees in advance of performance, including amounts recognized in the period. Revenues of $155 million were recognized during the six months ended March 31, 2021 related to the balance of deferred revenue at September 30, 2020. There were no other significant changes to deferred revenue during the reporting period. Performance Obligations For the six months ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, the Company recognized revenue of $34 million and $30 million, respectively, from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods. Wholly and partially unsatisfied performance obligations represent future revenues not yet recorded under long-term intellectual property licensing contracts containing fixed fees, advances and minimum guarantees. Revenues expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied at March 31, 2021 are as follows: Rest of FY21 FY22 FY23 Thereafter Total (in millions) Remaining performance obligations $ 479 $ 96 $ 2 $ — $ 577 Total $ 479 $ 96 $ 2 $ — $ 577

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive Income (Loss)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Equity [Abstract]
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive income (loss), which is reported in the accompanying consolidated statements of equity (deficit), consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting equity that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net income. For the Company, the components of other comprehensive income (loss) primarily consist of foreign currency translation gains and losses, minimum pension liabilities, and deferred gains and losses on financial instruments designated as hedges under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging , which include foreign exchange contracts. The following summary sets forth the changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of related tax expense of approximately $2 million: Foreign Currency Translation Loss (a) Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment Deferred Gains (Losses) On Derivative Financial Instruments Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, net (in millions) Balances at September 30, 2020 $ (181) $ (12) $ (29) $ (222) Other comprehensive income 7 — 6 13 Balances at March 31, 2021 $ (174) $ (12) $ (23) $ (209) ______________________________________ (a) Includes historical foreign currency translation related to certain intra-entity transactions.

Leases

Leases	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	Leases The Company’s lease portfolio consists operating real estate leases for its corporate offices and, to a lesser extent, storage and other equipment. Under ASC 842, a contract is or contains a lease when (1) an explicitly or implicitly identified asset has been deployed in the contract and (2) the customer obtains substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of that underlying asset and directs how and for what purpose the asset is used during the term of the contract. The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception of the contract. For all leases (finance and operating), other than those that qualify for the short-term recognition exemption, the Company will recognize on the balance sheet a lease liability for its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease and a corresponding ROU asset representing its right to use the underlying asset over the period of use based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term as of the lease commencement date. ROU assets are adjusted for initial direct costs, lease payments made and incentives. As the rates implicit in our leases are not readily determinable, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. This rate is based on the estimated rate of interest for collateralized borrowing over a similar term of the lease payments. The lease term used to calculate the lease liability will include options to extend or terminate the lease when the option to extend or terminate is at the Company’s discretion and it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the option. Fixed payments are recognized as lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For leases with a term of one year or less (“short-term leases”), the lease payments are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. ASC 842 requires that only limited types of variable payments be included in the determination of lease payments, which affects lease classification and measurement. Variable lease costs, if any, are recognized as incurred and such costs are excluded from lease balances recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. The initial measurement of the lease liability and ROU asset are determined based on fixed lease payments. Lease payments that depend on an index or a rate (such as the Consumer Price Index or a market interest rate) are variable and are recognized in the period in which the payments are incurred. The Company’s operating ROU assets are included in operating lease right-of-use assets and the Company’s current and non-current operating lease liabilities are included in operating lease liabilities, current and operating lease liabilities, noncurrent, respectively, in the Company’s balance sheet. Operating lease liabilities are amortized using the effective interest method. That is, in each period, the liability will be increased to reflect the interest that is accrued on the related liability by using the appropriate discount rate and decreased by the lease payments made during the period. The subsequent measurement of the ROU asset is linked to the amount recognized as the lease liability. Accordingly, the ROU asset is measured as the lease liability adjusted by (1) accrued or prepaid rents (i.e., the aggregate difference between the cash payment and straight-line lease cost), (2) remaining unamortized initial direct costs and lease incentives, and (3) impairments of the ROU asset. Operating lease costs are included in Selling, general and administrative expenses. For lease agreements that contain both lease and non-lease components, the Company has elected the practical expedient provided by ASC 842 that permits the accounting for these components as a single lease component (rather than separating the lease from the non-lease components and accounting for the components individually). The Company enters into operating leases for buildings, office equipment, production equipment, warehouses, and other types of equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms of 1 year to 10 years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to 10 years, and some of which include options to terminate the leases within 1 year. Among the Company’s operating leases are its leases for the Ford Factory Building, located at 777 S. Santa Fe Avenue in Los Angeles, California, and for 27 Wrights Lane, Kensington, London. The landlord for both leases is an affiliate of Access. As of March 31, 2021, the aggregate lease liability related to these leases was $131 million. There are no restrictions or covenants, such as those relating to dividends or incurring additional financial obligations, relating to our lease portfolio, and residual value guarantees are not significant. The components of lease expense were as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, Six Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (in millions) Lease Cost Operating lease cost $ 14 12 $ 28 $ 26 Short-term lease cost — — 1 — Variable lease cost 3 2 5 5 Sublease income — — — — Total lease cost $ 17 $ 14 $ 34 $ 31 Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows: Six Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 (in millions) Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities $ 29 $ 28 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations 8 9 Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows: March 31, September 30, (in millions) Operating Leases Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 267 $ 273 Operating lease liabilities, current $ 42 $ 39 Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 288 299 Total operating lease liabilities $ 330 $ 338 Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term Operating leases 8 years 8 years Weighted Average Discount Rate Operating leases 4.59 % 4.58 % Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows: Years Operating (in millions) 2021 $ 29 2022 56 2023 52 2024 49 2025 48 Thereafter 161 Total lease payments 395 Less: Imputed interest (65) Total $ 330 As of March 31, 2021, there have been no leases entered into that have not yet commenced.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill The following analysis details the changes in goodwill for each reportable segment: Recorded Music Total (in millions) Balances at September 30, 2020 $ 1,367 $ 464 $ 1,831 Acquisitions 5 — 5 Other adjustments (a) 6 — 6 Balances at March 31, 2021 $ 1,378 $ 464 $ 1,842 ______________________________________ (a) Other adjustments during the six months ended March 31, 2021 represent foreign currency movements. The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (“ASC 350”) during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year as of July 1. The Company may conduct an earlier review if events or circumstances occur that would suggest the carrying value of the Company’s goodwill may not be recoverable. No indicators of impairment were identified during the current period that required the Company to perform an interim assessment or recoverability test. Intangible Assets Intangible assets consist of the following: Weighted-Average Useful Life March 31, September 30, (in millions) Intangible assets subject to amortization: Recorded music catalog 11 years $ 1,026 $ 876 Music publishing copyrights 26 years 1,707 1,597 Artist and songwriter contracts 13 years 990 862 Trademarks 15 years 94 81 Other intangible assets 6 years 100 84 Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization 3,917 3,500 Accumulated amortization (1,990) (1,847) Total net intangible assets subject to amortization 1,927 1,653 Intangible assets not subject to amortization: Trademarks and tradenames Indefinite 154 154 Total net intangible assets $ 2,081 $ 1,807 The increase in intangible assets during the six months ended March 31, 2021 primarily relates to two acquisition transactions of music-related assets within recorded music catalogs, music publishing copyrights, and artist and songwriter contracts for approximately $318 million.

Debt

Debt	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt Debt Capitalization Long-term debt, all of which was issued by Acquisition Corp., consists of the following: March 31, September 30, (in millions) Revolving Credit Facility (a) $ — $ — Senior Term Loan Facility due 2028 820 820 3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (€445 face amount) 524 518 2.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (€325 face amount) 383 379 3.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 535 535 3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031 800 550 5.500% Senior Notes due 2026 325 325 Total long-term debt, including the current portion $ 3,387 $ 3,127 Issuance premium less unamortized discount and unamortized deferred financing costs (33) (23) Total long-term debt, including the current portion, net $ 3,354 $ 3,104 ______________________________________ (a) Reflects $300 million of commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility, less letters of credit outstanding of approximately $10 million at both March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020. There were no loans outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at March 31, 2021 or September 30, 2020. The Company is the direct parent of Holdings, which is the direct parent of Acquisition Corp. As of March 31, 2021 Acquisition Corp. had issued and outstanding the 3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026, the 5.500% Senior Notes due 2026, the 2.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2028, the 3.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 and the 3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (together, the “Acquisition Corp. Notes”). The 3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 and the 5.500% Senior Notes due 2026 are guaranteed by the Company. The Company’s guarantee of the Acquisition Corp. Notes is full and unconditional. All of the Acquisition Corp. Notes are guaranteed by all of Acquisition Corp.’s domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries. The guarantee of the Acquisition Corp. Notes by Acquisition Corp.’s domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries is full, unconditional and joint and several. The secured notes are guaranteed on a senior secured basis and the unsecured notes are guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis. The Company and Holdings are holding companies that conduct substantially all of their business operations through Acquisition Corp. Accordingly, the ability of the Company and Holdings to obtain funds from their subsidiaries is restricted by the indentures for the Acquisition Corp. Notes, as well as the credit agreements for the Acquisition Corp. Senior Credit Facilities, including the Revolving Credit Facility and the Senior Term Loan Facility. Recent Transactions Additional 3.000% Senior Secured Notes On November 2, 2020, Acquisition Corp. issued and sold $250 million of additional 3.000% Senior Secured Notes (the “Additional Notes”). Interest on the Additional Notes will accrue at the rate of 3.000% per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15, commencing on February 15, 2021. The Additional Notes have identical terms as (other than the issue date and the issue price) and are fungible with, and treated as a single series of senior secured debt securities with, the 3.000% Senior Secured Notes issued on August 12, 2020 (the “Original Notes”). Senior Term Loan Facility On January 20, 2021, Acquisition Corp. entered into an amendment (the “Senior Term Loan Credit Agreement Amendment”) to the credit agreement, dated November 1, 2012 (as amended by the amendments dated as of May 9, 2013, July 13, 2016, November 21, 2016, May 22, 2017, December 6, 2017 and June 7, 2018), among Acquisition Corp., the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent, governing the Senior Term Loan Facility with Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent, and the other financial institutions and lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Senior Term Loan Credit Agreement”). The Senior Term Loan Credit Agreement Amendment (among other changes) (i) extends the maturity date of its outstanding term loans from November 1, 2023 to January 20, 2028 and (ii) removes a number of negative covenants limiting the ability of Acquisition Corp. to take various actions. The remaining negative covenants are limited to restrictions on liens, restrictions on fundamental changes and change of control, and are in a form substantially similar to the negative covenants in the 2.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2028, 3.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 and 3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031. The Company recorded approximately $3 million of expenses associated with fees paid to third parties in connection with this debt modification and capitalized approximately $1 million in fees paid to creditors. Revolving Credit Agreement Amendment On March 1, 2021, Acquisition Corp. entered into an amendment (the “Revolving Credit Agreement Amendment”) to the revolving credit agreement, dated January 31, 2018 (as amended by the amendments dated as of October 9, 2019 and April 3, 2020), among Acquisition Corp., the several banks and other financial institutions party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent, governing Acquisition Corp.’s revolving credit facility with Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent, and the other financial institutions and lenders from time to time party thereto. The Revolving Credit Agreement Amendment (among other changes) adds certain exceptions and increases the leverage ratio below which Acquisition Corp. can access certain baskets in connection with Acquisition Corp.’s negative covenants, including those related to incurrence of indebtedness, restricted payments and covenant suspension. Senior Term Loan Facility Increase Supplement and Redemption of 5.500% Senior Notes due 2026 On March 8, 2021, Acquisition Corp. entered into an Increase Supplement (the “Increase Supplement”), dated as of March 8, 2021, among Acquisition Corp., the guarantors party thereto, WMG Holdings Corp., Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as increasing lender, and Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent, to the Senior Term Loan Credit Agreement, whereby prior to April 22, 2021 and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, Acquisition Corp. may borrow additional term loans in an amount up to $325 million for an aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Senior Term Loan Credit Agreement of up to $1,145 million. The Increase Supplement was entered into to provide for the redemption of Acquisition Corp.’s 5.500% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “5.500% Notes”). On April 14, 2021, Acquisition Corp. borrowed additional term loans in an amount of $325 million under the Increase Supplement. Following such borrowing, there was an aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Senior Term Loan Credit Agreement of $1,145 million. See Note 15. On April 15, 2021, Acquisition Corp. redeemed all of the outstanding 5.500% Notes. The redemption price for the 5.500% Notes was approximately $343 million, equivalent to 102.750% of the principal amount of the 5.500% Notes, plus accrued but unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date, which was April 15, 2021. See Note 15. Interest Rates The loans under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at Acquisition Corp.’s election at a rate equal to (i) the rate for deposits in the borrowing currency in the London interbank market (adjusted for maximum reserves) for the applicable interest period (“Revolving LIBOR”) subject to a zero floor, plus 1.75% per annum in the case of Initial Revolving Loans (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), or 1.875% per annum in the case of 2020 Revolving Loans (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), or (ii) the base rate, which is the highest of (x) the corporate base rate established by the administrative agent from time to time, (y) 0.50% in excess of the overnight federal funds rate and (z) the one-month Revolving LIBOR plus 1.0% per annum, plus, in each case, 0.75% per annum in the case of Initial Revolving Loans, or 0.875% per annum in the case of 2020 Revolving Loans; provided that, in respect of 2020 Revolving Loans, the applicable margin with respect to such loans is subject to adjustment as set forth in the pricing grid in the Revolving Credit Agreement. Based on the Senior Secured Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio of 2.98x at March 31, 2021, the applicable margin for Eurodollar loans would be 1.375% instead of 1.875% and the applicable margin for ABR loans would be 0.375% instead of 0.875% in the case of 2020 Revolving Loans. If there is a payment default at any time, then the interest rate applicable to overdue principal will be the rate otherwise applicable to such loan plus 2.0% per annum. Default interest will also be payable on other overdue amounts at a rate of 2.0% per annum above the amount that would apply to an alternative base rate loan. The loans under the Senior Term Loan Facility bear interest at Acquisition Corp.’s election at a rate equal to (i) the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars in the London interbank market (adjusted for maximum reserves) for the applicable interest period (“Term Loan LIBOR”) subject to a zero floor, plus 2.125% per annum or (ii) the base rate, which is the highest of (x) the corporate base rate established by the administrative agent as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City from time to time, (y) 0.50% in excess of the overnight federal funds rate and (z) one-month Term Loan LIBOR, plus 1.00% per annum, plus, in each case, 1.125% per annum. If there is a payment default at any time, then the interest rate applicable to overdue principal and interest will be the rate otherwise applicable to such loan plus 2.0% per annum. Default interest will also be payable on other overdue amounts at a rate of 2.0% per annum above the amount that would apply to an alternative base rate loan. The Company has entered into, and in the future may enter into, interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk. Please refer to Note 11 of our consolidated financial statements for further discussion. Maturity of Senior Term Loan Facility The loans outstanding under the Senior Term Loan Facility mature on January 20, 2028. Maturity of Revolving Credit Facility The maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility is April 3, 2025. Maturities of Senior Notes and Senior Secured Notes As of March 31, 2021, there are no scheduled maturities of notes until 2026, when $849 million is scheduled to mature. Thereafter, $1.718 billion is scheduled to mature. Following the redemption of the 5.500% Notes in April 2021 as described in Note 15, the remaining principal amount of notes due in 2026 is $524 million related to the 3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026. Interest Expense, net Total interest expense, net was $32 million and $33 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $63 million and $66 million for the six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate of the Company’s total debt was 3.7% at March 31, 2021, 3.7% at September 30, 2020 and 4.2% at March 31, 2020.

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and ContingenciesFrom time to time the Company is involved in claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company is currently subject to several such claims and legal proceedings. Based on currently available information, the Company does not believe that resolution of pending matters will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and there can be no assurances that the Company’s defenses will be successful or that any such lawsuit or claim would not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations in a particular period. Any claims or proceedings against the Company, whether meritorious or not, can have an adverse impact because of defense costs, diversion of management and operational resources, negative publicity and other factors.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”). The Tax Act significantly revised the U.S. federal corporate income tax provisions, including, but not limited to, an income inclusion of global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”), a deduction against foreign-derived intangible income (“FDII”) and a new minimum tax, the base erosion anti-abuse tax (“BEAT”). GILTI, FDII and BEAT were effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. The Company has elected to recognize the GILTI impact in the specific period in which it occurs. As a result of final regulations regarding the interest expense allocation rules issued by the Internal Revenue Service in December 2019, the Company concluded that it is more likely than not that the entire amount of the Company’s deferred tax assets relating to foreign tax credit carryforwards will be realized. Consequently, the Company released its $33 million valuation allowance at September 30, 2019 relating to such deferred tax assets and recognized a corresponding U.S. tax benefit of $33 million during the three months ended December 31, 2019. The Company will continue to weigh the evidence including the projections of sufficient future taxable income, foreign source income and the reversal of future taxable temporary differences to assess the future realization of our foreign tax credits. As a result of the IPO in June 2020, the Company is subject to limitation on the deductibility of executive compensation under Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 162(m). For the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $51 million and $86 million, respectively. The income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is higher than the expected tax expense at the statutory tax rate of 21% primarily due to U.S. state and local taxes, foreign income taxes at rates higher than the U.S., and non-deductible executive compensation under IRC Section 162(m), offset, by FDII. The income tax expense for the six months ended March 31, 2021 is higher than the expected tax expense at the statutory tax rate of 21% primarily due to U.S. state and local taxes, foreign income taxes at rates higher than the U.S., and non-deductible executive compensation under IRC Section 162(m), offset by FDII and excess tax benefits from long term incentive plan. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $12 million and $7 million, respectively. The income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2020 is lower than the expected tax benefit at the statutory tax rate of 21% primarily due to non-deductible expenses of the Plan. The income tax benefit for the six months ended March 31, 2020 is lower than the expected tax benefit at the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to tax benefit of the valuation allowance release relating to foreign tax credit carryforwards and FDII, offset by non-deductible expenses of the Plan, U.S. state and local taxes, foreign income taxed at rates higher than the U.S. statutory tax rate, withholding taxes and foreign losses with no tax benefit. The Company has determined that it is reasonably possible that the gross unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2021 could decrease by up to approximately $2 million related to various ongoing audits and settlement discussions in various foreign jurisdictions during the next twelve months.

Derivative Financial Instrument

Derivative Financial Instruments	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative Financial Instruments	Derivative Financial InstrumentsThe Company uses derivative financial instruments, primarily foreign currency forward exchange contracts and interest rate swaps, for the purposes of managing foreign currency exchange rate risk and interest rate risk on expected future cash flows. However, the Company may choose not to hedge certain exposures for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, accounting considerations and the prohibitive economic cost of hedging particular exposures. There can be no assurance the hedges will offset more than a portion of the financial impact resulting from movements in foreign currency exchange or interest rates. The Company enters into foreign currency forward exchange contracts primarily to hedge the risk that unremitted or future royalties and license fees owed to its U.S. companies for the sale or licensing of U.S.-based music and merchandise abroad may be adversely affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company focuses on managing the level of exposure to the risk of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on its major currencies, which include the Euro, British pound sterling, Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona, Australian dollar, Brazilian real, Korean won and Norwegian krone. The Company also may at times choose to hedge foreign currency risk associated with financing transactions such as third-party debt and other balance sheet items. The Company’s foreign currency forward exchange contracts have not been designated as hedges under the criteria prescribed in ASC 815. The Company records these contracts at fair value on its balance sheet and the related gains and losses are immediately recognized in the consolidated statement of operations where there is an offsetting entry related to the underlying exposure. The Company has entered into, and in the future may enter into, interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk. These instruments may offset a portion of changes in income or expense, or changes in fair value of the Company’s long-term debt. The interest rate swap instruments are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges under the criteria prescribed in ASC 815. The Company records these contracts at fair value on its balance sheet and gains or losses on these contracts are deferred in equity (as a component of comprehensive income (loss)). The fair value of foreign currency forward exchange contracts is determined by using observable market transactions of spot and forward rates (i.e., Level 2 inputs) which is discussed further in Note 14. Additionally, netting provisions are provided for in existing International Swap and Derivative Association Inc. agreements in situations where the Company executes multiple contracts with the same counterparty. As a result, net assets or liabilities resulting from foreign exchange derivatives subject to these netting agreements are classified within other current assets or other current liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s hedged interest rate transactions as of March 31, 2021 are expected to be recognized within three years. The fair value of interest rate swaps is based on dealer quotes of market rates (i.e., Level 2 inputs) which is discussed further in Note 14. Interest income or expense related to interest rate swaps is recognized in interest income (expense), net in the same period as the related expense is recognized. The ineffective portions of interest rate swaps are recognized in other income (expense) in the period measured. The Company monitors its positions with, and the credit quality of, the financial institutions that are party to any of its financial transactions. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had outstanding hedge contracts for the sale of $243 million and the purchase of $149 million of foreign currencies at fixed rates that will be settled by September 2021. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had outstanding $820 million in pay-fixed receive-variable interest rate swaps with $23 million of unrealized deferred losses in comprehensive income related to the interest rate swaps. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had outstanding $820 million in pay-fixed receive-variable interest rate swaps with $29 million of unrealized deferred losses in comprehensive income related to the interest rate swaps. The Company recorded realized pre-tax losses of $2 million and no unrealized pre-tax gains or losses related to its foreign currency forward exchange contracts in the consolidated statement of operations as other expense for the six months ended March 31, 2021. The Company recorded realized pre-tax losses of $2 million and unrealized pre-tax losses of $3 million related to its foreign currency forward exchange contracts in the consolidated statement of operations as other expense for the six months ended March 31, 2020. The unrealized pre-tax gains of the Company’s derivative interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges recorded in other comprehensive income during the six months ended March 31, 2021 were $8 million. The unrealized pre-tax losses of the Company’s derivative interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges recorded in other comprehensive income during the six months ended March 31, 2020 were $25 million. The following is a summary of amounts recorded in the consolidated balance sheets pertaining to the Company’s derivative instruments at March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020: March 31, September 30, (in millions) Other current assets $ 1 $ — Other current liabilities (1) — Other noncurrent assets — — Other noncurrent liabilities (30) (38) ______________________________________ (a) $6 million and $6 million of foreign exchange derivative contracts in current asset and liability positions, respectively, and $30 million of interest rate swaps in noncurrent liability positions. (b) $38 million of interest rate swaps in noncurrent liability positions.

Segment Information

Segment Information	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Segment Information As discussed more fully in Note 1, based on the nature of its products and services, the Company classifies its business interests into two fundamental operations: Recorded Music and Music Publishing, which also represent the reportable segments of the Company. Information as to each of these operations is set forth below. The Company evaluates performance based on several factors, of which the primary financial measure is operating income (loss) before non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and non-cash amortization of intangible assets (“OIBDA”). The Company has supplemented its analysis of OIBDA results by segment with an analysis of operating income (loss) by segment. The accounting policies of the Company’s business segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies included elsewhere herein. The Company accounts for intersegment sales at fair value as if the sales were to third parties. While intercompany transactions are treated like third-party transactions to determine segment performance, the revenues (and corresponding expenses recognized by the segment that is counterparty to the transaction) are eliminated in consolidation, and therefore, do not themselves impact consolidated results. Recorded Music Corporate Total Three Months Ended (in millions) March 31, 2021 Revenues $ 1,059 $ 192 $ (1) $ 1,250 Operating income (loss) 184 22 (55) 151 Amortization of intangible assets 38 20 — 58 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 13 1 5 19 OIBDA 235 43 (50) 228 March 31, 2020 Revenues $ 907 $ 166 $ (2) $ 1,071 Operating income (loss) 36 30 (115) (49) Amortization of intangible assets 30 17 — 47 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 10 1 3 14 OIBDA 76 48 (112) 12 Recorded Music Corporate Total Six Months Ended (in millions) March 31, 2021 Revenues $ 2,220 $ 367 $ (2) $ 2,585 Operating income (loss) 407 40 (100) 347 Amortization of intangible assets 71 39 — 110 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 26 3 9 38 OIBDA 504 82 (91) 495 March 31, 2020 Revenues $ 1,991 $ 339 $ (3) $ 2,327 Operating income (loss) 227 44 (155) 116 Amortization of intangible assets 59 35 — 94 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 31 2 5 38 OIBDA 317 81 (150) 248

Additional Financial Informatio

Additional Financial Information	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Additional Financial Information [Abstract]
Additional Financial Information	Additional Financial Information Cash Interest and Taxes The Company made interest payments of approximately $37 million and $21 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and approximately $64 million and $65 million during the six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company paid approximately $35 million and $20 million of income and withholding taxes, net of refunds, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and approximately $52 million and $40 million of income and withholding taxes, net of refunds, for the six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Dividends The Company’s ability to pay dividends may be restricted by covenants in certain of the indentures governing its notes and in the credit agreements for the Senior Term Loan Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company intends to pay quarterly cash dividends to holders of its Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The Company paid the first dividend under this policy in September 2020. The declaration of each dividend will continue to be at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and will depend on the Company’s financial condition, earnings, liquidity and capital requirements, level of indebtedness, contractual restrictions with respect to payment of dividends, restrictions imposed by Delaware law, general business conditions and any other factors that the Company’s board of directors deems relevant in making such a determination. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the Company will pay any dividends to holders of the Company’s common stock, or as to the amount of any such dividends. On February 11, 2021, the Company’s board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share on the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, as well as related payments under certain stock-based compensation plans, which was paid to stockholders on March 1, 2021. The Company paid an aggregate of approximately $63 million and $125 million, or $0.12 and $0.24 per share, in cash dividends to stockholders and participating security holders for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. COVID-19 Pandemic On March 11, 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Government-imposed mandates limiting public assembly and restrictions on non-essential businesses have adversely impacted the Company’s operations, including touring and physical product distribution, for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021. It is unclear how long government-imposed mandates and restrictions will last and to what extent the global pandemic will impact demand for the Company’s music and related services, even as federal, state, local and foreign governments start to lift restrictions. The Company is not presently aware of any events or circumstances arising from the global pandemic that would require us to update any estimates, judgments or materially revise the carrying value of our assets or liabilities. The Company’s estimates may change, however, as new events occur and additional information is obtained, and any such changes will be recognized in the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from estimates, and any such differences may be material to our consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”) defines fair value as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid upon transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and in the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or liability. The fair value should be calculated based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, not on assumptions specific to the entity. In addition to defining fair value, ASC 820 expands the disclosure requirements around fair value and establishes a fair value hierarchy for valuation inputs. The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three levels based on the extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market. Each fair value measurement is reported in one of the three levels which is determined by the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. These levels are: • Level 1—inputs are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets. • Level 2—inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. • Level 3—inputs are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair values are therefore determined using model-based techniques that include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques. In accordance with the fair value hierarchy, described above, the following tables show the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments that are required to be measured at fair value as of March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020. Fair Value Measurements as of March 31, 2021 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Total (in millions) Other Current Assets: Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts (a) $ — $ 1 $ — $ 1 Other Current Liabilities: Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts (a) — (1) — (1) Contractual Obligations (b) — — (4) (4) Other Noncurrent Assets: Equity Method Investment (c) — 67 — 67 Equity Investment with Readily Determinable Fair Value (d) — 32 — 32 Other Noncurrent Liabilities: Contractual Obligations (b) — — (12) (12) Interest Rate Swaps (e) — (30) — (30) Total $ — $ 69 $ (16) $ 53 Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 2020 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Total (in millions) Other Current Liabilities: Contractual Obligations (b) $ — $ — $ (2) $ (2) Other Noncurrent Assets: Equity Method Investment (c) — 47 — 47 Other Noncurrent Liabilities: Contractual Obligations (b) — — (4) (4) Interest Rate Swaps (e) — (38) — (38) Total $ — $ 9 $ (6) $ 3 ______________________________________ (a) The fair value of foreign currency forward exchange contracts is based on dealer quotes of market forward rates and reflects the amount that the Company would receive or pay at their maturity dates for contracts involving the same currencies and maturity dates. (b) This represents contingent consideration related to an acquisition. This is based on a probability weighted performance approach and it is adjusted to fair value on a recurring basis and any adjustments are typically included as a component of operating income in the consolidated statements of operations. This amount was mainly calculated using unobservable inputs such as future earnings performance of the acquiree and the expected timing of the payment. (c) This represents an equity method investment acquired in fiscal 2019 whereby the Company has elected the fair value option under ASC 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825”). The valuation is based upon quoted prices in active markets and model-based valuation techniques to determine fair value. (d) This represents an equity investment with a readily determinable fair value that was acquired and subsequently became publicly traded during the six months ended March 31, 2021. The Company has measured its investment to fair value in accordance with ASC 321, Investments—Equity Securities, based on quoted prices in active markets. The Company recognized an unrealized gain on this equity investment of $12 million for both the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, which was recorded as a component of other income in the consolidated statements of operations. (e) The fair value of the interest rate swaps is based on dealer quotes of market forward rates and reflects the amount that the Company would receive or pay as of March 31, 2021 for contracts involving the same attributes and maturity dates. The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of net liabilities classified as Level 3: Total (in millions) Balance at September 30, 2020 $ (6) Additions (10) Reductions — Payments — Balance at March 31, 2021 $ (16) Additions to net liabilities during the six months ended March 31, 2021 includes a measurement period adjustment of $7 million to contingent consideration for an August 2020 acquisition. The majority of the Company’s non-financial instruments, which include goodwill, intangible assets, inventories and property, plant and equipment, are not required to be re-measured to fair value on a recurring basis. These assets are evaluated for impairment if certain triggering events occur. If such evaluation indicates that impairment exists, the asset is written down to its fair value. In addition, an impairment analysis is performed at least annually for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Equity Investments Without Readily Determinable Fair Value The Company evaluates its equity investments without readily determinable fair values for impairment if factors indicate that a significant decrease in value has occurred. The Company has elected to use the measurement alternative to fair value that will allow these investments to be recorded at cost, less impairment, and adjusted for subsequent observable price changes. The Company did not record any impairment charges on these investments during the three and six months ended March 31, 2021. In addition, there were no observable price changes events that were completed during the three and six months ended March 31, 2021. Fair Value of Debt Based on the level of interest rates prevailing at March 31, 2021, the fair value of the Company’s debt was $3.371 billion. Based on the level of interest rates prevailing at September 30, 2020, the fair value of the Company’s debt was $3.137 billion. The fair value of the Company’s debt instruments is determined using quoted market prices from less active markets or by using quoted market prices for instruments with identical terms and maturities; both approaches are considered a Level 2 measurement.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events On April 14, 2021, Acquisition Corp. borrowed additional term loans in an amount of $325 million under the Increase Supplement. Following such borrowing, there was an aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Senior Term Loan Credit Agreement of $1,145 million. On April 15, 2021, Acquisition Corp. redeemed all of the outstanding 5.500% Notes. The redemption price for the 5.500% Notes was approximately $343 million, equivalent to 102.750% of the principal amount of the 5.500% Notes, plus accrued but unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date, which was April 15, 2021.

Summary of Significant Accoun_2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Interim Financial Statements	Interim Financial Statements The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021. The consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2020 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 (File No. 001-32502).
Basis of Consolidation	Basis of Consolidation The accompanying financial statements present the consolidated accounts of all entities in which the Company has a controlling voting interest and/or variable interest required to be consolidated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”) requires the Company first evaluate its investments to determine if any investments qualify as a variable interest entity (“VIE”). A VIE is consolidated if the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, which is the party involved with the VIE that has both (i) the power to control the most significant activities of the VIE and (ii) either the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. If an entity is not deemed to be a VIE, the Company consolidates the entity if the Company has a controlling voting interest. The Company maintains a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the last Friday in each reporting period. As such, all references to March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020 relate to the periods ended March 26, 2021 and March 27, 2020, respectively. For convenience purposes, the Company continues to date its second-quarter financial statements as of March 31. The fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 ended on September 25, 2020.
Common Stock	Common Stock On February 28, 2020, the Company amended its certificate of incorporation to increase its authorized capital stock to 2,100,000,000 shares, consisting of 1,000,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 1,000,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. In addition, the February 28, 2020 amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation also gave effect to the reclassification and 477,242.614671815-for-1 stock split of the Company’s existing common stock outstanding into 510,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock. This stock split has been retrospectively presented throughout the interim financial statements. Upon completion of the IPO and the exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, 88,550,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 421,450,000 shares of Class B Common Stock and no shares of preferred stock were outstanding. In connection with the IPO, the Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved the Warner Music Group Corp. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or the “Omnibus Incentive Plan.” The aggregate number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the Omnibus Incentive Plan is 31,169,099 shares of Class A Common Stock over the 10-year period from the date of adoption, including up to 1,000,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock in connection with the IPO. Since the IPO, a total of 61,423 shares of restricted stock has been issued under the Omnibus Incentive Plan to the Company’s directors, which includes 30,509 and 33,062 shares issued during the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, respectively. Refer to “Stock-Based Compensation” below regarding additional shares issued under our Omnibus Incentive Plan. In December 2020, all of the outstanding equity interests held by certain participants in the Second Amended and Restated Warner Music Group Corp. Senior Management Free Cash Flow Plan (the “Plan”) were settled or redeemed in accordance with the terms of the Plan. The Class A and Class B equity units held by certain participants in WMG Management Holdings, LLC (“Management LLC”) were redeemed in exchange for 18,265,183 shares of Class B Common Stock. These shares of Class B Common Stock converted to shares of Class A Common Stock upon exchange. The Company also issued a total of 4,321,259 additional shares of Class A Common Stock to settle the participants’ remaining deferred equity units previously issued under the Plan. In March 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved an amendment to the Plan that allowed certain remaining Plan participants to redeem a portion of their vested Class B equity units of Management LLC. These Class B equity units were redeemed in exchange for a total of 968,920 shares of Class B Common Stock, which shares of Class B Common Stock converted to shares of Class A Common Stock upon the exchange. In February 2021, Access converted 4,754,626 shares of Class B Common Stock to the same number of shares of Class A Common Stock, which it subsequently sold through open market sales, which is reflected as an exchange of Class B Common Stock for Class A Common Stock in the consolidated statements of equity for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021.
Earnings per Share	Earnings per Share The consolidated statements of operations present basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”). Prior to the completion of the IPO, basic and diluted earnings per share were computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of outstanding common shares less shares issued for the exercise of the deferred equity units since these units were mandatorily redeemable in cash. As such, the deferred equity units were excluded from the denominator of the basic and diluted EPS calculation prior to the IPO completion. Subsequent to the completion of the IPO, the Company utilizes the two-class method to report earnings per share. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities are subtracted from net income in determining net income attributable to common stockholders.
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation The Company accounts for stock-based payments as required by ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). Under the recognition provision of ASC 718, the Company’s liability classified stock-based compensation costs are measured each reporting date until settlement. In February 2020, the Company filed a Form S-1 registration statement with the SEC in connection with the IPO, which required a change in accounting policy during the three months ended March 31, 2020 from the intrinsic value method to fair value method in determining the basis of measurement of its stock-based compensation liability. Upon completion of the IPO in June 2020, the Plan was amended to remove the cash-settlement feature on all future redemptions. As a result, all awards previously issued under the Plan required settlement in equity. The participants in such plan were also allowed to sell a pro rata portion, consistent with Access’s percentage reduction in shares of Class B Common Stock as a result of the IPO, of their vested profits interests and acquired units of Management LLC, in the IPO through a “tag-along right.” Under the provision of ASC 718, the Company determined the Plan was modified as of June 3, 2020, and as such, converted the awards from liability-classified to equity-classified. Prior to conversion, the Company performed a final measurement of its stock-based compensation liability under the fair value method. Subsequent to the amendment, the awards issued under the Plan will no longer be adjusted for changes in the value of the Company’s common stock. The Company will continue to incur non-cash stock-based compensation expense for awards that were unvested as of the modification date of the Plan and awards issued under the Omnibus Incentive Plan. During the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, the Company granted restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the Omnibus Incentive Plan to eligible employees and executives. The Company recognized approximately $15 million and $21 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, respectively, of which $11 million and $17 million was recorded to additional paid-in capital, and a remaining $4 million has been classified as a share-based compensation liability as of March 31, 2021. The share-based liability represents executive awards that have not yet been granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan, where a total value is known and settlement will occur in a variable number of RSUs.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The Company uses the estimated annual effective tax rate method in computing its interim tax provision. Certain items, including those deemed to be unusual and infrequent are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate. In such cases, the actual tax expense or benefit is reported in the same period as the related item. Certain tax effects are also not reflected in the estimated annual effective tax rate, primarily certain changes in the realizability of deferred tax assets and uncertain tax positions.
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 requires that expected credit losses relating to financial assets measured on an amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. ASU 2016-13 limits the amount of credit losses to be recognized for available-for-sale debt securities to the amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value and also requires the reversal of previously recognized credit losses if fair value increases. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and this adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). This ASU eliminates certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740, Income Taxes . Specifically, it eliminates the exception to (1) the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations, and income or a gain from other items; (2) the requirement to recognize a deferred tax liability for equity method investments when a foreign subsidiary becomes an equity method investment; (3) the ability not to recognize a deferred tax liability for a foreign subsidiary when a foreign equity

Earnings per Share (Tables)

Earnings per Share (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share	The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net income per common share under the two-class method for the three and six months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (in millions, except share and per share data): Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Class A Class B Class A Class B Basic and Diluted EPS: Numerator Net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. $ 27 $ 90 $ — $ (74) Less: Net income attributable to participating securities (1) — — — Net income attributable to common stockholders $ 26 $ 90 $ — $ (74) Denominator Weighted average shares outstanding 113,623,893 400,705,856 0 501,991,944 Basic and Diluted EPS $ 0.23 $ 0.22 $ — $ (0.15) Six Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Class A Class B Class A Class B Basic and Diluted EPS: Numerator Net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp. $ 46 $ 169 $ — $ 46 Less: Net income attributable to participating securities (3) — — — Net income attributable to common stockholders $ 43 $ 169 $ — $ 46 Denominator Weighted average shares outstanding 103,922,919 408,669,332 0 501,991,944 Basic and Diluted EPS $ 0.41 $ 0.41 $ — $ 0.09

Revenue Recognition (Tables)

Revenue Recognition (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Summary of Disaggregation of Revenue	The Company’s revenue consists of the following categories, which aggregate into the segments – Recorded Music and Music Publishing: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 2021 2020 2021 2020 (in millions) Revenue by Type Digital $ 756 $ 626 $ 1,483 $ 1,259 Physical 118 94 292 278 Total Digital and Physical 874 720 1,775 1,537 Artist services and expanded-rights 118 115 298 303 Licensing 67 72 147 151 Total Recorded Music 1,059 907 2,220 1,991 Performance 35 41 65 87 Digital 104 74 203 147 Mechanical 12 15 23 30 Synchronization 38 34 71 70 Other 3 2 5 5 Total Music Publishing 192 166 367 339 Intersegment eliminations (1) (2) (2) (3) Total Revenues $ 1,250 $ 1,071 $ 2,585 $ 2,327 Revenue by Geographical Location U.S. Recorded Music $ 469 $ 380 $ 950 $ 833 U.S. Music Publishing 96 87 187 168 Total U.S. 565 467 1,137 1,001 International Recorded Music 590 527 1,270 1,158 International Music Publishing 96 79 180 171 Total International 686 606 1,450 1,329 Intersegment eliminations (1) (2) (2) (3) Total Revenues $ 1,250 $ 1,071 $ 2,585 $ 2,327
Summary of Revenues Expected to be Recognized in Future Related to Performance Obligations	Revenues expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied at March 31, 2021 are as follows: Rest of FY21 FY22 FY23 Thereafter Total (in millions) Remaining performance obligations $ 479 $ 96 $ 2 $ — $ 577 Total $ 479 $ 96 $ 2 $ — $ 577

Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Ta

Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	The following summary sets forth the changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of related tax expense of approximately $2 million: Foreign Currency Translation Loss (a) Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment Deferred Gains (Losses) On Derivative Financial Instruments Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, net (in millions) Balances at September 30, 2020 $ (181) $ (12) $ (29) $ (222) Other comprehensive income 7 — 6 13 Balances at March 31, 2021 $ (174) $ (12) $ (23) $ (209) ______________________________________ (a) Includes historical foreign currency translation related to certain intra-entity transactions.

Leases (Tables)

Leases (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Leases [Abstract]
Components of Lease Expense	The components of lease expense were as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, Six Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (in millions) Lease Cost Operating lease cost $ 14 12 $ 28 $ 26 Short-term lease cost — — 1 — Variable lease cost 3 2 5 5 Sublease income — — — — Total lease cost $ 17 $ 14 $ 34 $ 31
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows: Six Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 (in millions) Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities $ 29 $ 28 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations 8 9
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information	Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows: March 31, September 30, (in millions) Operating Leases Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 267 $ 273 Operating lease liabilities, current $ 42 $ 39 Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 288 299 Total operating lease liabilities $ 330 $ 338 Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term Operating leases 8 years 8 years Weighted Average Discount Rate Operating leases 4.59 % 4.58 %
Maturities of Lease Liabilities	Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows: Years Operating (in millions) 2021 $ 29 2022 56 2023 52 2024 49 2025 48 Thereafter 161 Total lease payments 395 Less: Imputed interest (65) Total $ 330

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Changes in Goodwill for Each Reportable Segment	The following analysis details the changes in goodwill for each reportable segment: Recorded Music Total (in millions) Balances at September 30, 2020 $ 1,367 $ 464 $ 1,831 Acquisitions 5 — 5 Other adjustments (a) 6 — 6 Balances at March 31, 2021 $ 1,378 $ 464 $ 1,842 ______________________________________ (a) Other adjustments during the six months ended March 31, 2021 represent foreign currency movements.
Schedule of Indefinite Intangible Assets	Intangible assets consist of the following: Weighted-Average Useful Life March 31, September 30, (in millions) Intangible assets subject to amortization: Recorded music catalog 11 years $ 1,026 $ 876 Music publishing copyrights 26 years 1,707 1,597 Artist and songwriter contracts 13 years 990 862 Trademarks 15 years 94 81 Other intangible assets 6 years 100 84 Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization 3,917 3,500 Accumulated amortization (1,990) (1,847) Total net intangible assets subject to amortization 1,927 1,653 Intangible assets not subject to amortization: Trademarks and tradenames Indefinite 154 154 Total net intangible assets $ 2,081 $ 1,807
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	Intangible assets consist of the following: Weighted-Average Useful Life March 31, September 30, (in millions) Intangible assets subject to amortization: Recorded music catalog 11 years $ 1,026 $ 876 Music publishing copyrights 26 years 1,707 1,597 Artist and songwriter contracts 13 years 990 862 Trademarks 15 years 94 81 Other intangible assets 6 years 100 84 Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization 3,917 3,500 Accumulated amortization (1,990) (1,847) Total net intangible assets subject to amortization 1,927 1,653 Intangible assets not subject to amortization: Trademarks and tradenames Indefinite 154 154 Total net intangible assets $ 2,081 $ 1,807

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-term Debt	Long-term debt, all of which was issued by Acquisition Corp., consists of the following: March 31, September 30, (in millions) Revolving Credit Facility (a) $ — $ — Senior Term Loan Facility due 2028 820 820 3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (€445 face amount) 524 518 2.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (€325 face amount) 383 379 3.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 535 535 3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031 800 550 5.500% Senior Notes due 2026 325 325 Total long-term debt, including the current portion $ 3,387 $ 3,127 Issuance premium less unamortized discount and unamortized deferred financing costs (33) (23) Total long-term debt, including the current portion, net $ 3,354 $ 3,104 ______________________________________ (a) Reflects $300 million of commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility, less letters of credit outstanding of approximately $10 million at both March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020. There were no loans outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at March 31, 2021 or September 30, 2020.

Derivative Financial Instrume_2

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Amounts Recorded in Consolidated Balance Sheets	The following is a summary of amounts recorded in the consolidated balance sheets pertaining to the Company’s derivative instruments at March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020: March 31, September 30, (in millions) Other current assets $ 1 $ — Other current liabilities (1) — Other noncurrent assets — — Other noncurrent liabilities (30) (38) ______________________________________ (a) $6 million and $6 million of foreign exchange derivative contracts in current asset and liability positions, respectively, and $30 million of interest rate swaps in noncurrent liability positions. (b) $38 million of interest rate swaps in noncurrent liability positions.

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Segment Information	Recorded Music Corporate Total Three Months Ended (in millions) March 31, 2021 Revenues $ 1,059 $ 192 $ (1) $ 1,250 Operating income (loss) 184 22 (55) 151 Amortization of intangible assets 38 20 — 58 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 13 1 5 19 OIBDA 235 43 (50) 228 March 31, 2020 Revenues $ 907 $ 166 $ (2) $ 1,071 Operating income (loss) 36 30 (115) (49) Amortization of intangible assets 30 17 — 47 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 10 1 3 14 OIBDA 76 48 (112) 12 Recorded Music Corporate Total Six Months Ended (in millions) March 31, 2021 Revenues $ 2,220 $ 367 $ (2) $ 2,585 Operating income (loss) 407 40 (100) 347 Amortization of intangible assets 71 39 — 110 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 26 3 9 38 OIBDA 504 82 (91) 495 March 31, 2020 Revenues $ 1,991 $ 339 $ (3) $ 2,327 Operating income (loss) 227 44 (155) 116 Amortization of intangible assets 59 35 — 94 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 31 2 5 38 OIBDA 317 81 (150) 248

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Fair Value of Financial Instruments	In accordance with the fair value hierarchy, described above, the following tables show the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments that are required to be measured at fair value as of March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020. Fair Value Measurements as of March 31, 2021 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Total (in millions) Other Current Assets: Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts (a) $ — $ 1 $ — $ 1 Other Current Liabilities: Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts (a) — (1) — (1) Contractual Obligations (b) — — (4) (4) Other Noncurrent Assets: Equity Method Investment (c) — 67 — 67 Equity Investment with Readily Determinable Fair Value (d) — 32 — 32 Other Noncurrent Liabilities: Contractual Obligations (b) — — (12) (12) Interest Rate Swaps (e) — (30) — (30) Total $ — $ 69 $ (16) $ 53 Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 2020 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Total (in millions) Other Current Liabilities: Contractual Obligations (b) $ — $ — $ (2) $ (2) Other Noncurrent Assets: Equity Method Investment (c) — 47 — 47 Other Noncurrent Liabilities: Contractual Obligations (b) — — (4) (4) Interest Rate Swaps (e) — (38) — (38) Total $ — $ 9 $ (6) $ 3 ______________________________________ (a) The fair value of foreign currency forward exchange contracts is based on dealer quotes of market forward rates and reflects the amount that the Company would receive or pay at their maturity dates for contracts involving the same currencies and maturity dates. (b) This represents contingent consideration related to an acquisition. This is based on a probability weighted performance approach and it is adjusted to fair value on a recurring basis and any adjustments are typically included as a component of operating income in the consolidated statements of operations. This amount was mainly calculated using unobservable inputs such as future earnings performance of the acquiree and the expected timing of the payment. (c) This represents an equity method investment acquired in fiscal 2019 whereby the Company has elected the fair value option under ASC 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825”). The valuation is based upon quoted prices in active markets and model-based valuation techniques to determine fair value. (d) This represents an equity investment with a readily determinable fair value that was acquired and subsequently became publicly traded during the six months ended March 31, 2021. The Company has measured its investment to fair value in accordance with ASC 321, Investments—Equity Securities, based on quoted prices in active markets. The Company recognized an unrealized gain on this equity investment of $12 million for both the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, which was recorded as a component of other income in the consolidated statements of operations. (e) The fair value of the interest rate swaps is based on dealer quotes of market forward rates and reflects the amount that the Company would receive or pay as of March 31, 2021 for contracts involving the same attributes and maturity dates.
Reconciliation of Net Liabilities Classified as Level 3	The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of net liabilities classified as Level 3: Total (in millions) Balance at September 30, 2020 $ (6) Additions (10) Reductions — Payments — Balance at March 31, 2021 $ (16)

Description of Business - Addit

Description of Business - Additional Information (Detail)	Jul. 07, 2020shares	Jun. 05, 2020$ / sharesshares	Mar. 31, 2021countrymusical_composition$ / sharessongwriter	Sep. 30, 2020$ / shares
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Number of countries in which recorded music activity conducted (more than) | country			70
Minimum number of musical compositions on which Company owns or controls rights (more than) | musical_composition			1,000,000,000,000
Number of songwriters and composers (over) | songwriter			80,000
Access Industries
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Percentage of voting power		99.00%
Percentage of economic interest		83.00%
Class A Common Stock
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Par value (in dollars per share)			$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Class B Common Stock
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Par value (in dollars per share)			$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Class B Common Stock | Access Industries
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.001
Investment owned (in shares) | shares		421,450,000
IPO | Class A Common Stock
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Number of shares issued in transaction (in shares) | shares		77,000,000
Par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.001
Price per share (in dollars per share)		$ 25
Over-Allotment Option | Class A Common Stock
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Number of shares issued in transaction (in shares) | shares	11,550,000

Summary of Significant Accoun_3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Feb. 28, 2020$ / sharesshares	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)shares	Feb. 28, 2021shares	Dec. 31, 2020shares	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)shares	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)shares	Mar. 31, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020shares
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Capital stock authorized (in shares)	2,100,000,000
Preferred stock authorized (in shares)	100,000,000
Preferred stock par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 1
Stock split, conversion ratio	477,242.614671815
Preferred stock outstanding (in shares)	0
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense | $					$ 15	$ 21	$ 160
Stock-based compensation expense | $					11	17
Share-based compensation liability | $		$ 4			4	4
Additional Paid-in Capital
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense | $					$ 11	$ 17
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Shares issued under Omnibus Incentive Plan (in shares)						61,423
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Omnibus Incentive Plan
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Shares issued under Omnibus Incentive Plan (in shares)					30,509	33,062
Class A Common Stock
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Common stock authorized (in shares)	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000			1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000		1,000,000,000
Common stock outstanding (in shares)		116,921,411			116,921,411	116,921,411		88,578,361
Shares issued in period (in shares)				4,321,259
Class A Common Stock | Omnibus Incentive Plan
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Common stock available for issuance (in shares)		31,169,099			31,169,099	31,169,099
Incentive plan period						10 years
Class A Common Stock | IPO
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Common stock outstanding (in shares)	88,550,000
Class A Common Stock | IPO | Omnibus Incentive Plan
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Common stock available for issuance (in shares)		1,000,000			1,000,000	1,000,000
Class B Common Stock
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Common stock authorized (in shares)	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000			1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000		1,000,000,000
Common stock outstanding (in shares)	510,000,000	397,461,268			397,461,268	397,461,268		421,450,000
Exchange of LLC units for class B shares (in shares)		968,920		18,265,183
Conversion of Class B shares (in shares)			4,754,626
Class B Common Stock | IPO
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Common stock outstanding (in shares)	421,450,000

Earnings per Share (Details)

Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Numerator
Net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp.	$ 117	$ (74)	$ 215	$ 46
Class A Common Stock
Numerator
Net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp.	27	0	46	0
Less: Net income attributable to participating securities	(1)	0	(3)	0
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 26	$ 0	$ 43	$ 0
Denominator
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (in shares)	113,623,893	0	103,922,919	0
Basic and Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 0	$ 0.41	$ 0
Class B Common Stock
Numerator
Net income attributable to Warner Music Group Corp.	$ 90	$ (74)	$ 169	$ 46
Less: Net income attributable to participating securities	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 90	$ (74)	$ 169	$ 46
Denominator
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (in shares)	400,705,856	501,991,944	408,669,332	501,991,944
Basic and Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ (0.15)	$ 0.41	$ 0.09

Revenue Recognition - Summary o

Revenue Recognition - Summary of Disaggregation of Revenue (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 1,250	$ 1,071	$ 2,585	$ 2,327
Intersegment eliminations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	(1)	(2)	(2)	(3)
Operating Segments | U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	565	467	1,137	1,001
Operating Segments | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	686	606	1,450	1,329
Recorded Music
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,059	907	2,220	1,991
Recorded Music | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,059	907	2,220	1,991
Recorded Music | Operating Segments | U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	469	380	950	833
Recorded Music | Operating Segments | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	590	527	1,270	1,158
Recorded Music | Digital
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	756	626	1,483	1,259
Recorded Music | Physical
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	118	94	292	278
Recorded Music | Total Digital and Physical
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	874	720	1,775	1,537
Recorded Music | Artist services and expanded-rights
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	118	115	298	303
Recorded Music | Licensing
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	67	72	147	151
Music Publishing
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	192	166	367	339
Music Publishing | Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	192	166	367	339
Music Publishing | Operating Segments | U.S.
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	96	87	187	168
Music Publishing | Operating Segments | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	96	79	180	171
Music Publishing | Digital
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	104	74	203	147
Music Publishing | Performance
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	35	41	65	87
Music Publishing | Mechanical
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	12	15	23	30
Music Publishing | Synchronization
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	38	34	71	70
Music Publishing | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 3	$ 2	$ 5	$ 5

Revenue Recognition - Additiona

Revenue Recognition - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)source	Mar. 31, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020USD ($)
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Refund liabilities	$ 26		$ 24
Uncollectible accounts, reserves	24		$ 23
Deferred revenue increased related to cash received from customers	236
Revenue recognized related to deferred revenue	155
Revenue recognized from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods	$ 34	$ 30
Recorded Music
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Number of revenue sources | source	4
Music Publishing
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Number of revenue sources | source	5

Revenue Recognition - Summary_2

Revenue Recognition - Summary of Revenues Expected to be Recognized in Future Related to Performance Obligations (Detail) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligations	$ 577
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date: 2021-04-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligations	$ 479
Revenue, remaining performance obligation, expected timing of satisfaction, period	3 months
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date: 2021-10-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligations	$ 96
Revenue, remaining performance obligation, expected timing of satisfaction, period	1 year
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date: 2022-10-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligations	$ 2
Revenue, remaining performance obligation, expected timing of satisfaction, period	1 year
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date: 2023-10-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligations	$ 0
Revenue, remaining performance obligation, expected timing of satisfaction, period

Comprehensive Income (Loss) - A

Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
Equity [Abstract]
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of related taxes	$ 2

Comprehensive Income (Loss) - S

Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (45)
Other comprehensive income	13
Ending balance	73
Foreign Currency Translation Loss
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(181)
Other comprehensive income	7
Ending balance	(174)
Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(12)
Other comprehensive income	0
Ending balance	(12)
Deferred Gains (Losses) On Derivative Financial Instruments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(29)
Other comprehensive income	6
Ending balance	(23)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, net
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(222)
Ending balance	$ (209)

Leases - Additional Information

Leases - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Lease extension period (up to)	10 years
Termination period	1 year
Lease liabilities	$ 330	$ 338
Access Industries
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Lease liabilities	$ 131
Minimum
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Remaining lease term	1 year
Maximum
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Remaining lease term	10 years

Leases - Component of Lease Exp

Leases - Component of Lease Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Operating lease cost	$ 14	$ 12	$ 28	$ 26
Short-term lease cost	0	0	1	0
Variable lease cost	3	2	5	5
Sublease income	0	0	0	0
Total lease cost	$ 17	$ 14	$ 34	$ 31

Leases - Supplemental Cash Flow

Leases - Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities	$ 29	$ 28
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations	$ 8	$ 9

Leases - Supplemental Balance S

Leases - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Operating Leases
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$ 267	$ 273
Operating lease liabilities, current	42	39
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent	288	299
Total operating lease liabilities	$ 330	$ 338
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term
Operating leases	8 years	8 years
Weighted Average Discount Rate
Operating leases	4.59%	4.58%

Leases - Maturities of Lease Li

Leases - Maturities of Lease Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
2021	$ 29
2022	56
2023	52
2024	49
2025	48
Thereafter	161
Total lease payments	395
Less: Imputed interest	(65)
Total	$ 330	$ 338

Goodwill and Intangible Asset_2

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Changes in Goodwill for Each Reportable Segment (Detail) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,831
Acquisitions	5
Other adjustments	6
Ending balance	1,842
Recorded Music
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,367
Acquisitions	5
Other adjustments	6
Ending balance	1,378
Music Publishing
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	464
Acquisitions	0
Other adjustments	0
Ending balance	$ 464

Goodwill and Intangible Asset_3

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Schedule of Intangible Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Finite Lived And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization	$ 3,917	$ 3,500
Accumulated amortization	(1,990)	(1,847)
Total net intangible assets subject to amortization	1,927	1,653
Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
Trademarks and tradenames	154	154
Total net intangible assets	2,081	1,807
Trademarks and tradenames
Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
Trademarks and tradenames	$ 154	154
Recorded music catalog
Finite Lived And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-Average Useful Life	11 years
Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization	$ 1,026	876
Music publishing copyrights
Finite Lived And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-Average Useful Life	26 years
Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization	$ 1,707	1,597
Artist and songwriter contracts
Finite Lived And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-Average Useful Life	13 years
Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization	$ 990	862
Trademarks
Finite Lived And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-Average Useful Life	15 years
Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization	$ 94	81
Other intangible assets
Finite Lived And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted-Average Useful Life	6 years
Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization	$ 100	$ 84

Goodwill and Intangible Asset_4

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Details) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)acquisition
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of asset acquisitions | acquisition	2
Increase in intangible assets, assets acquired | $	$ 318

Debt - Long-term Debt (Detail)

Debt - Long-term Debt (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt, including the current portion	$ 3,387	$ 3,127
Issuance premium less unamortized discount and unamortized deferred financing costs	(33)	(23)
Total long-term debt, including the current portion, net	3,354	3,104
Acquisition Corp. | Senior Term Loan Facility due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt, including the current portion	820	820
Acquisition Corp. | 3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt, including the current portion	524	518
Acquisition Corp. | 2.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt, including the current portion	383	379
Acquisition Corp. | 3.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt, including the current portion	535	535
Acquisition Corp. | 3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt, including the current portion	800	550
Acquisition Corp. | 5.500% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt, including the current portion	325	325
Acquisition Corp. | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt, including the current portion	$ 0	$ 0

Debt - Long-term Debt Footnote

Debt - Long-term Debt Footnote (Detail) € in Millions	Apr. 15, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021EUR (€)	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)	Mar. 08, 2021	Jan. 20, 2021	Nov. 02, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2020USD ($)	Aug. 12, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020
3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		3.00%	3.00%							3.00%
Acquisition Corp. | 3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		3.625%	3.625%
Face or principal amount of debt instrument | €		€ 445					€ 445
Acquisition Corp. | 2.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		2.75%	2.75%
Face or principal amount of debt instrument | €		€ 325					€ 325
Acquisition Corp. | 3.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		3.875%	3.875%		3.875%
Acquisition Corp. | 3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		3.00%	3.00%		3.00%	3.00%			3.00%
Face or principal amount of debt instrument						$ 250,000,000
Acquisition Corp. | 5.500% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		5.50%	5.50%	5.50%
Acquisition Corp. | 5.500% Senior Notes due 2026 | Subsequent Event
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.50%
Acquisition Corp. | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Commitments under revolving credit facility			$ 300,000,000					$ 300,000,000
Letters of credit outstanding			(10,000,000)					(10,000,000)
Revolving credit facility outstanding			$ 0					$ 0

Debt - Interest Rates (Detail)

Debt - Interest Rates (Detail)	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021
Acquisition Corp. | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Senior Term Loan Facility due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, marginal interest rate			2.125%
Acquisition Corp. | Federal Funds Effective Swap Rate | Senior Term Loan Facility due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, marginal interest rate			0.50%
Acquisition Corp. | Base Rate | Senior Term Loan Facility due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, marginal interest rate			1.125%
Term loan base rate plus election rate	1.00%		1.00%
Additional Interest rate on other overdue amounts			2.00%
Revolving Credit Facility | Eurodollar Applicable Margin Rate | 2020 Revolving Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, marginal interest rate	1.375%	1.875%
Revolving Credit Facility | ABR Applicable Margin Rate | 2020 Revolving Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, marginal interest rate	0.375%	0.875%
Revolving Credit Facility | Acquisition Corp.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan base rate plus election rate	1.00%		1.00%
Interest rate applicable to overdue principal			2.00%
Revolving Credit Facility | Acquisition Corp. | Initial Revolving Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, marginal interest rate			0.75%
Revolving Credit Facility | Acquisition Corp. | 2020 Revolving Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, marginal interest rate			0.875%
Senior secured indebtedness to EBITDA ratio	2.98		2.98
Revolving Credit Facility | Acquisition Corp. | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Initial Revolving Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, marginal interest rate			1.75%
Revolving Credit Facility | Acquisition Corp. | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | 2020 Revolving Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, marginal interest rate			1.875%
Revolving Credit Facility | Acquisition Corp. | Federal Funds Effective Swap Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, marginal interest rate			0.50%

Debt - Additional Information (

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) € in Millions	Apr. 15, 2021USD ($)	Mar. 08, 2021USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020USD ($)	Apr. 14, 2021USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021EUR (€)	Jan. 20, 2021USD ($)	Nov. 02, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020EUR (€)	Aug. 12, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount			$ 3,387,000,000		$ 3,387,000,000						$ 3,127,000,000
Interest expense, net			$ 32,000,000	$ 33,000,000	$ 63,000,000	$ 66,000,000
Weighted-average interest rate of total debt			3.70%	4.20%	3.70%	4.20%		3.70%			3.70%	3.70%
3.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 | Acquisition Corp.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			3.625%		3.625%			3.625%
Face or principal amount of debt instrument | €								€ 445				€ 445
Principal amount			$ 524,000,000		$ 524,000,000						$ 518,000,000
5.500% Senior Notes due 2026 | Acquisition Corp.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		5.50%	5.50%		5.50%			5.50%
Principal amount			$ 325,000,000		$ 325,000,000						325,000,000
5.500% Senior Notes due 2026 | Acquisition Corp. | Subsequent Event
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.50%
Debt instrument remaining outstanding amount	$ 343,000,000
Redemption price, percentage of principal amount redeemed	102.75%
2.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 | Acquisition Corp.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			2.75%		2.75%			2.75%
Face or principal amount of debt instrument | €								€ 325				€ 325
Principal amount			$ 383,000,000		$ 383,000,000						379,000,000
3.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 | Acquisition Corp.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			3.875%		3.875%			3.875%	3.875%
Principal amount			$ 535,000,000		$ 535,000,000						535,000,000
3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			3.00%	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%		3.00%
3.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2031 | Acquisition Corp.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			3.00%		3.00%			3.00%	3.00%	3.00%			3.00%
Face or principal amount of debt instrument										$ 250,000,000
Principal amount			$ 800,000,000		$ 800,000,000						$ 550,000,000
Senior Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt fees									$ 3,000,000
Capitalized debt fees									$ 1,000,000
Senior Term Loan Facility | Acquisition Corp.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, increase		$ 325,000,000
Maximum commitments under the facility		$ 1,145,000,000
Senior Term Loan Facility | Acquisition Corp. | Subsequent Event
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face or principal amount of debt instrument	$ 1,145,000,000						$ 325,000,000
2.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 | Acquisition Corp.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate									2.75%
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt in 2021			0		0
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt in 2022			0		0
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt in 2023			0		0
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt in 2024			0		0
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt, 2025			0		0
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt, 2026			849,000,000		849,000,000
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt, thereafter			$ 1,718,000,000		$ 1,718,000,000

Income Taxes - Additional Infor

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Release of valuation allowance			$ 33
Income tax benefit related to release of valuation allowance			$ 33
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ 51	$ (12)		$ 86	$ (7)
Reasonably possible decrease in gross unrecognized tax benefits from ongoing audits and settlement	$ 2			$ 2

Derivative Financial Instrume_3

Derivative Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Companys hedged interest rate transactions			3 years
Deferred (losses) gains on derivative financial instruments	$ 3	$ (23)	$ 6	$ (20)
Interest Rate Swap
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Outstanding hedge contracts	820		820		$ 820
Deferred gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments			(23)
Deferred (losses) gains on derivative financial instruments					$ (29)
Unrealized pre-tax (losses) gains on derivative financial instruments			8	(25)
Foreign Exchange Contract | Other Income (Expense)
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Realized foreign exchange forward contract gain (loss)			(2)	(2)
Unrealized foreign exchange forward contract gain (loss)			0	$ (3)
Sale
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Outstanding hedge contracts	243		243
Purchase
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Outstanding hedge contracts	$ 149		$ 149

Derivative Financial Instrume_4

Derivative Financial Instruments - Summary of Amounts Recorded in Consolidated Balance Sheets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Other assets	$ 1	$ 0
Other current liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Other liabilities	(1)	0
Other noncurrent assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Other assets	0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Other liabilities	$ (30)	$ (38)

Derivative Financial Instrume_5

Derivative Financial Instruments - Summary of Amounts Recorded in Consolidated Balance Sheets Footnote (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Foreign exchange derivative contracts in asset	$ 6
Foreign exchange derivative contracts in liability	(6)
Interest Rate Swap
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Foreign exchange derivative contracts in liability	$ (30)	$ (38)

Segment Information - Additiona

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of fundamental operations	2

Segment Information - Schedule

Segment Information - Schedule of Segment Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,250	$ 1,071	$ 2,585	$ 2,327
Operating income (loss)	151	(49)	347	116
Amortization of intangible assets	58	47	110	94
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	19	14	38	38
OIBDA	228	12	495	248
Recorded Music
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,059	907	2,220	1,991
Music Publishing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	192	166	367	339
Operating Segments | Recorded Music
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,059	907	2,220	1,991
Operating income (loss)	184	36	407	227
Amortization of intangible assets	38	30	71	59
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	13	10	26	31
OIBDA	235	76	504	317
Operating Segments | Music Publishing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	192	166	367	339
Operating income (loss)	22	30	40	44
Amortization of intangible assets	20	17	39	35
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	1	1	3	2
OIBDA	43	48	82	81
Corporate expenses and eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	(1)	(2)	(2)	(3)
Operating income (loss)	(55)	(115)	(100)	(155)
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0	0
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	5	3	9	5
OIBDA	$ (50)	$ (112)	$ (91)	$ (150)

Additional Financial Informat_2

Additional Financial Information - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Feb. 11, 2021
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Interest payments	$ 37	$ 21	$ 64	$ 65
Income and withholding taxes paid	35	$ 20	52	40
Dividends paid	$ 63		$ 125	$ 244
Common Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Cash dividends declared (in dollars per share)					$ 0.12
Dividends paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12		$ 0.24

Fair Value Measurements - Sched

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total	$ 53	$ 53	$ 3
Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total	0	0	0
Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total	69	69	9
Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total	(16)	(16)	(6)
Other current assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	1	1	0
Other current assets | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	0	0
Other current assets | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	1	1
Other current assets | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	0	0
Other current liabilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward exchange contract	(1)	(1)	0
Contractual obligations	(4)	(4)	(2)
Other current liabilities | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward exchange contract	0	0
Contractual obligations	0	0	0
Other current liabilities | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward exchange contract	(1)	(1)
Contractual obligations	0	0	0
Other current liabilities | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward exchange contract	0	0
Contractual obligations	(4)	(4)	(2)
Other noncurrent assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	0	0	0
Equity method investment	67	67	47
Other noncurrent assets | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity method investment	0	0	0
Other noncurrent assets | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity method investment	67	67	47
Other noncurrent assets | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity method investment	0	0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward exchange contract	(30)	(30)	(38)
Contractual obligations	(12)	(12)	(4)
Other noncurrent liabilities | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contractual obligations	0	0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contractual obligations	0	0	0
Other noncurrent liabilities | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contractual obligations	(12)	(12)	(4)
Interest Rate Swap
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unrealized gain on equity investments	12	12
Interest Rate Swap | Other noncurrent assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity investment with readily determinable fair value	32	32
Interest Rate Swap | Other noncurrent assets | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity investment with readily determinable fair value	0	0
Interest Rate Swap | Other noncurrent assets | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity investment with readily determinable fair value	32	32
Interest Rate Swap | Other noncurrent assets | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity investment with readily determinable fair value	0	0
Interest Rate Swap | Other noncurrent liabilities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	(30)	(30)	(38)
Interest Rate Swap | Other noncurrent liabilities | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	0	0	0
Interest Rate Swap | Other noncurrent liabilities | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	(30)	(30)	(38)
Interest Rate Swap | Other noncurrent liabilities | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value Measurements - Recon

Fair Value Measurements - Reconciliation of Net Liabilities Classified as Level 3 (Detail) - Level 3 $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021USD ($)
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (6)
Additions	(10)
Reductions	0
Payments	0
Ending balance	$ (16)

Fair Value Measurements - Addit

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Level 2 measurement
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of debt	$ 3,371	$ 3,137
Level 3 | Acquisition-related Costs
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Additions to net liabilities	$ 7

Subsequent Events (Details)

Subsequent Events (Details) - Acquisition Corp. - USD ($) $ in Millions	Apr. 15, 2021	Apr. 14, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 08, 2021
Senior Term Loan Facility | Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Face or principal amount of debt instrument	$ 1,145	$ 325
5.500% Senior Notes due 2026
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Interest rate			5.50%	5.50%
5.500% Senior Notes due 2026 | Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.50%
Debt instrument remaining outstanding amount	$ 343
Redemption price, percentage of principal amount redeemed	102.75%