Rapper Drake has withdrawn his petition against music streaming giants Spotify and Universal Music Group, accusing them of manipulating song popularity. In a recent New York court filing, Drake dropped his order to obtain documents related to the companies’ actions on Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss track “Not Like Us.”
Drake initially accused UMG of using bots and payola tactics to boost “Not Like Us”‘s streaming numbers in November 2024. He claimed that UMG licensed the song at low rates and used automated accounts to create a false impression of its popularity.
Spotify took issue with Drake’s allegations, stating that it had no economic incentive to promote the track over his own music. The platform also disclosed its use of Marquee ads to promote “Not Like Us” in France.
UMG responded by saying that Drake’s accusations were offensive and untrue, emphasizing their commitment to ethical marketing practices.
The dispute arose from a heated feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, which escalated into diss tracks and simultaneous song releases in May 2024. “Not Like Us” ultimately became the biggest hit of the exchange and one of the most popular tracks of the year.
Drake’s legal team later stated that Spotify should comply with his request for discovery if they had nothing to hide about UMG’s alleged practices. However, both companies have since withdrawn their respective oppositions to Drake’s petition.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/music/news/drake-withdraws-legal-petition-spotify-umg-kendrick-lamar-not-like-us-1236274649