Drake Drops Lawsuit Against UMG and Spotify After Agreement

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Drake has voluntarily withdrawn his lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, citing a mutual agreement reached with both parties. The rapper and music mogul filed the discontinuation in New York court on Tuesday, ending a legal battle that began in late 2024 over allegations of artificially inflated streaming numbers for Kendrick Lamar‘s diss track “Not Like Us.”

The court documents, reviewed by Variety, state that Drake’s Frozen Moments company withdrew its request for pre-action disclosure and preservation of documents. The filing notes that Spotify, which had opposed the initial motion, did not object to the withdrawal, while UMG reserved its position. The resolution followed a meeting between Drake and representatives from both companies.

Drake first accused UMG in November 2024 of using bots and payola to boost the popularity of Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” a track that targeted Drake with allegations of pedophilia and cultural appropriation. The pre-action petition claimed UMG engaged in practices to artificially inflate the song’s streaming numbers, including licensing it to Spotify at reduced rates and using bots to create false popularity metrics.

UMG denied the allegations at the time, stating, “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns.” Spotify also refuted the claims, asserting that it had no economic incentive to favor “Not Like Us” over Drake’s music and that only one promotional tool, Marquee, was used for the track in France at a cost of €500.

Drake’s legal team responded to Spotify’s filing, stating, “It is not surprising that Spotify is trying to distance themselves from UMG’s allegedly manipulative practices. If Spotify and UMG have nothing to hide, then they should be perfectly fine complying with this basic discovery request.”

The dispute stemmed from a highly publicized feud between Drake and Lamar, which began in March 2024 after Lamar’s verse on Future and Metro Boomin‘s “Like That.” The rivalry escalated with a series of diss tracks, culminating in Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which became one of the year’s biggest hits.

Details of the agreement between Drake, UMG, and Spotify remain undisclosed, but sources indicate the discussions were collaborative and aimed at avoiding prolonged litigation. The withdrawal highlights the ongoing challenges in the music streaming industry, where disputes over revenue distribution and rights management are increasingly common.

Representatives for Drake, UMG, and Spotify have not provided additional comments on the resolution. The case underscores the evolving dynamics between artists and streaming platforms, as the industry continues to grapple with issues of transparency and fairness.