Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, has filed a RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations) petition alleging collusion between Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify.
Story Summary:
- Drake’s company Frozen Moments LLC has filed a RICO petition accusing UMG and Spotify of colluding to boost Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us.
- The filing implicates other industry players, including streaming services and concert organisers, in anti-competitive practices.
- While the petition raises questions about Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime performance, it does not directly target him or his ability to perform.
Drake lifts the lid on alleged collusion between UMG and Spotify to boost ‘Not Like Us’
The complaint claims these entities unfairly boosted Kendrick Lamar’s hit song Not Like Us to global prominence, allegedly leveraging anti-competitive practices to do so.
The petition, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, accuses UMG and Spotify of artificially inflating streaming numbers for Not Like Us and manipulating playlist algorithms to guarantee its dominance on platforms.
According to Frozen Moments LLC, these actions were orchestrated to ensure Kendrick Lamar’s commercial and cultural ascendancy over Drake following their public feud earlier this year.
Central to the complaint are allegations that UMG used its influence as Spotify’s largest content supplier to prioritise Lamar’s music.
The petition argues this arrangement gave Kendrick an unfair edge, particularly after his win over Drake in their heated rivalry earlier in 2024.
The timing of this filing is also significant. It comes just days after Lamar dropped a surprise album on Friday, 22 November 2024, and just months before his highly anticipated NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show in February 2025.
Other names mentioned in the petition
The petition extends beyond UMG and Spotify, implicating several other industry players in the alleged scheme.
Frozen Moments LLC has named companies like Apple Music and Tidal as non-respondent entities, alleging they indirectly benefited from a monopolistic streaming environment shaped by UMG and Spotify.
Music industry executives from UMG and Spotify are also mentioned, though specific names are redacted in the publicly available filing.
Additionally, the petition highlights agreements between UMG and playlist curators, claiming these deals helped secure Lamar’s dominance on prominent Spotify playlists, including Rap Caviar and Today’s Top Hits.
The filing also accuses certain concert promoters and event organisers of conspiring to boost Kendrick Lamar’s marketability at the expense of other artists.
Will this affect Kendrick Lamar’s NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show?
One of the pressing questions is whether this petition could impact Kendrick Lamar’s upcoming NFL Super Bowl Halftime performance.
The filing includes a request for injunctive relief that could potentially bar Spotify and UMG from continuing the alleged practices.
However, there is no explicit demand in the filing to prevent Lamar from performing Not Like Us or other tracks.
Legal experts have noted that such a move would require additional claims targeting Lamar directly, which Frozen Moments LLC has not pursued.
It remains unclear whether the filing is strategically timed to coincide with Lamar’s Super Bowl performance and the subsequent media attention.
Drake’s team has declined to comment on the broader implications.
