Publisher's Quarterly: Marshmello Sweetens UMPG's Market Share as Sony/ATV Keeps No. 1 Spot in Q4

Sony/ATV Music Publishing retains its lead in the publisher rankings for the fifth consecutive quarter, following an earlier five-year run as the top publisher that ended in third-quarter 2017. In fourth-quarter 2018, the company posted a 21.2 percent market share (down from 26.3 percent) with a stake in 56 of the top 100 radio songs, including No. 2, Maroon 5's "Girls Like You."

Universal Music Publishing Group picked up nearly three market-share points to finish the quarter at 18.93 percent, good for No. 2. The company had a share in 52 of the top songs, including No. 1, Marshmello and Bastille's "Happier."

Kobalt, with a share in 38 of the top 100 radio songs, including "Happier," fell from second to third place as its market share declined slightly, to 17.35 percent. And while Warner/Chappell placed fourth (as it did in the third quarter), its market share rose to 16.81 percent from 14.51 percent. In addition to its share in 55 of the top 100 songs, including "Girls Like You," Warner/Chappell came in as the No. 1 country publisher for the eighth straight quarter.

BMG landed in the No. 5 spot -- a position it has held in 24 of the last 26 consecutive rankings. In the fourth quarter, the company had 24 songs in the top 100. Meanwhile, Nos. 6-8 -- Reservoir, Big Machine Music, Big Deal -- each dipped slightly in market share, while Major Bob Music, with one song in the top 100, Jimmie Allen's "Best Shot," at No. 20, landed in the top 10 for the first time since first-quarter 2017. Louis Bell, with six co-writes in the top 100, was the No. 1 writer, penning hits like 5 Seconds of Summer's "Youngblood" and Post Malone's "Better Now."