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Registered number:
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
COMPANY INFORMATION
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
CONTENTS
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
The directors present their Strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2025 for The Echo Label Limited ('the Company").
Principal activities
The Company is a wholly-owned United Kingdom subsidiary of BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited. The Company is domiciled and registered in the United Kingdom. The Company owns and administers rights to all forms of recorded music, exploits and markets these compositions and receives royalties or fees for their use. The Company ceased trading on 1 January 2025 after its trade and assets hive up to the immediate parent company.
Business review
On 21 March 2025, with an effective date of 1 January 2025, the Company transferred its music rights and trading operations to its immediate parent at fair value as part of an internal group reorganisation. Following the transfer, the Company ceased trading and was made dormant. It is anticipated that the Company will remain dormant for the foreseeable future.
As a result of the reorganisation, revenue and operating results for the year differ significantly from the previous reporting period. The Company reported revenues of £nil (2024: £2,847,000) and gross profit of £nil (2024: £1,998,000). Operating profit has decreased to £12,000 (2024: £1,161,000), reflecting the absence of trading activity during the year.
The Company received £20,000,000 for the sale of its music catalogues to its immediate parent company, generating a profit on disposal of intangible assets of £18,589,000 (2024: £nil).
As at 31 December 2025, the Company’s net assets were £nil (2024: £5,159,000), reflecting the transfer of its net assets as part of the internal reorganisation.
No KPI's are relevant for the year given the cessation of trading activities.
The Company's operations expose it to a variety of commercial and financial risks. The Company is subject to risk management procedures and an annual risk assessment implemented by the ultimate parent company, Bertelsmann SE & Co KGaA. The Company has procedures in place to make the directors aware of the various risks to the Company's business and to ensure that these are continuously monitored and reported to management.
Commercial risk
The music industry continues to evolve, driven by the developing digital landscape on which consumers access their music. This creates both challenges and opportunities for the Company, emphasis is placed on growth within the digital space such to offset the decline in the sale of physical product. Intense competition has accelerated these developments with the risk of future increases to contract costs to ensure talent can be attracted and retained within such a congested market. The Company actively monitors market trends and these are incorporated into the detailed commercial plans of the business.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Price risk
In the last year, the UK economy has seen high levels of inflation which has led to a significant increase in interest rates. The combination of high inflation and an increase to interest rates is likely to increase the Company’s cost base.
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Company if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations and arises principally from the Company's receivables from customers. The risk is mitigated as balances are spread across multiple parties. The Company's management make assessments on new customers before work is earned out, based on their knowledge of the industry and the customer's acceptance of imposed credit terms. The majority of the Company’s receivables are balances with fellow Group undertakings and are considered to be low credit risk due to the nature of the Group’s funding arrangements.
Liquidity and cash flow risk
The objective of the Company in managing liquidity risk is to ensure that it can meet its financial obligations as and when they fall due. The Company expects to meet its financial obligations through operating cash flows. The Company’s results, including cash flows, are reviewed by the Board on a monthly basis. Risks are further mitigated by the cash pooling arrangements in place across the Bertelsmann group, which ensures funds are available to the Company to meet all liabilities as and when they fall due.
Directors of a company must act in a way they consider, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole, and in doing so have regard (amongst other matters) to:
a)The likely consequences of any decision in the long term;
b)The interests of the Company’s employees;
c)The need to foster the Company’s business relationships with suppliers, customers and others;
d)The impact of the Company’s operations on the community and the environment;
e)The desirability of the Company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct; and
f)The need to act fairly as between members of the Company.
When making decisions and setting the strategy for the Company, the directors engage with management to ensure that due consideration has been given to the impacts on key stakeholders including shareholders, employees, suppliers, customers, the community, and the environment to ensure that the company maintains a high level of ethical business practice.
The directors fulfil these duties as follows:
Long- term decision making
The Board operates a structured governance model which supports the Company in ensuring that decisions are considered, documented and reported upon, and in alignment with its strategic plans. Detailed budgets and forecasts are prepared which enable the Board to track performance and ensure that it is as expected, or that mitigation steps are taken to deliver performance in line with, or close to, expectations. The Board and senior management personnel operate within this structure, with the aim of promoting the success of the Company and delivering long- term shareholder value.
The Board is presented with regular board packs and other information that it needs to fulfil its responsibilities. During the period at Board meetings, the Board have discussed and made decisions on a number of specific issues including business priorities and strategy, capital investment and the ongoing management of the current economic situation.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Directors' section 172 statement (continued)
The interest of the Company’s employees
The Company does not employ any staff directly. Employee costs are recharged from a fellow Group undertaking, BMG Rights Management Services (UK) Limited. Details of the Group’s employees are disclosed in the financial statements of that entity.
Engagement with suppliers, customers and others
The directors appreciate the importance of fostering business relationships with key stakeholders, such as customers and suppliers, and focus on the maintenance and growth of these relationships in their decision-making and strategic planning. The Company employs dedicated relationship managers to foster these relationships which also ensures the board has a high degree of visibility to take stakeholder considerations into account.
Community and environment
The Company’s approach is to use its position of strength to ensure it is an asset to the communities and people with which it interacts. The board ensures significant consideration is given to the impact of the Company’s operations on the community and environment in their decision-making. The Company strives to create positive change in reducing the environmental standards, whilst maintaining effective and continuing business practices.
High standards of business conduct
The Company has a Code of Conduct setting out the behaviours and values expected of all of our employees, which is communicated to all colleagues. Company processes ensure the Board and management are continually updated on the operation of the code and an independent whistleblowing service enables employees and third parties to anonymously raise concerns. Through its oversight and monitoring role, the Board requires all of its people to work to the highest standards of business conduct.
Shareholders
As a wholly owned subsidiary, the Company operates within the wider Group strategy for shareholder engagement. The Company’s activities and strategic direction are aligned with the Group and subject to oversight and approval by the parent undertaking.
The Company is presenting the financial statements in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101, Reduced Disclosure Framework’ (FRS 101).
This report was approved by the board on 22 June 2026 and signed on its behalf.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.
The profit for the year, after taxation, amounted to £18,923 thousand (2024 - £998 thousand).
Dividends of £24,082,000 were declared and paid during the year (2024: £nil).
The directors who served during the year were:
Going concern
During the year, the Company ceased trading and, with effect from 1 January 2025, transferred its trade and net assets to its immediate parent undertaking, BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited, as part of an internal group reorganisation.
Following this transfer, the Company has no remaining trading activities, assets or liabilities. The directors have therefore concluded that it is not appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis.
The financial statements have been prepared on a basis other than going concern. As the Company had no assets or liabilities as at 31 December 2025 other than its issued share capital, the adoption of this basis has not resulted in any adjustments to the carrying amounts recognised in the financial statements.
Greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption
The Company has not disclosed information in respect of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption as its energy consumption in the United Kingdom is less than 40,000kWh for the year.
Matters covered in the Strategic report
Details on financial risk management, engaging with customers, suppliers and other stakeholders are not included in the Directors' report as they are considered to be of strategic importance to the Company and, as allowed under the Companies Act 2006 s414C (11), they have instead been included in the Strategic report.
Independent auditor
Pursuant to Section 487 of Companies Act 2006, the auditor will be deemed to be reappointed and Grant Thornton UK LLP will therefore continue in office.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
This report was approved by the board on
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
The directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, the Directors' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial Reporting Standard 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’. Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs and profit or loss of the Company for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:
∙select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
∙make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
∙state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
∙prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business.
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
We have audited the financial statements of The Echo Label Limited (the 'Company') for the year ended 31 December 2025, which comprise the Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Changes in Equity and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law.
Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the 'Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements' section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the FRC's Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED (CONTINUED)
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report and financial statements other than the financial statements and our Auditor's Report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report and financial statements. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
∙the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
∙the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Directors' Report.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED (CONTINUED)
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED (CONTINUED)
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditor's Report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.
Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
∙We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks applicable to the company and industry in which it operates through our general commercial and sector experience, discussions with management and review of board minutes. We determined that the following laws and regulations were most significant; United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), the Companies Act 2006 and the relevant tax compliance regulations in the UK. In addition, we concluded that there are certain laws and regulations that may have an effect on the determination of the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements such as health and safety, employee matters and copyright laws.
∙We enquired of management concerning the company’s policies and procedures relating to:
- the identification, evaluation and compliance with laws and regulations;
- the detection and response to the risks of fraud; and
- the establishment of internal controls to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and
regulations.
∙We enquired of management and those charged with governance, whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations or whether they had any knowledge of actual, suspected of alleged fraud. We corroborated our inquiries through our review of board minutes.
∙We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur and the risk of management override of controls. Audit procedures are performed by the engagement team included:
- identifying and assessing the design effectiveness of controls management has in place to prevent and
detect fraud;
- challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in its significant accounting estimates;
- identifying and testing journal entries, in particular journal entries with unusual account combinations
that increased revenues or that reduced costs in the Statement of comprehensive income; and
- assessing the extent of compliance with the relevant laws and regulations as part of our procedures on
the related financial statement item;
∙In addition, we completed audit procedures to conclude on the compliance of disclosures in the Reports and financial statements with applicable financial reporting requirements.
∙These audit procedures were designed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements were free from fraud or error. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error and detecting irregularities that result from fraud is inherently more difficult than detecting those that result from error, as fraud may involve collusion, deliberate concealment, forgery or intentional misrepresentations. Also, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED (CONTINUED)
would become aware of it;
∙The assessment of the appropriateness of the collective competence and capabilities of the engagement team including consideration of the engagement team’s:
- understanding of, and practical experience with audit engagements of a similar nature and complexity
through appropriate training and participation;
- knowledge of the industry in which the client operates; and
- understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements specific to the entity including, the provisions of
the applicable legislation and the applicable statutory provision.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditor's Report.
This report is made solely to the Company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditor's Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Senior Statutory Auditor
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
REGISTERED NUMBER: 02713513
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf on
The notes on pages 15 to 30 form part of these financial statements.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
The Echo Label Limited ("the Company") is a private company limited by shares and incorporated in England and Wales. The address of its registered office is Floors 1-3, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 2SA.
2.Accounting policies
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention unless otherwise specified within these accounting policies and in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 'Reduced Disclosure Framework' (FRS 101) and the Companies Act 2006.
In preparing these financial statements, the Company applies the recognition, measurement and disclosure requirements of UK-adopted international accounting standards (“UK-adopted IFRS”), but makes amendments where necessary in order to comply with Companies Act 2006 and has set out below where advantage of the FRS 101 disclosure exemptions has been taken. The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 101 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgment in applying the Company's accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements are disclosed in note 3. The following principal accounting policies have been applied:
The Company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions under FRS 101:
∙the requirements of IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures
∙the requirements of paragraphs 91-99 of IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement
∙the requirements of the second sentence of paragraph 110 and paragraphs 113(a), 114, 115, 118, 119(a) to (c), 120 to 127 and 129 of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
∙the requirement in paragraph 38 of IAS 1 'Presentation of Financial Statements' to present comparative information in respect of:
- paragraph 79(a)(iv) of IAS 1;
- paragraph 73(e) of IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment;
- paragraph 118(e) of IAS 38 Intangible Assets;
∙the requirements of the following paragraphs of IAS 1, 'Presentation of financial statements':
- 10(d) statement of cash flows; - 10(f) statement of financial position as at the beginning of the preceding period when retrospective restatement or reclassifications apply; - 16 statement of compliance with all IFRS; - 38A requirement for minimum of two primary financial statements, including cash flow statements; - 38B, 38C, 38D additional comparative information; - 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D requirements to provide additional statements in respect of retrospective restatements and reclassifications; - 111 statement of cash flows information; and - 134 - 136 capital management disclosures.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
2.Accounting policies (continued)
∙the requirements of IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows
∙the requirements of paragraphs 30 and 31 of IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors
∙the requirements of paragraph 17 and 18A of IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures
∙the requirements in IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures to disclose related party transactions entered into between two or more members of a group, provided that any subsidiary which is a party to the transaction is wholly owned by such a member
This information is included in the consolidated financial statements of Bertelsmann SE & Co KGaA as at 31 December 2025 and these financial statements may be obtained from Bertelsmann SE &Co KGaA, Corporate Communications, Carl Bertelsmann Strasse 270, Postfach 111, D-33311Gütersloh, Germany.
During the year, the Company ceased trading and, with effect from 1 January 2025, transferred its trade and net assets to its immediate parent undertaking, BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited, as part of an internal group reorganisation.
Following this transfer, the Company has no remaining trading activities, assets or liabilities. The directors have therefore concluded that it is not appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis. The financial statements have been prepared on a basis other than going concern. As the Company had no assets or liabilities as at 31 December 2025 other than its issued share capital, the adoption of this basis has not resulted in any adjustments to the carrying amounts recognised in the financial statements.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Intellectual property licensing (musical works) As per the principal activities of the Company, revenue primarily comprises royalty licencing from the exploitation of musical compositions. These licenses transfer to a customer either a right to use an entity's intellectual property as it exists at the point in time at which the license is granted (right to use), or a right to access an entity's intellectual property as it exists throughout the license period (right to access). Revenues are accounted for when the performance obligation promised in the contract is satisfied (right to use) or over time upon satisfaction (right to access), i.e., when the seller transfers the control over the right to use/access the intellectual property and the customer obtains control of the use/access of that license. Consequently, revenues from right to use are recognised at the point in time when the license is transferred and the customer is able to use and benefit from the license. Revenues from right to access are accounted for over time, over the license period from the date the customer is able to use and benefit from the license and in line with the sale or usage. Revenue streams The Company has the following revenue streams: a) Royalty licencing income Royalty licencing income relates to the use by a third party of the copyrights and masters rights on musical works owned or administered by the Company. The licences provided to third parties provide a right to access a catalogue of music over a period of time and revenue is therefore recognised as such. This includes income collected by partners from digital exploitation, such as streaming, and the public performance of musical compositions. For these contracts, royalties are recognised in the year to which it relates, or if it cannot be reliably estimated, on a receipts basis. Payment terms are generally 30-60 days from the end of the royalty reporting period. b) Synchronisation income Synchronisation income relates to the licences from the pairing of music content to another medium (usually audiovisual). Synchronisation licences are recognised as at point in time when the licence begins. Payment terms vary by individual deal but customers are generally given a credit term of 30 days from the date of invoice.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
2.Accounting policies (continued)
If the nature of the entity's undertaking is a performance obligation to provide the specified goods or services itself, then the entity acts on its own behalf and it is “principal” in the sale transaction: it accounts for revenue as the gross amount of consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for the goods or services provided, and the commission due to the third-party as cost of revenues. If the entity arranges for a third-party to provide the goods or services specified in the contract, then it recognises as revenues the net amount of consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for the goods or services provided. Financing components The Company does not expect to have any contracts where the period between the transfer of the promised goods or services to the customer and payment by the customer exceeds one year. As a consequence, the Company does not adjust any of the transaction prices for the time value of money.
Advance royalty payments to artists are carried forward within other receivables where they relate to proven artists and where it is estimated that sufficient future income will be recouped against those advance payments.
Advances are presented at their net realisable value, being the advance less any provision.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Functional and presentation currency
Items included in the financial statements are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates. The financial statements are presented in pound sterling, which is also the functional currency of the Company.
Transactions and balances
Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that are stated at fair value are retranslated to the functional currency at foreign exchange rates ruling at the dates the fair value was determined. Foreign exchange differences arising on translation are recognised in the Statement of comprehensive income under administrative expenses.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the period, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the Balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years. Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the tax bases of those assets and liabilities. The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the Balance sheet date. A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilised. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and when the deferred tax balances relate to the same taxation authority. Current tax assets and tax liabilities are offset where the entity has a legally enforceable right to offset and intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Intangible assets that are acquired by the Company are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses.
Amortisation is charged to “Administrative expenses” in the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of intangible assets. For music catalogues, the amortisation method used reflects the expected exploitation pattern of the rights held but will not exceed 15 years.
The estimated useful lives are as follows:
Music catalogues 15 years
Development expenditure 1.5 - 2 years
Development expenditure
Development expenditure is costs directly attributable to the creation of ancillary content that is linked to the exploitation of music catalogues. This is primarily internal staff costs (recharged from group companies) that contribute to music contents and graphic design creations that are directly attributable to identifiable and unique music content components controlled by the Company. They are recognised as intangible assets when the following criteria are met:
∙It is technically feasible to complete the content so that it will be available for use;
∙Management intends to complete the content and use it or sell it;
∙There is an ability to use or sell the content;
∙It can be demonstrated how the content will generate probable future economic benefits;
∙Adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the content are available; and
∙The expenditure attributable to the content during its development can be reliably measured.
Other development expenditures that do not meet these criteria, as well as ongoing maintenance costs are recognised as the expense is incurred. Development costs previously recognised as an expense are not recognised as an asset in a subsequent period. Costs incurred during the period that do not meet the criteria for capitalisation are reflected in the statement of comprehensive income in the period in which the expenditure is incurred. Intangible assets that have been developed but are sold before the Company has exploited them are expensed in “Cost of sales” at cost. Gains and losses arising from the disposal of intangible assets are recognised in profit or loss as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset at the date of disposal. The asset is derecognised when it is disposed of or when no future economic benefits are expected from its use. The gain or loss is included in Profit on disposal of intangible assets.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Non-financial assets not ready to use are not subject to amortisation and are tested annually for impairment.
Assets that are subject to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable in accordance to IAS 36. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount, being the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs of disposal or value in use. For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which independent cash inflows are generated (cash-generating units). Prior impairments of non-financial assets are reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date, if there have been favourable events or changes in circumstances, since the impairment loss was recognised that would indicate that the impairment loss no longer exists or might have decreased. The Company applies IFRS 9 when using the expected credit loss model. Management adopts the “simplified approach” to determine an amount equal to the lifetime expected credit losses for insignificant trade debtors and a risk score on an individual basis for significant trade debtors. To measure the expected credit losses, trade debtors are grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics and the balance of uninsured debt across the Company. The Company recognises any additional royalties agreed with artists when it is sufficiently probable that a payment will be due and the amount can be reasonably estimated.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the Balance sheet if there is currently enforceable legal right to offset the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis, to realise the assets and settle the liabilities simultaneously.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Page 24
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
An analysis of revenue by country of destination is as follows:
The contract assets primarily relate to the Company’s right to consideration for the provision of music licences not yet billed and are included within prepayments and accrued income in note 11. The contract assets are transferred to trade debtors when the rights become unconditional.
The contract liabilities primarily relate to the advance consideration received from customers for music licences and are included within accruals and deferred income in note 12. The amount of £nil included in contract liabilities as at 31 December 2024 has been recognised as revenue in 2025 (2024: £22,000)
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Retirement benefits are accruing to no directors (2024: 2) under a money purchase scheme.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
9.Taxation (continued)
As at 31 December 2024 the company has an unprovided deferred tax asset of £2,065,000 arising on unutilised trade losses available for relief against future trading profits. These were transferred along with the trade and assets on 1 January 2025. The balance at 31 December 2025 is nil.
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
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THE ECHO LABEL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Profit and loss account
The immediate parent company is BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom. The ultimate controlling party and parent company is Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA.
The results of the Company are included in the consolidated financial statements of Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA which is registered at Carl-Bertelsmann-Strasse 270, 33311 Gütersloh, Germany. These consolidated financial statements are publicly available. No other group financial statements include the results of the Company.
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