In a direct response to Drake's streaming manipulation allegations, Spotify has firmly denied any wrongdoing regarding Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" track's performance on their platform.

Drake's allegations, filed through his Frozen Moments company, claimed that Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify collaborated to artificially boost Lamar's track by:

• Offering 30% lower licensing rates in exchange for promotional pushing
• Using bots to generate 30 million fake streams initially
• Targeting users searching for unrelated content

Spotify's official response emphasizes several key points:

• No evidence exists to support the streaming manipulation claims
• No special licensing rate arrangement exists with UMG for "Not Like Us"
• Drake provided "no facts" to support his "information-and-belief and hearsay assertions"

David Kaefer, Spotify's head of music and audiobooks business, stated that the platform:

• Actively invests in both automated and manual review systems
• Has found no evidence of artificial streaming for the track
• Can remove streams, withhold royalties, and charge penalties for manipulation

The dispute occurs amid an ongoing Drake-Kendrick Lamar beef, with timing coinciding with Drake's upcoming Australia tour and Lamar's scheduled Super Bowl performance.

Related Articles

Previous Articles