Drake, a Canadian rapper, has filed a stunning lawsuit against Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG).
According to the musician, the two businesses conspired to fictitiously increase the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s diss song “Not Like Us.”
According to a Billboard article, Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, filed the complaint in a Manhattan court on Monday.
This is what actually occurred.
What are the Allegations?
Drake accused UMG of illegal ‘scheme’ to inflate Lamar’s song
According to the lawsuit, UMG engaged in an unlawful “scheme” that included payola, bots, and other strategies to increase Lamar’s song’s streaming numbers.
According to the petition, which Variety was able to get, UMG “engaged in conduct designed to artificially inflate the popularity of Not Like Us…including by licensing the song to Spotify at drastically reduced rates and using ‘bots.'”
Given that UMG distributes both Drake and Lamar, this is particularly unexpected.
Spotify Denied
UMG denied allegations of undermining its artists
Variety was informed by a representative of Universal Music Group that “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue.”
They also stated that the greatest ethical standards are adhered to in their marketing and advertising operations.
Drake’s legal arguments were also criticised by the representative as “contrived and absurd,” emphasising that listeners are free to chose the music they wish to hear.
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Additional Claims
Drake’s lawsuit also implicates Apple Inc
Additionally, the case raises the possibility that UMG employed comparable strategies with other streaming platforms.
It alleges that UMG permitted or bribed Apple Inc. to have Siri, its voice-activated digital assistant, purposefully lead customers to Not Like Us.
Additionally, according to the petition, “UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices,” but rather began a campaign to control and flood the airwaves and streaming platforms.
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Legal Charges
Drake’s legal team alleges violation of RICO Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act, which is frequently used in criminal trials against organised crime, was allegedly broken by UMG, according to Drake’s lawyers.
In accordance with New York state law, they also accuse them of fraudulent advertising and misleading business activities.
At this point, the filing is a “pre-action” petition, which is a procedure allowed by New York law that aims to gather material prior to bringing a full lawsuit.
Ongoing Feud
Drake’s legal battle follows personal feud with Lamar
Lamar’s personal diss recordings against Drake earlier this year sparked this lawsuit.
Lamar charged Drake in those songs with having affairs with minors and concealing children from the public.
Drake responded with his own songs at first, but he eventually removed them off his social media accounts and said nothing.
After Lamar’s new album, GNX, was unexpectedly released on Friday, the feud was rekindled.
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Shubhangi Gupta is a distinguished content writer and the visionary founder of The Unpleasant – Acha Nahi Sabse Sacha. With a Master’s degree in Commerce from University of Lucknow, Shubhangi has seamlessly blended her academic background with her passion for reading and writing, embarking on a successful career as a content writer since 2019.
