Toronto, ON — Drake’s legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG) intensified this week. New filings from Drake’s team alleged top-level involvement around Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” while UMG publicly denied the claim and pushed back on broader discovery.

What happened

• UMG says CEO Lucian Grainge was not personally involved with the track’s rollout and called the allegation “ridiculous.”
• In New York, the judge allowed discovery to move forward earlier this year. A fresh ruling also okayed a subpoena tied to Drake’s case.
• Drake previously settled his separate dispute with iHeartMedia; the UMG lawsuit continues.

Why it matters

The scope of discovery and any high-level communications it reveals could shape outcomes for how major labels market polarizing records—and how artists respond when they feel defamed.

Reporting sources: The Guardian, LA Times, Forbes, Music Business Worldwide, Pitchfork.