Universal Music Group (UMG) has responded to rapper Drake’s lawsuit that it conspired with Spotify to “artificially inflate” the streaming numbers of rapper Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss record, “Not Like Us”.
The Canadian rapper sued UMG and Spotify claiming that both companies conspired to make the song more popular than it actually was.
Drake’s attorneys claim that UMG violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. They also allege deceptive business practices and false advertising under New York state law.
According to Variety, Drake and his attorneys accused UMG of licensing “Not Like Us” at drastically reduced rates to Spotify and using “bots” to generate streams that gave the false impression that the song was very popular.
“The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue,” UMG wrote in its response. “We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
The lawsuit also alleges that UMG conspired with other streaming services to boost streaming numbers.
“UMG appears to have used similar tactics with other streaming services. On information and belief, UMG paid, or approved payments to, Apple Inc. to have its voice-activated digital assistant ‘Siri’ purposely misdirect users to ‘Not Like Us.'”
“UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices,” the lawsuit continues. “It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves.”
Back in June, Instagram blogger DJ Akademiks said a source told him that Kendrick’s manager, Anthony Saleh, paid him to boost Kendrick’s streaming numbers using bots.
The source told DJ Akademiks that he massively inflated the amount of streams for “Not Like Us.” He even showed DJ Akademiks how he did it.
Kendrick’s camp was quick to deny the allegations, but DJ Akademiks stands by his source.
