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Claims label paid for radio airplay of “Not Like Us.”

Claims label paid for radio airplay of “Not Like Us.”
Posted on | Posted on Taylor Reeves

Topline

Drake filed a second lawsuit against his record label Universal Music Group in continuation of his feud with Kendrick Lamar. This time, he claimed in a Texas court that the label paid iHeartRadio to boost airplay of Lamar’s dissident track “Not Like Us,” after a similar case occurred. A lawsuit was filed in New York on Monday claiming the label artificially inflated Lamar’s streams.

Important facts

In the Texas court filing, Drake’s lawyers allege that UMG – Drake and Lamar’s record label – funneled “payments” to iHeartRadio as part of a “pay-to-play program” to make Lamar’s “Not Like Us” a major hit make hit, Billboard reported.

The filing also reportedly accuses UMG of knowing that Lamar’s track contained allegations about Drake that his lawyers said were false, including accusations that he was a “certified pedophile” and “predator,” and yet did nothing to to prevent publication.

Like the New York court filing that Drake’s lawyers filed Monday, the Texas filing is not a lawsuit, but the petitions purportedly allege that Drake’s lawyers have sufficient cause to file suit.

UMG previously denied Drake’s allegations in response to its earlier filing in New York, stating that the idea that the label would “do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue” and that “fans choose the music, that they want to hear.”

Forbes has reached out to Drake’s attorneys and UMG for comment.

Crucial quote

“UMG designed, financed, and then implemented a plan to turn “Not Like Us” into a viral megahit, with the intent of using the spectacle of harm to Drake and his companies to drive consumer hysteria and, of course, massive revenue. This plan was successful and likely exceeded UMG’s wildest expectations,” Drake’s attorneys state in the filing.

Important background

Drake’s lawyers filed a similar petition in New York court on Monday on behalf of his company Frozen Moments LLC, claiming that UMG and Spotify artificially inflated streams of “Not Like Us.” The filing alleges that UMG launched a “campaign to manipulate and overload streaming services and airwaves,” including using bots to promote “Not Like Us” on Spotify.

Why are Drake and Lamar fighting?

The feud between Drake and Lamar began more than a year ago when Drake and J. Cole rapped that they and Lamar were the “big three” of rap in the song “First Person Shooter.” Lamar denied her claim to the song “Like That” in March, rejecting her idea of ​​the “big three” and rapping that it was simply “big me.” The two began exchanging disses in quick succession, making wild accusations against each other, including that Drake had been stalking minors and secretly fathered a child, which he denied, and that Lamar had abused his partner, a claim he had previously denied. Many fans and media outlets declared Lamar the winner, citing his lyrics and the better performance of his dissident tracks on the charts, including the No. 1 hit “Not Like Us.” Lamar’s supposed victory led to an extended victory lap for the rapper, including a star-studded show in Los Angeles in June where he performed “Not Like Us” five times in a row, his being named the next Super Bowl halftime show headliner, and his surprise album ” GNX,” released last week.

Further reading

Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s Feud Escalates: Drake Files Legal Threat Claiming ‘Not Like Us’ Promoted by Bots (Forbes)

Timeline of Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud: Drake claims Universal Music artificially inflated Spotify’s ‘Not Like Us’ streams (Forbes)

Kendrick Lamar Drops Surprise Album ‘GNX’ to Round Out Huge Year – References Drake Feud and Lil Wayne Super Bowl Controversy (Forbes)

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