Canadian rapper Drake's legal battle against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify is set to reach the courtroom. The hearing date for Drake's petition has been scheduled for December 20, as reported by Kurrco.
Drake, through his company Frozen Moments LLC, has accused UMG and Spotify of conspiring to artificially inflate the popularity of Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us." The petition alleges that the companies engaged in unethical practices, including the use of bots and payola, to manipulate streaming numbers and airplay. "UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices," the petition states. "It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves."
The legal action, which was first initiated last month, also includes allegations of defamation against UMG. Drake claims that the company knowingly distributed the track despite its defamatory content, which falsely accused him of serious misconduct.
Universal Music Group has responded to the allegations, stating, "The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns."
Both Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been associated with UMG throughout their careers, with Drake signed under Republic Records and Lamar under Interscope Records. The escalating feud between the two artists, which began with an exchange of diss tracks, has now taken a legal turn, drawing significant attention from the music world.
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