A hearing is scheduled for December 20, 2024, regarding Drake’s petition against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify.
The legal dispute centers on Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us, which Drake claims was artificially promoted during their rivalry.
Drake’s legal team alleges that UMG charged Spotify a 30% lower licensing fee for Not Like Us in exchange for premium placement on the platform.
The petition also accuses UMG and Spotify of using bots and payola—illegal practices involving undisclosed payments—to boost the song’s streams and visibility. Since its release, the diss track has reportedly surpassed 900 million streams.
The filing also claims UMG manipulated Apple’s Siri, redirecting users searching for Drake’s album to Kendrick Lamar’s track instead. Drake argues that these practices harmed his career and constitute deceptive business tactics.
UMG has denied the allegations, calling them “offensive and untrue.” The company insists the success of Not Like Us reflects genuine fan interest, not manipulation.
Drake is seeking pre-trial discovery to uncover the individuals involved in the alleged promotional schemes.
The December hearing will determine the next steps in this high-profile case, which has significant implications for both artists and the music industry.
Stay tuned as the battle unfolds.
