Drake Settles Dispute with iHeartMedia Over “Not Like” Kendrick Lamar Remarks

Drake’s Settlement with IheartMedia

Drake has settled his Payola dispute with IheartMedia over the promotion of Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not The Same.” In November of last year, Drake initiated legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) and IheartMedia, alleging that the latter had received “hidden payments” from UMG to play Kendrick Lamar’s track, which aimed to artificially inflate its streaming numbers.

Details of the Settlement

Recent reports indicate that Drake has reached a private settlement with IheartMedia regarding this legal matter. According to a Texas court filing obtained by Katya Stone, Drake and IheartMedia have come to a “friendly resolution” that is satisfactory for both parties.

A representative from IheartMedia stated:

“In exchange for documents that showed that Iheart did nothing wrong, Drake agreed to abandon his petition. No payments were made – one of us.”

Meanwhile, Drake’s team expressed their satisfaction with the settlement, noting that it was agreeable to both sides and chose not to comment further.

Background of the Legal Dispute

In his initial lawsuit, Drake alleged that UMG “sent payments to iHeartradio and its radio stations as part of the payment for the game.” IheartRadio operates as a subsidiary of IheartMedia. Drake accused UMG and IheartMedia of violating Payola laws and indicated that his pursuit was focused not on damages but rather on “oral indications” from corporate representatives of both companies.

Additionally, in the same month, Drake filed a separate lawsuit against UMG and Spotify for allegedly “artificially inflating” streaming numbers for “Not The Same,” although that lawsuit has since been withdrawn.

In January, Drake initiated a different lawsuit against UMG, claiming “slander.” He accused UMG of deliberately promoting Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Us,” despite Lamar’s controversial comments about his peers. Reports suggest that Drake has since dropped “key accusations” in this case, and UMG is expected to file for dismissal by March 17.

Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Us” has shattered numerous streaming records and garnered five Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. He also performed the track at the Super Bowl last month, resulting in a staggering 430% increase in streaming on Spotify.