Coca-Cola (KO) Expands Into Music With UMG Deal, Reports Solid Q1 Growth

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) ranks among the top consumer staples stocks according to hedge funds. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) announced on June 11 that it would be expanding its long-standing involvement in the music industry by partnering with Universal Music Group to start a new record label. The “genre-agnostic” label, dubbed real thing records, will prioritize fostering stronger ties between musicians and fans and promoting up-and-coming talent from around the globe. Coca-Cola and UMG had collaborated for a while, most notably on Coke Studio, a platform that showcased up-and-coming talent and debuted globally in 2022.

In terms of finances, the beverage manufacturer experienced an uptick, having reported first-quarter financial results for 2025 back in April, with global unit case volume increasing 2% year-over-year due to countries like China.

During the same quarter, the company’s organic revenue (non-GAAP) grew by 6% to $11.13 billion in total revenue. Its consolidated net income increased by 5% year-over-year to $3.34 billion, and its comparable earnings per share rose by 1% to $0.73.

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is a multinational beverage company that produces, develops, and sells a broad variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Coca-Cola’s brands include Fanta, Fresca, Schweppes, Sprite, and others.

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