Goodwill and Intangible Assets

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

6. 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, 2018	$	1,228		$	464	$	1,692
Acquisitions (a)		109			—		109
Divestitures		(1	)		—		(1	)
Other adjustments (b)		(13	)		—		(13	)
Balance at March 31, 2019	$	1,323		$	464	$	1,787

(a) Relates to the acquisition of EMP during the six months ended March 31, 2019.

(b) Other adjustments during the six months ended March 31, 2019 represent foreign currency movements.

The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and other (“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. No indicators of impairment were identified during the current period that required the Company to perform an interim assessment or recoverability test.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of the following:

	Weighted
	Average	March 31,			September 30,
	Useful Life	2019			2018
		(in millions)
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Recorded music catalog	10 years	$	864		$	870
Music publishing copyrights	26 years		1,546			1,540
Artist and songwriter contracts	13 years		858			864
Trademarks	6 years		12			12
Other intangible assets	5 years		81			26
Total gross intangible asset subject to amortization			3,361			3,312
Accumulated amortization			(1,559	)		(1,461	)
Total net intangible assets subject to amortization			1,802			1,851
Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
Trademarks and tradenames	Indefinite		153			154
Total net intangible assets		$	1,955		$	2,005