Spotify Denies Drake’s Claims of Inflated Streams for Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us'

The streaming giant refutes allegations of manipulating streams and licensing rates, calling the accusations speculative and unfounded.

Drake accused Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) of artificially inflating streams for Kendrick Lamar’s diss track 'Not Like Us' through bots and reduced licensing rates.
Spotify filed a legal response denying any agreement with UMG to manipulate streams or recommend the track over Drake’s music, citing a lack of evidence for the claims.
UMG also rejected the allegations, calling them offensive and asserting that fans choose the music they want to hear without manipulation.
Spotify criticized Drake’s use of pre-action petitions instead of formal lawsuits, describing the approach as an attempt to bypass normal legal procedures.
The dispute is part of a broader feud between Drake and Lamar, with 'Not Like Us' becoming a cultural hit and earning Grammy nominations despite the controversy.