operating profit

Universal Music Group parent company Vivendi released its Q2 results today. (PDF of earnings release) First half evenues of €2,044 million were 4.9% improvement at constant currency and a 2.4% decline in actual currency. Digital revenues were up 33%, the same year-over-year improvement achieved in Q1.

• ArtistDirect posted a loss of $4.76 million in the quarter ending March 31, 2008. That is a huge drop from a profit of $3.5 million a year ago, although the drop in operating profit was not as great and the net increase in cash actually improved.

Citing improved digital sales and the integration of BMG Music Publishing and Sanctuary, Vivendi announced Universal Music Group's Q1 2008 earnings today.

Sony Corp released its earnings today. Sony BMG revenues dropped 4% while operating profit jumped 90%. (Info is on slide #4 and #18 of the earnings presentation .) No results with constant currency were given.

Sorta borders on a crime against humanity, doesn't it?

Profiteers Squeeze Billions Out of Growing Global Food Crisis

Bertelsmann reported its 2007 earnings yesterday. For the year, BMG revenues declined by 27.8% to €1.5 billion and operating EBITA (basically operating profit) dropped 46% to €93 million. Physical revenues dropped 17% while digital increased 40%. Digital accounted for 17% of BMG's revenue (up from 12% in 2006).

Billboard's Ed Christman got out his calculator and tried to figure out just how much money Apple makes from iTunes. A 30% margin and music (a Billboard estimate) gives a gross margin of $570 million. For expenses, Christman used Amazon.com as a benchmark.