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

The controversy stems from Drake's petition, filed through his Frozen Moments company, claiming that Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) artificially boosted Lamar's song streams. Drake alleged that UMG offered Spotify a 30% discount on licensing rates in exchange for promoting "Not Like Us" to users searching for unrelated content.

Key points from Spotify's response:

• No evidence found to support claims of bot-driven streams
• No special licensing rate arrangement with UMG exists
• Drake provided "no facts" to support his allegations
• Any decline in Drake's popularity could be due to various factors
• The platform maintains robust anti-manipulation measures

David Kaefer, Spotify's head of music and audiobooks business, emphasized that the company "invests heavily in automated and manual reviews" to prevent artificial streaming. He noted that Spotify can remove streaming numbers, withhold royalties, and charge penalty fees when manipulation is detected.

The timing of this dispute coincides with both artists' upcoming performances - Drake's Australia tour begins on Super Bowl Sunday, the same day Kendrick Lamar is scheduled to perform at the Super Bowl.

The legal battle continues as the court considers whether to dismiss the petition against Spotify, while speculation grows about potential new diss tracks from both artists.

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