Publicly available legal documents or announcements from Spotify, Universal Music Group, or Drake

Spotify Denies Drake's Claims of Inflated Streams for Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us,' Citing Zero Evidence and Calling Them Far-Fetched

Dec 20, 2024, 03:58 PM

Spotify has responded to allegations from Drake regarding the streaming numbers of Kendrick Lamar's song "Not Like Us." In a legal filing, Drake accused Universal Music Group (UMG) of orchestrating an illegal scheme to artificially inflate the song's streams. Spotify has categorically denied these claims, stating that it found no evidence to support Drake's accusations. The company criticized Drake's decision to pursue legal action, labeling his assertions as "far-fetched" and "speculative." Spotify emphasized that it has not engaged in any conspiracy with UMG to manipulate streaming data, specifically rejecting claims of a bot attack that Drake suggested could have inflated the song's performance. This response comes as part of ongoing tensions between the two artists, particularly following the lyrical content of "Not Like Us," which included pointed references to Drake.