Drake, through his company Frozen Moments LLC, has accused Universal Music Group and Spotify of planning to “artificially inflate” Kendrick Lamar’s diss song. Not like us.
As first reported independent Today (November 25), lawyers for Drake filed a petition in New York alleging the use of “bots” and other methods to increase Lamar’s numbers. Not like us.
The petition (which you can read in full here) claims that UMG “launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate streaming services and radio with a song, unlike usin order to make the song go viral, including the use of ‘bots’ and pay-to-play deals.
A spokesperson for Universal Music Group told MBW: “The suggestion that Universal Music Group would go to any lengths to harm any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We use the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotions.
“No amount of contrived and ridiculous legal arguments in this pre-litigation filing can obscure the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
Drake and Lamar release their records through UMG and its Republic Records and Interscope respectively.
“No amount of contrived and ridiculous legal arguments in this pre-litigation filing can obscure the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
Universal Music Group spokesperson
unlike us (endoscope), Recorded by Lamar as part of his heated rap feud with Drake, it was released on May 4 as part of a three-diss track series, all released within a few days (the other tracks are Euphoria and Meet the Graham family).
The track ranked No. 1 on the Hot 100, marking Lamar’s fourth No. 1 finish in the country and his second No. 1 finish this year. like that The song, written by Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar, hit No. 1 in April. The track also marks the first track in the United States unlike us Make mustard.
unlike us Nominated for five Grammy Awards and has been broadcast around the world 914 million Time on Spotify only.
Elsewhere in the petition, Drake’s attorneys claim, “It is understood and believed that UMG charges Spotify a licensing fee that is 30% lower than its usual licensing fees. unlike us In exchange, Spotify will definitely recommend the song to users who are searching for other, unrelated songs and artists.
It goes on to claim: “Both UMG and Spotify have disclosed that Spotify received no compensation of any kind in exchange for featuring the song.”
The filing states that Drake also “received information indicating that Universal Music Group has been taking steps in an apparent effort to conceal its plans, including but not limited to the firing of employees associated with or perceived to be loyal to Drake.”
The document concludes that “streaming and licensing is a zero-sum game” and that “every time a song ‘breaks out,’ it means another artist doesn’t. UMG chose to use ‘Not Like Us’ to saturate the music market at the expense of other artists such as Drake.
as pointed out The Independent, Drake’s petition accuses UMG and Spotify of “violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), the New York State Deceptive Commerce Law, and the New York State False Advertising Law.
In a separate report released on Monday, advertising billboard Noting that the filing is not a lawsuit but a “pre-litigation petition,” the publication notes that this is a “procedure under New York law to ensure the security of information before filing a lawsuit.”
Spotify declined to comment.global music business
