Drake, embroiled in a quiet yet escalating feud with Kendrick Lamar, has taken legal steps that highlight deeper industry dynamics. In a recent court filing, Drake’s legal team alleged that Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify manipulated streaming metrics to favor Kendrick’s song *Not Like Us*. The claim accuses UMG of leveraging bots and pay-to-play tactics, while Spotify allegedly offered special licensing deals to amplify the song’s performance.
Budden sees this as a textbook example of the music industry’s playbook—a strategy used to pit artists against each other while consolidating control. Referencing Michael Jackson’s struggles with record labels and 50 Cent’s clash with Interscope Records, Budden argues that artists are often trapped in a system that they can’t win against.
“50 was never going to win that game,” Budden reflects. “It’s the same pattern we’ve seen before—labels investing heavily in an artist, only to flip the narrative when the artist seeks independence.”
This conversation goes beyond Drake and touches on the broader music industry power dynamics. Budden examines the rare cases of artists like Jay-Z who managed to “find the exit” and use the system to their advantage. Jay-Z, he notes, navigated the industry strategically, leveraging partnerships and eventually building his own empire.
“Jay-Z didn’t walk in owning everything,” Budden explains. “But he fought the good fight, took meetings, and negotiated deals that eventually gave him the leverage to break free. It’s a lesson in knowing your worth and timing your moves.”
Budden contrasts this with Drake’s current position. Despite his unparalleled success, Drake remains reliant on the music industry as his primary income source. “Drake’s still in the system,” Budden points out. “He’s fighting for freedom, but the game is designed to keep artists dependent. Until you diversify your revenue streams, you’re under their thumb.”
The discussion also touched on other industry powerhouses like Rihanna and Kanye West, who have found ways to pivot into other ventures, reducing their reliance on music as a sole income source. Rihanna, for example, has shifted her focus to her Fenty empire, while Kanye has made billions through fashion and other ventures.
