Spotify has spoken out about claims that it helped Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us” gain more streams after getting involved in Drake’s legal issues with Universal Music Group.
Back in November, Drake said that UMG, which both he and Lamar are signed to, secretly helped Lamar’s diss track become more popular, even suggesting that they teamed up with Spotify to make the streaming rates cheaper for this song.
Though this legal matter is mainly between Drake and his label, Spotify replied to his accusations by firmly denying any secret deals with UMG for cheaper licensing rates or promoting Lamar’s song over Drake’s. They said there was no reason for them to push “Not Like Us” more than any of Drake’s own songs.
“Spotify has no economic incentive for users to stream Not Like Us over any of Drake’s tracks,” a representative stated. They also submitted an official document saying Drake’s petition should be rejected.
Spotify’s opposition paper, obtained by Rolling Stone, argued that there was no evidence of an agreement with UMG to promote Lamar’s song in place of others, describing Drake’s claim as far-fetched.
Fans sometimes wonder if their favorite artists get fair treatment or if shady deals happen behind the scenes.
Drake’s lawyers mentioned that Spotify’s response wasn’t shocking, as they’d naturally want to keep distance from UMG’s supposed number-boosting tactics. “If Spotify and UMG have nothing to hide then they should be perfectly fine complying with this basic discovery request.”
In a late-November document, Drake’s team accused UMG of using bots and payola to boost Lamar’s song during their feud. This filing wasn’t a lawsuit but rather a step to gather information.
The allegations also claim UMG ran a campaign to manipulate streams, which Drake’s attorneys say breaks the law.
Drake’s lawyers even said whistleblowers told them that Lamar’s label paid influencers to hype up the track without saying they were paid. They also alleged that UMG fired employees seen as supporting Drake.
UMG had denied these accusations, claiming the idea they would harm any artist is false and offensive, adding that people choose the music they like without being influenced by shady practices.
