What was the revenue growth rate for the company in the 2022-Q1 period 
e are expecting stable growth to continue within emerging stream platforms through the balance of the year.
And as Steve mentioned and you alluded to, we do see enormous long-term potential as sort of Web3 scales, and we see opportunities in collectibles, NFTs, and other web opportunities.
Steve Cooper -- Chief Executive Officer
Great. So before I address Web3, let me just say that we've been very consistent that with respect to traditional streaming both in mature markets and in emerging markets, we still see tremendous potential for growth. When you look at the subscriptions relative to the smart device population. When you look at the nascent trend of raising prices that are sticking, all of these for us, our markers, it say, these areas will continue to enjoy a very, very nice growth for the foreseeable future.
We see the same opportunities, albeit as blueprints out in many of these emerging models. They have, at least at the moment, they lean more toward buyouts in consumption. But we continue to see new models coming to market every day. We continue to see those models have been in the market for a year to continue to grow.
And so we are confident that, on what we would now describe as the more traditional side to the business, that long-term sustained growth is in our view, quite probable. With respect to Web3, which is a broadway of talking about blockchain, crypto, NFTs as a former crypto, and so on, we see not only the beginning of -- these -- the beginning of interactive models coming to the surface and beginning to engage fandom around the world. But we think there are going to be more opportunities spend than we can even imagine as I'm sitting here in my kitchen today. I will say this, I think that the emergence of Web3 is going to further amplify the importance of music labels and publishers.
This is an area between models that will emerge the technology of blockchain, the perils of navigating crypto, the skill sets required to deal with distributed autonomous organization will require organizations like us that have the financial resources the intellectual capital. By that, I mean the specific skill sets and the global footprint to be able to help our artists and songwriters not only navigate through this brave new world or brave new universe but navigate successfully in order to optimize their presence inside the world of Web3 and to optimize their revenue options and their revenue alternatives inside of Web3. So I think labels and publishers will become more important than they are today as the world becomes more and more complex. I don't believe that when I look at individual artists' managers, their agents that they will be able to be as successful as they can be unless they navigate these new but very interesting waters with Warner sit and others like us.
Ben Swinburne -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Thank you, guys.
Operator
Thank you. Our next question comes from Kutgun Maral with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is open.
Kutgun Maral -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst
Hi. Good morning. Thanks for taking the questions. One on capital allocation and one on margins, if I could.
First, you've clearly been very active in investing to sustain or if not accelerate our growth through strategic acquisitions. Historically, you've been very consistent with your capital allocation philosophy, financial discipline, and ROI focused. But I'm just trying to better understand if the new deals are indicative of a greater focus on M&A and maybe willingness to deploy capital as we move ahead, particularly as we may be at the cusp of a pretty massive step function increase in free cash flow over the next few years. And just second, EBITDA margins continue to be a bright spot, up almost 200 basis points year over year to over 24% despite the meaningful recovery in lower-margin revenue streams.
Can you just help us think about the puts and takes as you track toward a mid-20% range? It seems like you might get there well ahead of expectations, but would, of course, appreciate your perspective. And I'm not sure if recent M&A is 
e are expecting stable growth to continue within emerging stream platforms through the balance of the year.
And as Steve mentioned and you alluded to, we do see enormous long-term potential as sort of Web3 scales, and we see opportunities in collectibles, NFTs, and other web opportunities.
Steve Cooper -- Chief Executive Officer
Great. So before I address Web3, let me just say that we've been very consistent that with respect to traditional streaming both in mature markets and in emerging markets, we still see tremendous potential for growth. When you look at the subscriptions relative to the smart device population. When you look at the nascent trend of raising prices that are sticking, all of these for us, our markers, it say, these areas will continue to enjoy a very, very nice growth for the foreseeable future.
We see the same opportunities, albeit as blueprints out in many of these emerging models. They have, at least at the moment, they lean more toward buyouts in consumption. But we continue to see new models coming to market every day. We continue to see those models have been in the market for a year to continue to grow.
And so we are confident that, on what we would now describe as the more traditional side to the business, that long-term sustained growth is in our view, quite probable. With respect to Web3, which is a broadway of talking about blockchain, crypto, NFTs as a former crypto, and so on, we see not only the beginning of -- these -- the beginning of interactive models coming to the surface and beginning to engage fandom around the world. But we think there are going to be more opportunities spend than we can even imagine as I'm sitting here in my kitchen today. I will say this, I think that the emergence of Web3 is going to further amplify the importance of music labels and publishers.
 This is an area between models that will emerge the technology of blockchain, the perils of navigating crypto, the skill sets required to deal with distributed autonomous organization will require organizations like us that have the financial resources the intellectual capital. By that, I mean the specific skill sets and the global footprint to be able to help our artists and songwriters not only navigate through this brave new world or brave new universe but navigate successfully in order to optimize their presence inside the world of Web3 and to optimize their revenue options and their revenue alternatives inside of Web3. So I think labels and publishers will become more important than they are today as the world becomes more and more complex. I don't believe that when I look at individual artists' managers, their agents that they will be able to be as successful as they can be unless they navigate these new but very interesting waters with Warner sit and others like us.
Ben Swinburne -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst
Thank you, guys.
Operator
Thank you. Our next question comes from Kutgun Maral with RBC Capital Markets. Your line is open.
Kutgun Maral -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst
Hi. Good morning. Thanks for taking the questions. One on capital allocation and one on margins, if I could.
First, you've clearly been very active in investing to sustain or if not accelerate our growth through strategic acquisitions. Historically, you've been very consistent with your capital allocation philosophy, financial discipline, and ROI focused. But I'm just trying to better understand if the new deals are indicative of a greater focus on M&A and maybe willingness to deploy capital as we move ahead, particularly as we may be at the cusp of a pretty massive step function increase in free cash flow over the next few years. And just second, EBITDA margins continue to be a bright spot, up almost 200 basis points year over year to over 24% despite the meaningful recovery in lower-margin revenue streams.
Can you just help us think about the puts and takes as you track toward a mid-20% range? It seems like you might get there well ahead of expectations, but would, of course, appreciate your perspective. And I'm not sure if recent M&A is 