In a surprising transfer, Drake‘s firm Frozen Moments LLC has filed pre-action petitions in opposition to his mum or dad file firm Common Music Group.
One, filed in New York Supreme Courtroom on Monday (Nov. 25), accuses the music conglomerate of colluding with Spotify to artificially inflate Kendrick Lamar‘s “Not Like Us” diss music to Drizzy’s detriment. The 17-page submitting is stuffed with surprising allegations together with claims that UMG violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), the NY Misleading Enterprise Act and the NY False Promoting Act. A second authorized motion, which was filed in Texas on Monday, accuses UMG of defamation for releasing “Not Like Us,” which contained “falsely accusing [Drake] of being a intercourse offender,” and accused iHeartRadio of conspiring in a play-for-pay scheme.
Drake has but to formally file a lawsuit however the submitting is a preemptive motion to be able to drive UMG to show over associated paperwork. If Drake does tackle the music big in court docket and wins, the ramifications might be large.
If the allegations within the court docket submitting are true, music big UMG conspired to interact in a marketing campaign to “manipulate and saturate the streaming providers and airwaves” with “Not Like Us” utilizing bots, pay-to-play agreements and different ways to ensure that UMG executives to maximise earnings. One accusation is very damning. In accordance with the submitting, UMG charged Spotify a 30 % decrease licensing charge in trade for Spotify recommending the music to customers who’re trying to find unrelated content material. Neither firm reportedly disclosed this licensing settlement.
UMG, together with the opposite two file corporations that make up the massive three: Sony Music Leisure and Warner Music Group, maintain possession stakes in Spotify. The massive three corporations additionally reportedly negotiated with Spotify on the worth of a stream, which creates a battle of curiosity distinctive to the music business. It additionally means the businesses have the power to dictate an artist’s worth. In accordance with the submitting, UMG did so with “Not Like Us.”
Drake has been signed beneath the UMG umbrella his total profession. He was initially inked by way of Younger Cash Information and Republic. In 2022, the signed a brand new deal immediately with UMG subsidiary Republic for a reported $400 million. Nevertheless, his relationship with UMG CEO Lucian Grainge could have soured. Drake claims the music big used unlawful means to prioritize Kendrick, who can be in mattress with UMG by way of his pgLang label’s cope with Interscope.
With one thing as huge as RICO allegations being levied in opposition to UMG, a win for Drizzy in court docket may begin a wave of change within the music business. An business that has been beneath scrutiny as the paradox of streaming and album gross sales continues to be a thriller.
A case this huge may trigger the state and authorities to step in, akin to New York State Legal professional Normal Eliot Spitzer’s probe into payola in 2004, which resulted in all three huge file corporations agreeing to pay settlements.
A win for Drake might be an enormous leap ahead in defending artists within the music business and outing labels for unscrupulous practices. That’s if Drake has a case.
Common Music Group is denying Drake’s accusations. A spokesperson for the corporate has launched the next assertion to XXL in response to Drake’s accusations: “The suggestion that UMG would do something to undermine any of its artists is offensive and unfaithful,” the assertion reads. “We make use of the best moral practices in our advertising and marketing and promotional campaigns. No quantity of contrived and absurd authorized arguments on this pre-action submission can masks the truth that followers select the music they wish to hear.”
If Drake does take this case all the way in which court docket and wins, it might be an unprecedented second. A second that would disrupt the system and trigger main change in music business.
Learn Extra: Who Is Lucian Grainge, and How Highly effective Is He? Very
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