Spotify has formally denied accusations made by Drake, rejecting claims that it collaborated with Universal Music Group (UMG) to manipulate the success of Kendrick Lamar’s track “Not Like Us.” The streaming giant dismissed the allegations as “baseless” and criticized Drake’s legal tactics as an abuse of judicial processes.
Spotify Responds to Manipulation Claims
In court documents filed on December 20, Spotify stated unequivocally that it found no evidence of a bot attack boosting Lamar’s streams. The company also denied any arrangement with UMG to promote the track at Drake’s expense.
“The predicate of Petitioner’s entire request for discovery from Spotify is false,” the streaming platform’s legal team asserted. “Spotify and UMG have never had any such arrangement.”
The court filing characterized Drake’s claims as “far-fetched” and “speculative,” suggesting that the rapper’s accusations lack substantive proof. Spotify emphasized that it remains an outsider to the longstanding feud between Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and UMG, and questioned why Drake involved the platform at all.
Legal Protocol Under Scrutiny
Spotify criticized Drake for employing a “pre-action” petition instead of filing a formal lawsuit, calling the move an attempt to sidestep legal standards.
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“What petitioner is seeking to do here … is to bypass the normal pleading requirements … and obtain by way of pre-action discovery that which it would only be entitled to seek were it to survive a motion to dismiss,” Spotify’s attorneys argued. “This subversion of the normal judicial process should be rejected.”
Spotify contended that Drake’s allegations are unlikely to withstand legal scrutiny and would be dismissed outright in court.
Drake’s Broader Allegations
Drake initiated legal proceedings last month, accusing UMG of violating the RICO Act, a federal law designed to combat organized crime. In the lawsuit, he claimed that Spotify collaborated with UMG to artificially inflate Kendrick Lamar’s streaming numbers in exchange for reduced licensing fees.
Drake also filed a separate lawsuit in Texas, alleging defamation by UMG over a song release that falsely labeled him as a “sex offender.”
Spotify’s filing on Friday highlighted the difficulty of proving civil RICO cases, especially with limited evidence. “The Petition asserts no specific facts of any kind in support of these alleged RICO and deceptive practices violations,” Spotify’s attorneys stated. “Instead, it relies exclusively on speculation … or the claims of anonymous individuals on the internet.”
Spotify’s Efforts Against Artificial Streaming
The court documents included an affidavit from Spotify’s vice president of music, emphasizing the company’s ongoing efforts to combat bot-generated streams. Artificial streaming has been a major issue in the music industry, with platforms like Spotify implementing strict measures to ensure the integrity of its streaming data.
What’s Next?
As the legal battle unfolds, Spotify’s rebuttal raises questions about the viability of Drake’s claims. With both sides standing firm, the case promises to shed light on the complexities of streaming data, music promotion, and industry politics.
Stay tuned for further developments in this high-profile dispute between two of the music industry’s biggest names.
