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Drake has elevated his dispute with Kendrick Lamar by launching legal action against Universal Music Group and Spotify, alleging the two companies conspired to artifically inflate attention towards Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.” Drake also alleges that the label, to which both artists are signed, worked in conjunction with the streaming company to suppress his music during the back and forth between the two rappers this summer.
In a petition filed to the New York supreme court on November 25, attorney’s representing Drake’s company Frozen Moments LLC accused UMG and Spotify mounting “a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves.” and using tactical moves to ensure as many people heard “Not Like Us” as possible. This includes paying influencers to promote the song, buying radio plays, using bots to boost streams, and reducing the regular licensing rates agreed upon when Spotify reccomends a song to users.
“UMG … conspired with and paid currently unknown parties to use ‘bots’ to artificially inflate the spread of ‘Not Like Us’ and deceive consumers into believing the song was more popular than it was in reality,” Drake’s lawyers wrote.
The petition, which alleges UMG violated the R.I.C.O. act as well as engaging in deceptive business practices, arrives ahead of a possible full lawsuit. It allows Drake’s attorneys to request that the court order UMG and Spotify to retain any and all documents and information pertaining to the allegations.
Among the allegations outlined in the lawsuit is the suggestion that UMG also paid Apple to make its digitial assistant Siri direct users asking to listen to Drake songs to “Not Like Us,” instead. Drake’s attorneys also claim they had “received information that UMG has been taking steps in an apparent effort to conceal its schemes, including, but not limited to, by terminating employees associated with or perceived as having loyalty to Drake”.
The petition claims Drake “repeatedly sought to engage UMG in discussions to resolve the ongoing harm he has suffered as a result of UMG’s actions” but claims that the label group has “no interest in taking responsibility for its misconduct.” Instead, it is alleged, UMG “pointed the finger” at Lamar, directing Drake to sue him instead.
In a statement provided to the Guardian, a UMG spokesperson said: “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.” Spotify has so far declined to comment.
Both Drake and Lamar are part of the wider Universal Music Group. Drake is signed directly to Republic Records while Lamar’s pgLang label is distributed via Interscope.