Drake Ends Petition Against UMG and Spotify Amid Allegations

Drake has officially retracted his legal petition against Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG), which alleged they were involved in artificially boosting streaming figures for Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us,” Variety is reporting.

In a New York court filing on Tuesday, Drake and his Frozen Moments company ended their effort to secure documentation and communications from Spotify and UMG.

The petition, filed in November 2024, accused the music distribution giant and the streaming platform of engaging in tactics such as deploying bots and offering discounted licensing rates to promote “Not Like Us,” a track targeting Drake. While Spotify opposed the petition in court, UMG had not filed a formal opposition before the withdrawal.

The legal drama stems from a heated rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, which escalated in March 2024 with Lamar’s feature on Future and Metro Boomin’s track, “Like That.” The pair traded diss tracks over the ensuing months, culminating in the release of Lamar’s “Not Like Us” in May.

The song quickly became a cultural phenomenon, earning accolades as one of the year’s most successful releases.

Drake’s initial petition claimed “Not Like Us” gained its massive success not through organic popularity but through a coordinated effort by UMG and Spotify to manipulate streaming numbers. The accusations added fuel to an already intense rivalry between the artists, capturing widespread public attention.

Drake’s team suggested that Spotify and UMG’s practices involved reduced licensing fees and algorithmic manipulation to steer listeners toward Lamar’s song, undermining Drake’s competing tracks.

Although the legal battle has been paused for now, the tensions it highlights remain a talking point within the music industry.