Goodwill and Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The following analysis details the changes in goodwill for each reportable segment:

	Recorded			Music
	Music			Publishing		Total
	(in millions)
Balance at September 30, 2014	$	1,197		$	464	$	1,661
Acquisitions		3			—		3
Dispositions		—			—		—
Other adjustments		(32	)		—		(32	)
Balance at September 30, 2015	$	1,168		$	464	$	1,632
Acquisitions		13			—		13
Dispositions		(12	)		—		(12	)
Other adjustments		(6	)		—		(6	)
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	1,163		$	464	$	1,627

The increase in goodwill during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015 includes goodwill associated with immaterial acquisitions. The decrease in goodwill during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 includes goodwill associated with immaterial dispositions. The other adjustments during both the fiscal years ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 primarily represent foreign currency movements.

The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test in accordance with 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. The performance of the annual fiscal 2016 impairment analysis did not result in an impairment of the Company’s goodwill.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of the following:

	Weighted
	Average	September 30,			September 30,
	Useful Life	2016			2015
		(in millions)
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Recorded music catalog	10 years	$	923		$	992
Music publishing copyrights	27 years		1,504			1,497
Artist and songwriter contracts	13 years		883			926
Trademarks	7 years		7			7
Other intangible assets	8 years		5			—
Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization			3,322			3,422
Accumulated amortization			(1,121	)		(908	)
Total net intangible assets subject to amortization			2,201			2,514
Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
Trademarks and tradenames	Indefinite		116			119
Total net other intangible assets		$	2,317		$	2,633

Amortization

Based on the amount of intangible assets subject to amortization at September 30, 2016, the expected amortization for each of the next five fiscal years and thereafter are as follows:

	Fiscal Years Ended
	September 30,
	(in millions)
2017	$	205
2018		205
2019		190
2020		175
2021		175
Thereafter		1,251
	$	2,201

The life of all acquired intangible assets is evaluated based on the expected future cash flows associated with the asset. The expected amortization expense above reflects estimated useful lives assigned to the Company’s identifiable, finite-lived intangible assets primarily established in the accounting for the Merger and the PLG Acquisition.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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