In a legal battle roiling the music business, Drake has filed a federal suit against Universal Music Group (UMG). The complaint charges the label with defamation and negligence for the release and marketing of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, Not Like Us. Drake (a/k/a Aubrey Graham) claims that the song baselessly associates him with pedophilia, putting his life at risk and damaging his reputation, for the sake of making big money.
Allegations Against UMG
Drake claims UMG orchestrated a campaign to amplify the track’s popularity through unethical practices, including the use of streaming bots, payola, and influencer marketing. According to the complaint filed on Friday, Drake’s counsel argued:.
UMG made the decision to go for corporate greed above artists’ safety and health by spreading false accusations and fueling them to become a viral trend.
The lawsuit details a series of violent incidents at Drake’s residence following the track’s release. Among them are a shooting attack which seriously injured one of his bodyguards and repeated burglaries. According to Drake, these incidents were a direct result of UMG’s efforts to support the controversial song.
Motivation Behind UMG’s Actions
Drake’s complaint alleges that UMG has neglected ethical considerations in favour of its own commercial interest. The label is alleged to have entertained the same motivations as those that led them to agree on contractually binding terms with a player to steer them into a unified image, Drake and Kendrick Lamar. The complaint alleges that UMG sought to enter into highly profitable contracts by framing its ability to generate the highest possible returns for Lamar as a demonstration of its capability to maximize perceived value for Lamar, and simultaneously diminishing the value of Drake’s brand to maximize bargaining power.
UMG was incentivized to seize control over the discussions taking place between Lamar and Drake, with the company business interests overshadowing ethical behaviors,” the lawsuit alleges.
Especially, Kendrick Lamar is not a defendant in the suit filed. Drake’s legal team places sole responsibility on UMG, arguing that the label approved and promoted the track despite its allegedly false and damaging claims.
Streaming Bots and Artificial Popularity
Drake’s lawsuit also reopens decades-old claims against UMG related to streaming bots and pay-for-play practices. The complaint cites a whistleblower who allegedly received $2,500 to use bots to inflate the track’s streams on platforms like Spotify. These kinds of initiatives supposedly put Not Like Us on millions of streams in just a few days of its release.
UMG’s Response
Universal Music Group has dismissed the allegations as baseless and has vowed to fight the lawsuit. In a statement to The Verge, UMG spokesperson James Murtagh-Hopkins stated:.
To suggest that we would want to damage any artist’s reputation, especially Drake’s, is absurd. UMG has invested significantly in Drake’s success and will vigorously defend itself against these claims.
UMG also presented the litigation as a challenge to artistic freedom. This is an attempt to muffle artistic expression,” Murtagh-Hopkins said.
Drake’s Denial and Defense
In the lawsuit, Drake denies the allegations in Not Like Us by saying:.
“Drake is not a pedophile. He has never engaged in any criminal acts whatsoever.”
Drake’s counsel maintain that not only has UMG’s conduct damaged his reputation, but that it has put his life in danger, as well. The suit underscores the physical and emotional toll that the controversy has taken on the artist and his family.
High-Profile Representation
Drake has retained the services of Michael J. Gottlieb, a highly regarded attorney with an impressive track record of success in high-profile and contentious matters, to defend him in this legal proceeding.
Impact on the Music Industry
This lawsuit highlights the complexities of relationships between artists and record labels, raising questions about ethical practices and the boundaries of artistic expression. In the course of the case, it is anticipated to lead to a heightened level of inquisitiveness into the inner mechanisms of the music industry, with respect to promotional practices and artist-label relationships.
Currently, Drake is looking for accountability and compensation while UMG is resolutely not willing to give in. The result of this litigation itself has the potential to be a major landmark in the way that the industry will handle defamation disputes, corporate accountability, and balancing art and ethics.
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