Drake Says UMG And Spotify Boosted Kendrick Lamar Streams With Bots In New Legal Filing
Canadian rapper Drake has filed a pre-action petition in New York State court against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify USA Inc., accusing the music giants of artificially boosting the streaming numbers for Kendrick Lamar’s song, Not Like Us.
According to Drake, the alleged scheme was part of a strategy to amplify Lamar’s track at his expense.
Claims of Artificial Inflation
Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, asserts that UMG employed bots and discounted licensing rates to mislead listeners about the song’s popularity.
Released in May 2024, Not Like Us broke streaming records, garnering 96 million streams in its first week and currently sitting at nearly 900 million total Spotify plays.
It also holds the title for the most-streamed diss track in Spotify’s history.
Drake alleges that these numbers were artificially inflated through unethical practices, including directing users searching for unrelated songs toward Lamar’s track.
The petition further claims, as first reported by Billboard, that UMG conspired with third parties to manipulate other streaming services, citing alleged payments to Apple Inc. to misdirect users via Siri.
Legal and Industry Implications
Drake’s filing seeks to obtain documentation and communication from UMG and Spotify related to the song’s licensing and promotion.
He intends to use this information to build a formal lawsuit under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, citing potential wire fraud and bribery.
While UMG has denied the accusations in a statement to Billboard, a spokesperson called them “offensive and untrue,” stating, “We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. Fans choose the music they want to hear.”
Spotify has not commented on the case.
Feature Image Credit: Mark Blinch / Getty Images
