Rapper Drake’s company, Frozen Moments, has initiated a legal move in a New York court, asserting that both Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) collaborated to artificially boost the streaming numbers of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” This track emerged from a series of disputes between Lamar and Drake, finding immense success on the Billboard rap charts throughout the summer and surpassing 900 million streams on Spotify.
In its petition, Frozen Moments claims that UMG orchestrated a strategy to manipulate the streaming landscape, alleging the use of bots and purchase agreements to enhance airplay for “Not Like Us.” The documents suggest that the song was provided to Spotify at a reduced rate of 30% in exchange for increased visibility on the platform. Furthermore, the petition accuses UMG of employing bots to augment the song’s streaming figures and of compensating radio promoters to elevate its airplay. It even alleges that the company paid Apple to redirect users towards Lamar’s track through Siri.
A representative from UMG has dismissed these claims as “offensive and untrue,” asserting that their promotional practices adhere to the highest ethical standards, and emphasizing that fans ultimately decide what music to listen to.
The implications of this feud extend beyond the legal claims. Drake, who consistently ranks as one of Spotify’s top artists, has referenced UMG’s CEO Lucian Grainge in his lyrics, hinting at his significance to the label. The document also states that UMG dismissed employees who were seen as supportive of Drake during the conflict with Lamar, further complicating the dynamics between the two artists and their record labels.
This filed petition is categorized as a pre-action motion, aimed at gathering further information from UMG and Spotify in the quest for a potential civil case under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly known as RICO.
Interestingly, this legal activity follows the release of Lamar’s new album “GNX,” which addresses the ongoing disputes and contains references to the feud, indicating that the rivalry is far from over.
The situation illustrates the often turbulent and competitive nature of the music industry, where relationships between artists and record labels can dramatically impact their careers. It raises questions about streaming practices in the industry and the lengths to which labels may go to promote their high-profile artists. Despite the conflict, both artists continue to draw significant attention, indicating that their rivalry could fuel even more creative output in the future.
As the legal proceedings unfold, fans are left to wonder how this battle will influence the musical landscape and the artists involved.