In a high-profile legal dispute involving the music industry, renowned rapper Drake has filed a pre-action petition against Universal Music Group (UMG) in a New York court. The complaint centers around allegations that UMG conspired to artificially inflate the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track entitled “Not Like Us.” These claims, documented in a petition obtained by CNN, suggest that UMG initiated a campaign aimed at manipulating streaming platforms and radio airplay to promote Lamar’s song. Drake specifically accuses the record label of employing tactics characterized as unethical, such as utilizing “bots” and pay-to-play arrangements to push Lamar’s song into the limelight.
The ramifications of this conflict stem from its backdrop—a public feud between Drake and Lamar, which has garnered significant attention in the music world. “Not Like Us” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released in May, an accomplishment that further fueled the rivalry between the two acclaimed artists. According to the petition, the track has accumulated nearly 900 million streams on Spotify, raising eyebrows around its unprecedented success. Drake argues that UMG’s tactics were deceitful, claiming that these “bots” were instrumental in fabricating a sense of popularity for the song, effectively misleading fans and the public regarding its actual reception.
Interestingly, the petition does not directly implicate Kendrick Lamar in these alleged misdeeds. Instead, it places the focus squarely on UMG, which has a complex relationship with both artists. Drake is currently affiliated with Republic Records, a subsidiary of UMG, while Lamar is represented by Interscope Records, another division of the same music conglomerate. Amidst these tensions, UMG issued a statement vehemently denying the allegations, labeling them as “offensive” and countering that the company adheres to stringent ethical standards in its marketing practices. They emphasized that music popularity is driven by fan choice rather than any manipulated schemes.
As the legal proceedings unfold, CNN has made efforts to reach out to representatives from both Drake and Lamar, as well as Spotify, for additional commentary regarding the allegations. The petition, submitted by attorneys representing Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC, outlines an array of tactics that UMG purportedly employed to generate false promotion for “Not Like Us.” Among the claims made by Drake, the practice of “payola” is highlighted, which involves payment for music airplay—a method deemed illegal under U.S. federal law.
The petition asserts that UMG compensated an independent radio promoter to orchestrate payments to radio stations in order to enhance the visibility of Lamar’s track. Moreover, it alleges that UMG made payoffs to Apple, or potentially sanctioned payments to the company, to manipulate its voice-activated assistant Siri. The goal of this alleged manipulation was purportedly to redirect users towards “Not Like Us” rather than other competing tracks.
While Apple is mentioned in the context of these allegations, it is not named as a party involved in the dispute, and CNN has reached out to the tech giant for additional response. In the petition, Drake conveys that UMG’s motivations stemmed, in part, from a desire to maximize profits for itself at the expense of his artistry. He expresses frustration over what he describes as ongoing harm and claims UMG’s refusal to engage collaboratively in finding a resolution.
This pre-action petition serves as a preliminary step for Drake as he embarks on potential further legal action. The animosity between both rappers has been rampant, with the two having released a series of diss tracks throughout their ongoing conflict. Notably, “Not Like Us” has been recognized with five Grammy nominations recently, marking it as the most commercially successful product of their rivalry.
As this high-stakes case unfolds, it highlights the intersection of artistry and business ethics within the music industry, providing a complex narrative that resonates with fans and industry insiders alike.
