Drake “Not Like Us” Petitions, Defined

Drake stays one of many highest streamed musicians on the planet however nonetheless, “Not Like Us” allegedly broken his profession, based on two new pre-action petitions. Earlier this week, the rapper’s attorneys filed two separate courtroom paperwork requesting for UMG to protect proof pertaining to the success of Kendrick Lamar’s hit report. The first case focused UMG and Spotify with claims of violating RICO and manipulating streams by botting and influencers. The second submitting calls out UMG and iHeartMedia on claims of defamation. Under, we’ve damaged down each filings. 

The petition outlines a method by UMG to artificially inflate the recognition of “Not Like Us.” This included utilizing bots to generate pretend streams, making undisclosed funds to Spotify for tune promotion, and fascinating in payola (unlawful funds) to radio stations. Moreover, UMG reportedly paid influencers and social media platforms to advertise the tune with out transparency about these monetary preparations.

A core situation is the “strategic partnership” between Spotify and UMG, which the petition describes as an effort to “amplify music discovery and social interplay and improve fan experiences throughout the platform.” Furthermore, the petition additionally claims that UMG, which entered a world license settlement with Spotify in 2020, charged the streaming service 30% much less to license “Not Like Us” in trade “for Spotify affirmatively recommending the Track to customers who’re looking for different unrelated songs and artists” with out disclosing this info to the general public. 

An fascinating half about this doc is that it factors out a number of viral headlines because the tune’s launch. In a single half, it alleged that Apple’s Siri redirected listeners who wished to take heed to Licensed Lover Boy to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” by which Kendrick makes use of Drake’s album title as a lyric, based mostly on reporting by Jeremy Hecht and an article from Vibe Journal. 

“On info and imagine, UMG paid, or permitted funds to, Apple Inc. to have its voice-activated digital assistant ‘Siri’ purposely misdirect customers to ‘Not Like Us.’ On-line sources reported that when customers requested Siri to play the album ‘Licensed Loverboy’ by recording artist Aubrey Drake Graham d/b/a Drake, Siri as a substitute performed ‘Not Like Us,’ which comprises the lyric ‘licensed pedophile,’ an allegation towards Drake,” the submitting reads. Whereas a hefty allegation, Hecht later clarified that Siri used lyric recognition.

Drake, by Frozen Moments, claims financial hurt from UMG’s actions. The aggressive promotion of “Not Like Us” created a zero-sum situation within the music trade, the place one tune’s success can hinder one other artist’s alternatives. UMG’s alleged favoritism towards Kendrick Lamar immediately impacted the visibility and profitability of Drake’s personal music.

Frozen Moments additionally highlights UMG’s makes an attempt to deflect blame. As an alternative of addressing Drake’s grievances, UMG advised authorized motion towards Lamar and threatened counterclaims if Drake pursued them. Furthermore, the submitting alleges that “UMG has been taking steps in an obvious effort to hide its schemes, together with, however not restricted to, by terminating staff related to or perceived as having loyalty to Drake.”

The petition is filed underneath New York legislation to request pre-action discovery, a course of that permits proof gathering earlier than submitting a proper lawsuit. Frozen Moments seeks to substantiate claims underneath the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), alleging wire fraud and bribery, and underneath New York’s Misleading Enterprise Practices and False Promoting Acts. To construct the case, the petition asks the courtroom to compel UMG and Spotify to launch paperwork, together with data of funds to 3rd events for tune promotion, details about bot utilization for pretend streams, and particulars of licensing agreements and monetary preparations between UMG and Spotify. Frozen Moments additionally seeks a courtroom order requiring UMG and Spotify to protect all associated communications and paperwork. The priority is that vital proof, equivalent to social media messages and textual content communications, could also be misplaced if not safeguarded in the course of the authorized course of.

After information broke, UMG issued an announcement to Selection relating to the “absurb” claims. “The suggestion that UMG would do something to undermine any of its artists is offensive and unfaithful,” a rep mentioned. “We make use of the very 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.”

The day after submitting the petition in New York, Drake filed one other authorized petition towards Common Music Group in Texas, together with iHeartMedia, in Texas. This time, the Canadian star is accusing UMG of orchestrating a misleading promotional marketing campaign for Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” whereas concurrently inflicting damages to Drake’s status and profession. Beneath Texas Rule 202, Drake is trying to, as soon as once more, collect substantial proof earlier than submitting a proper lawsuit towards the aforementioned events. Let’s break down the second petition that Drake filed this week.

The second submitting echoes comparable sentiments of streaming manipulation and payola. Nonetheless, on the core of this petition is accusations of defamation. “Not Like Us,” which Drake claims consists of defamatory language equivalent to “licensed pedophile” and labeling him a “predator,” was launched underneath UMG’s watch. Nonetheless, Drake believes that the label had the authority to both refuse the tune’s launch or on the very least, demand modifications to the lyrics. The rapper claims that UMG, as a substitute, selected to use the controversy for monetary acquire which, in flip, brought about hurt to his enterprise. Drake’s petition additionally accuses UMG of manipulating platforms like Spotify and radio airwaves to falsely inflate the tune’s reputation. This alleged manipulation consists of the usage of bots, undisclosed funds to influencers and platforms, and “payola”—a time period referring to secret funds to radio stations to play sure songs, which is against the law underneath U.S. legislation.

The petition outlines a number of allegations towards UMG and their alleged partnership with iHeartRadio. Much like the New York submitting, this petition particulars claims of an alleged manipulation scheme to boost the recognition and streams of “Not Like Us” in an try to spice up income for UMG. These embrace utilizing bots to artificially enhance “Not Like Us” streaming numbers and citing an alleged whistleblower who they claimed obtained 1000’s of {dollars} to assist the tune garner over 30 million streams on Spotify within the days after its launch. Furthermore, Drake claims that UMG additionally paid influencers to advertise the tune with out disclosing the monetary relationship–a violation of promoting transparency legal guidelines. 

Then, there are the claims of payola. Drake believes that UMG funneled funds to radio stations, particularly these underneath iHeartRadio, to ensure “Not Like Us” gained heavy radio play within the months after the feud. Legally talking, that is an alleged violation of the Communications Act of 1934. This additionally goes hand-in-hand with the claims that UMG orchestrated an elaborate advertising marketing campaign to make use of discretionary funds to pay unknown third events to advertise the tune, inflate its metrics, and because of this, drive media consideration.

As talked about above, a main focus level on this article is defamation. The submitting means that UMG greenlit the tune to streaming providers and radio. Contemplating the language used within the tune, Drake claims UMG did little to stop the accusations of pedophilia from proliferating throughout official streaming providers and radio. Much more, he believes it was carried out in an try and revenue off of the controversy. 

With regard to iHeartMedia, the biggest audio media firm within the U.S. that owns tons of of radio stations, Drake’s petition hopes to place the corporate’s alleged position underneath the microscope. The petition means that iHeartMedia performed a big position in UMG’s marketing campaign by selling “Not Like Us” throughout their platforms. Due to this, Drake is hoping to uncover whether or not iHeartMedia accepted undisclosed funds from UMG in trade for prioritizing the tune on the airwaves.

Because of the tune’s reputation and fixed rotation, Drake’s authorized group argues that iHeartMedia cooperated in amplifying the hurt brought about to his profession. This petition additionally highlights the monetary relationship between UMG and iHeartRadio. In keeping with the courtroom paperwork, iHeartMedia pays UMG licensing charges to play its artists’ songs. This allegedly offers UMG leverage in what music will get airtime. Due to this, Drake’s authorized group desires to discover whether or not the monetary dynamic allowed UMG to control radio play for “Not Like Us.” 

Drake’s petition asks the courtroom to authorize depositions from representatives of UMG and iHeartMedia. He desires entry to proof of monetary transactions, communications, and inner paperwork that might verify the usage of bots, payola, and undisclosed promotional funds. This consists of data of funds made to influencers, radio stations, and social media platforms, proof of bot utilization to inflate streaming numbers; and particulars of licensing agreements and monetary advantages exchanged between UMG and iHeartMedia. Moreover, Drake is requesting that UMG protect all associated communications and information out of concern that proof may in any other case be destroyed or hid.

This pre-action submitting might put a highlight on the transparency and equity within the music trade, or the shortage thereof. Nonetheless, all of it will depend on whether or not the courtroom determines that there’s substance to those allegations. If the proof helps Drake’s claims, Drake might pursue lawsuits towards UMG, iHeartMedia, and Spotify. Nonetheless, this might additionally expose doable techniques that Drake utilized in his profession, too. Whether or not or not Drake has additionally used bots and payola in his profession stays unclear, although if it seems to be the case, then there could be some type of reevaluation of the streaming data that he’s damaged. On the similar time, this might successfully expose the alleged malpractices of the music trade as an entire. For higher or for worse, Drake could be the catalyst to alter trade practices indefinitely.