UPDATE
6:40 PM PT — A spokesperson for Common Music Group tells TMZ … “The suggestion that UMG would do something to undermine any of its artists is offensive and unfaithful. We make use of the best moral practices in our advertising and promotional campaigns. No quantity of contrived and absurd authorized arguments on this pre-action submission can masks the truth that followers select the music they need to hear.”
Drake appears to assume there’s some shadiness behind Kendrick Lamar‘s monster hit, “Not Like Us” … and he is filed a lawsuit to research the way it acquired so huge.
In fact, “Not Like Us” is the tune that successfully ended the Kendrick and Drake beef … as a result of its recognition buried Drake — however now, he is alleging Common Music Group used bots and a payola scheme to pump up the tune.
In keeping with the docs, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Drake says an “inside supply” instructed him UMG made “covert funds” to a number of platforms, together with radio stations, to play and promote the hell outta “Not Like Us.” Legally, that is referred to as payola, and it is prohibited by the FCC.
Drake factors out UMG has paid settlements up to now for this kinda factor … like in 2006, when the label paid $12 million to the NY Lawyer Normal’s Workplace for a “pay for play” scheme.
Within the docs, he additionally claims a whistleblower has accused UMG administration of spending 1000’s in Might 2024 on “bots” with a view to get the tune to 30 million streams on Spotify — and it additionally paid social media influencers to advertise the tune. He alleges the label dropped all copyright restrictions so the influencers may repeatedly publish the tune … serving to it unfold like wildfire.
Drake has some enormous authorized objectives right here — he says he is submitting this swimsuit simply to get a full understanding of how UMG funneled funds to iHeartRadio and its community of stations. As soon as he has that data, in accordance with the docs, he is gearing as much as file a civil fraud and racketeering case towards UMG and any co-conspirators.
Keep in mind, “Not Like Us” famously consists of the lyric the place Kendrick calls Drake a “licensed pedophile” … and Drake says he already has grounds to sue UMG for defamation amongst different issues.
It is also price noting, UMG additionally distributes Drake’s music, however that is clearly not stopping him from going to struggle … once more.
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