Drake vs UMG: Grainge Denial, Subpoena Approved — Latest Update
• Tamekas Take News
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.