Drake Sues UMG, Spotify Over Alleged Boosting of Kendrick Lamar’s Diss Track
Canadian rapper Drake has filed lawsuits against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, accusing them of manipulating streaming figures to artificially promote Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, Not Like Us.
The legal action, initiated by Drake’s company Frozen Moments LLC, was submitted to the New York Supreme Court on Monday. The filing alleges that UMG and Spotify engaged in unethical practices, including the use of bots and payola, to inflate the song’s streams while suppressing Drake’s own releases.
“UMG did not rely on chance or standard industry practices,” the petition stated. “It instead orchestrated a campaign to dominate streaming platforms and radio airwaves.”
The diss track, which reportedly garnered 96 million streams in its first week, soared to the top of the U.S. charts and entered the top 10 on radio. According to the lawsuit, UMG provided Spotify with a licensing discount of 30% in exchange for promotional privileges, such as featuring the song on user recommendations.
Drake has also filed a separate defamation lawsuit against UMG in Texas, claiming the label knowingly distributed Not Like Us, despite its alleged defamatory lyrics accusing him of pedophilia.
UMG has denied the allegations, calling them baseless. “The suggestion that UMG would undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue,” a company spokesperson said. “We adhere to the highest ethical standards in our marketing and promotional strategies. Fans, not fabricated claims, determine which music they embrace.”
Drake and Lamar both have ties to UMG, with Drake signed to Republic Records and Lamar to Interscope, both subsidiaries of the music giant. The case highlights tensions between two of the industry’s most prominent artists and their shared label.
