Sony Music had a successful quarter, reportedly driven by the success of popular artists like SZA.

The St. Louis, MO-born artist is still basking in the success of her sophomore album “SOS,” which was released on Dec. 9, 2022. Billboard reports the album claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart when it debuted, selling 318,000 equivalent album units and setting a record for the best streaming week for an R&B album.

Hit singles on the album included “Kill Bill” and “Snooze.”

Speaking to the album’s inspiration, SZA told Rolling Stone, “I think this album was partially inspired by love lost, but mostly inspired by my departure from attempting to be a nice girl. I’ve tried to be a nice girl for so long and it’s just not who I am, inherently. And I think I’ve done nice things and I am a kind person, but I’m not a nice girl. And that’s okay. And I think coming to terms with that and really expanding upon that and exploring that is kind of like this new chapter in my life.”

“SOS” resonated deeply with fans, gaining widespread appreciation that extended beyond chart success. SZA went on to embark on an arena tour in February 2023, which was later extended to meet the high demand after two months, notes Billboard. The additional tour dates were picked up during the summer starting in June.

“…There’s nothing I enjoy more than being on stage and performing… It’s way more human, and it really makes it all worthwhile. To me, that makes it matter, ’cause we get to connect to people and make a difference in people’s lives and move energy around. And that’s magical to me, for real,” she expressed to Rolling Stone.
The impact of the “SOS” album is still going strong. In fact, it has contributed to a favorable fiscal second quarter for Sony Music, which saw a 10% year-on-year revenue increase to $2.9 billion, Billboard has reported. Sony Music credits SZA and other artists, including David Gilmour and Travis Scott, for contributing to growth in recorded music and music publishing, as well as revenue from live shows and merchandise.

Sony Music also highlights “SOS” as its best seller for the quarter, which ended Sept. 30, 2024.