Drake has filed a lawsuit against Universal Music, alleging that the firm manipulated the number of streams for Kendrick Lamar’s diss song, “Not Like Us.” Drake’s business, Frozen Moments LLC, made the accusations in a court in New York.
The complaint claims that Spotify and Universal used payola, bots, and other illicit “schemes” to increase the track’s popularity. “Universal didn’t leave it to chance,” Drake’s attorneys contended. It planned a campaign to control radio play and streaming services.
A representative for Universal dismissed the accusations as “offensive and baseless,” maintaining that “fans select the music they want to hear.” Neither Spotify nor Lamar have responded to the claims.
Drake’s lawyers are able to ask Universal and Spotify to preserve pertinent papers for any future legal action because his legal action is a “pre-action petition,” not a full lawsuit. According to the BBC, Universal is the main target, with Spotify being mentioned because it might have relevant evidence.
Earlier this year, Drake and Lamar’s growing conflict reached a turning point with the release of Not Like Us. In just one week, the song amassed 96 million streaming, peaked at number one on the US charts, and became a top 10 radio smash.
Drake’s complaint alleges that this accomplishment was made up. According to his lawyers, Universal lowered royalties by 30% in exchange for Spotify’s high-profile recommendation, working with unnamed parties to boost the song’s popularity.
The court documents reference an alleged whistleblower who claimed on a podcast that they were paid $2,500 to create bot software that streamed the song regularly, resulting in its rapid rise in popularity. Drake’s camp accuses Apple’s voice assistant of directing listeners to Lamar’s song from Drake’s album Certified Loverboy, claiming similar techniques were employed on other platforms.
Tensions between Drake and his longtime label, Universal, are also highlighted in the petition. Drake attempted to resolve these matters in private, but Universal “shown no interest in taking responsibility for its actions,” according to the records.
Drake’s attorneys claim that Universal tried to “hide its misconduct,” including firing employees they thought supported Drake. They contend that when one piece of music becomes popular on streaming, another song becomes less visible. Artists suffer financially as a result.
These allegations have been denied by Universal. The idea that Universal would disparage its own creators is baseless and offensive, a spokeswoman said in a statement. Our advertising efforts follow the strictest moral guidelines.
The diss track controversy has added a surprising layer to Drake and Lamar’s feud. Lamar’s *Not Like Us* recently received four Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year, and the rapper is set to perform at the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show.
Shortly after Kendrick Lamar‘s unexpected album GNX, which is thought to be a continuation of Not Like Us, was published, Drake filed the case.
Drake is still more well-liked worldwide in spite of the feud. Among the artists with the most Spotify streams, he is ranked 13th, while Lamar is placed 23rd.
The argument shows growing tensions in the music industry as streaming data becomes more and more important to an artist’s career.
According to Drake’s attorneys, “streaming success doesn’t happen by accident.” Manipulation damages artists’ careers and stymies healthy competition.
To maintain its integrity, Universal keeps saying that “the public determines what music connects with them.” These charges are an inaccurate representation of how music is actually consumed.
As things progress, Drake’s lawsuit may pave the way for a more in-depth analysis of streaming practices in the music industry.
Both performers will likely continue their conflict for the foreseeable future, with legal and musical issues likely to shape the narrative in the months ahead.
