Drake's Legal Action Expands Against UMG, Streaming

Drake has filed multiple legal petitions against Universal Music Group (UMG) and streaming platforms, alleging that they artificially inflated the success of Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' using bots and pay-to-play schemes. The filings, made in both New York and Texas courts, claim that UMG conspired with Spotify and iHeartRadio to boost the track's airplay and streaming numbers, while knowing the song contained defamatory content about Drake. UMG has denied these allegations, calling them 'offensive and untrue,' and asserting that music popularity is determined by fans. Drake's actions have sparked mixed reactions, with some fans mocking his legal approach as desperate. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the artists, both represented by UMG, amid broader questions about ethical practices in the music industry.