{"id":103962,"date":"2025-04-03T11:25:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T10:25:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?p=103962"},"modified":"2025-04-11T14:47:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T13:47:45","slug":"drake-umg-lawsuit-discovery-ruling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/drake-umg-lawsuit-discovery-ruling\/","title":{"rendered":"Drake’s legal battle with UMG heats up as judge allows discovery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Drake’s legal team have been granted discovery, and their demands aim to leave UMG with nowhere to hide.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drake’s legal team have won a major milestone in the ongoing defamation dispute between the rapper and his own label, Universal Music Group (UMG). The presiding judge has ruled that discovery can move ahead, a decision made during a pre-trial conference. This marks a turning point in the defamation case, which has been gradually intensifying over the las few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ve covered this dispute<\/a> a lot as it has progressed, so won’t retread old ground. To briefly summarise, UMG had requested to delay the discovery process while their motion to dismiss<\/a> the lawsuit was still pending. However, the court rejected this request, siding with Drake\u2019s legal team, who argued that discovery should proceed without delay. This means Drake\u2019s team can now obtain key documents from UMG that may be critical to the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Gottlieb, Drake\u2019s lead attorney, expressed confidence in the ruling, stating: “Now it\u2019s time to see what UMG was so desperately trying to hide.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drake and his lawyers have been pushing for extensive documentation from UMG. As of March 2025, their discovery demands, as listed by Digital Music News<\/a>, include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. \u201cAll contracts and agreements between\u201d UMG and Kendrick Lamar<\/li>
  2. All documents and communications concerning UMG\u2019s \u201cNot Like Us\u201d release approval<\/li>
  3. All \u201cNot Like Us\u201d communications from Interscope marketing exec Ramon Alvarez-Smikle<\/li>
  4. All documents and communications regarding \u201cthe payment and reimbursements of discretionary marketing funds for the benefit\u201d of Lamar and\/or his team<\/li>
  5. All documents and communications pertaining to \u201cNot Like Us\u201d payola allegations (or payola claims about any other Lamar tracks)<\/li>
  6. All details about UMG\u2019s \u201cactions or contemplated actions\u201d involving the \u201cNot Like Us\u201d copyright restrictions<\/li>
  7. \u201cDocuments sufficient to show\u201d UMG\u2019s policies and procedures for enforcing copyright restrictions on third-party platforms<\/li>
  8. All UMG\u2019s documents and communications with the Grammys\/Recording Academy about \u201cNot Like Us\u201d<\/li>
  9. All documents and communications \u201crelating to the selection and licensing of\u201d \u201cNot Like Us\u201d for the Super Bowl halftime show, including for \u201cany and all decisions proposed, contemplated, or made with respect to whether to omit or censor any lyrics or other content\u201d<\/li>
  10. Detailed accounts of \u201cNot Like Us\u201d streams and views \u201con all platforms,\u201d including social services<\/li>
  11. Documents revealing \u201cthe executive compensation structure and annual incentive plans\u201d for Interscope CEO John Janick during the past half-decade<\/li>
  12. Additional details about Interscope\u2019s broader executive-incentive metrics<\/li>
  13. Documents and communications about UMG\u2019s \u201clitigation hold notices\u201d<\/li>
  14. All documents and communications about the attack on Drake\u2019s Toronto home<\/li>
  15. All documents and communications about \u201cNot Like Us\u201d promotion on Spotify and Apple Music<\/li>
  16. Any documents and communications involving \u201cconcerns\u201d about the content of \u201cNot Like Us\u201d<\/li>
  17. Documents demonstrating exactly how much UMG spent producing \u201cNot Like Us\u201d<\/li>
  18. Documents identifying UMG\u2019s monthly marketing spend for \u201cNot Like Us\u201d<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    These demands shed light on the scope of Drake\u2019s lawsuit and the potentially damaging information UMG may be required to disclose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    With discovery now moving forward, the coming months could reveal crucial details about UMG\u2019s dealings and its relationship with some of the biggest names in the music industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Keep up to date with all the latest music industry news and updates, and check out the RouteNote blog.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Drake’s legal team have been granted discovery, and their demands aim to leave UMG with nowhere to hide. Drake’s legal team have won a major milestone in the ongoing defamation dispute between the rapper and his own label, Universal Music Group (UMG). The presiding judge has ruled that discovery can move ahead, a decision made during a pre-trial conference. This marks a turning point in the defamation case, which has been gradually intensifying over the las few months. We’ve covered this dispute a lot as it has progressed, so won’t retread old ground. To briefly summarise, UMG had requested to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":103963,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[30536,4131],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDrake's legal battle with UMG heats up as judge allows discovery - RouteNote Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A judge has ruled in favour of Drake in his lawsuit against UMG, allowing discovery to proceed. 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