December 21, 2024
Spotify has officially addressed Drake’s allegations that the platform inflated streams for Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us, aimed at the rapper.
In a legal filing, Spotify stated that it found no evidence of artificial stream manipulation and denied any arrangement with Universal Music Group (UMG) to promote Lamar’s track unfairly.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Drake’s legal team, however, criticized Spotify’s response, urging the company to comply with a discovery request if it has “nothing to hide.”
Moreover, the dispute began after Drake alleged that UMG used bots and pay-to-play schemes to saturate streaming services with Lamar’s track, which became a viral hit.
Additionally, UMG called the allegations “offensive and untune,” while Spotify emphasized its commitment to combating artificial streaming and ensuring fairness for all artists, as per the publication.
Furthermore, Lamar's Not Like Us has been one of 2024’s biggest hits, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and earning five Grammy nominations, including Song and Record of the Year.
It is worth mentioning that the feud between the two rappers, which reignited earlier this year, dates back to 2013.