Universal Music Group (UMG) responded to claims by UMG artist Drake that it conspired with Spotify to artificially boost the popularity of Kendrick Lamar's “Not Like Us” in a blockbuster legal filing on Monday (November 25).
“The suggestion that UMG would go out of its way to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue,” the company said in a statement sent to Bulletin board. “We use the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can hide the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
In the filing, Drake's Frozen Moments LLC accused UMG — where the rapper is signed through the label's Republic Records — of launching an illegal “scheme” to inflate the popularity of Lamar's hit song, which served as an attack on Drake among in the two stars. “Continued feud. Lamar's label pgLang is licensed through UMG's Interscope Records, which distributed “Not Like Us.”
Among other claims, Drake's lawyers accused UMG of charging Spotify reduced licensing fees in exchange for the streamer recommending “Not Like Us” to users of the service who had searched for “irrelevant songs and artists.” paying influencers to boost the song on social media. and hiring bots to fraudulently increase song numbers. It also claims that UMG paid Apple to have its Siri voice assistant “intentionally direct users” to the song (notably, Apple is not named as a defendant in the filing).
In the filing, Drake's lawyers also claimed that the rapper raised the issue with UMG before going to court, but said the company “has no interest in claiming responsibility for its misconduct” and instead sought to cover up the alleged wrongdoing. including the dismissal of loyal executives. to Drake. Additionally, the report claimed that UMG insisted on suing Lamar instead of the label when he complained.
Monday's filing, which also accused Spotify of wrongdoing, is not yet a lawsuit but rather a “preliminary action” petition — a process under New York law aimed at securing information before a lawsuit is filed. Parties named in these reports will not necessarily be targeted in a potential lawsuit.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/universal-music-responds-drake-legal-filing-kendrick-lamar-fight/
