Spotify vs. Drake The Truth Behind ‘Not Like Us’ Streaming Allegations

Popular rapper Drake has taken serious legal action against Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG). Through his company, Frozen Moments LLC, he claims that both companies worked together to unfairly boost the number of streams for Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” Drake says they may have used bots to play the song repeatedly and also gave lower licensing fees to make the track more profitable and attractive to stream. Music 

Drake has taken his feud with Kendrick Lamar into legal territory, alleging that Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify conspired to artificially boost Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” at the expense of his own music. According to a pre-action petition filed by Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, in New York Supreme Court, the rapper claims UMG and Spotify engaged in deceptive practices such as using bots, pay-to-play schemes, and even manipulating digital assistants like Siri to redirect users away from his content.

Spotify Says the Allegations Are False

In a public response, Spotify clearly denied all of Drake’s claims. The streaming giant said it has no reason to prefer one artist’s music over another, especially not in a way that would harm Drake’s music. Spotify explained that it had never made any secret deal with UMG to promote “Not Like Us” more than other songs or to reduce royalty payments in return for better promotion.

Spotify’s team also said they found no signs that bots were used to increase the number of times the song was played. They stressed that the platform takes this kind of issue very seriously and always checks for any strange or fake activity related to streaming.

Only One Paid Promotion Used in France

To support its point, Spotify shared details about how the track “Not Like Us” was promoted. The only campaign they used was a Marquee ad in France, which cost €500. This promotion appeared as a clearly marked “Sponsored Recommendation,” which Spotify users could see. The company says this was a regular, transparent ad, and there was nothing unusual or unfair about it.

Spotify explained that they do not allow fake promotion or artificial streaming. They invest a lot of money and technology in detecting fake plays. When they find signs of bots or manipulation, they remove those fake streams and block payments to those responsible.

A Bigger Legal Battle May Be Coming

Drake’s legal move is part of a bigger fight between top artists, major music labels, and streaming platforms. His team says the actions of UMG and Spotify were not just unfair but also illegal. They believe there was a plan to make Kendrick Lamar’s song look more successful and to reduce the visibility of Drake’s music on Spotify.

This is not just about one song or artist.

Labels, artists, and tech companies might face calls for stricter oversight, transparency in algorithm design, and tighter regulations around third-party promotion tactics.

Court Proceedings Set for January 2025

This issue is far from over. Both sides Drake’s legal team and Spotify’s defense are getting ready for court hearings scheduled for January 2025. These legal sessions will look closely into the evidence and try to determine whether anything dishonest happened behind the scenes.

Until then, the public and music fans around the world are watching closely. The outcome could affect not only the careers of big stars like Drake and Kendrick Lamar, but also change the way streaming platforms promote songs and handle artist relationships in the future.

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