Drake sues UMG, Spotify for ‘artificially inflating’ Kendrick Lamar’s diss song
Drake files lawsuits against Universal Music Group and Spotify, accusing them of inflating Kendrick Lamar's diss track streams and defaming him. UMG denies the allegations.
Drake has taken legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, accusing them of colluding to artificially inflate the streams of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.”
In a petition filed with the New York Supreme Court, Drake's company, Frozen Moments LLC, claims that UMG and Spotify engaged in an illegal scheme involving the use of bots, payola, and other deceptive practices to push Lamar’s song while undermining Drake’s music.
The legal filing suggests that UMG’s efforts went far beyond typical business tactics, alleging that the company orchestrated a campaign to manipulate streaming platforms and airwaves. The lawsuit specifically points to “Not Like Us” gaining 96 million streams in its first week, climbing to number one on the US charts, and becoming a top 10 radio hit. The petition further claims that Spotify was given a 30% discount to boost the song’s visibility in exchange for promotional favors and user recommendations.
Additionally, Drake has filed a separate defamation lawsuit in Texas, accusing UMG of distributing the track despite knowing that it falsely accused him of pedophilia.
UMG has swiftly denied the allegations, with a spokesperson calling them “offensive and untrue.” The company asserts that it follows the highest ethical standards in marketing and promotional practices, dismissing the claims as baseless and claiming that music success is driven by fan choice, not manipulation.
Drake and Lamar have long-standing ties to UMG, with Drake signed to Republic Records and Lamar to Interscope, both subsidiaries of the music giant.
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