According to Vivendi’s annual financial report, UMG spent some €2.54 billion ($2.87 billion) on catalog acquisitions and artist advances last year. That figure was up 71% on the €1.48 billion UMG spent on the category in 2019. UMG then recouped €1.02 billion from those advances within the 2020 calendar year, resulting in that €1.52 billion ($1.71 billion) net expenditure.
