Spotify has officially responded to Drake's allegations of streaming manipulation regarding Kendrick Lamar's track "Not Like Us," firmly denying any wrongdoing.

Drake's allegations, filed through his Frozen Moments company, claimed that Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) artificially inflated Kendrick Lamar's streaming numbers. The accusations came amid an ongoing Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud.

Key allegations by Drake included:

• UMG offered Spotify 30% lower licensing rates in exchange for promoting "Not Like Us"
• Bots were used to generate 30 million fake streams on Spotify
• The track was promoted to users searching for unrelated content

Spotify's response emphasized several points:

• No evidence exists to support the streaming manipulation claims
• Drake provided "no facts" to back up his "information-and-belief and hearsay assertions"
• No special licensing rate arrangement existed with UMG
• The platform maintains robust anti-manipulation measures
• Any decline in Drake's popularity could be due to various factors

David Kaefer, Spotify's head of music and audiobooks business, specifically addressed the allegations:

• Denied any special licensing rate arrangement with UMG
• Found no evidence of bot-generated streams
• Confirmed Spotify's active measures against artificial streaming, including penalties and royalty withholding

The timing is notable as Drake prepares for his Australia tour starting on Super Bowl Sunday, when Kendrick Lamar is scheduled to perform at the big game. The legal outcome remains pending, with potential implications for the music streaming industry.

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