Warner Music Group 401(k) Review & Grade
Warner Music Group 401(k) Plan
New York, NYArts, Entertainment & Recreation2,210 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,504Employer $ per active participant
$11,376Employee $ saved per active participant
0.10%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$446.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$140,538Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity47.8 / 5096th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost18.7 / 2575th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving14.7 / 1598th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score78 / 100 · Grade A
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation plans with 500–2,499 active participants (225 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 96th |
| Lower admin cost | 75th |
| Employee saving | 98th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 38% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($2,621,594 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $3,862 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Warner Music Group put in about $4,504 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($995). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $9,953,314 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $25,140,904 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $3,837,876 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $408,967 |
| Contract administrator fees | $1,200 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $227,817 |
| Benefits paid out | $54,816,345 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $404.4M / $446.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,247 / 2,173 |
| Participants with account balances | 3,176 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Withumsmithandbrown |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Strategic Advisors, Inc. | $151,991 reported compensation |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $151,239 reported compensation |
| Newport Capital Group | $75,826 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251015083020NAL0002024627001, received 2025-10-15, EIN 13-3565869, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.