Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge has formally opposed Drake’s attempts to obtain documents from him in the rapper’s ongoing defamation lawsuit. In a sworn declaration filed on August 14 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York and obtained by MBW, Grainge described the claims as “farcical” and “groundless.”
According to Music Business Worldwide, Grainge emphasized that he had no prior knowledge of Drake’s track “Not Like Us,” its cover art, or its music video before Interscope Records released them. He stated, “Whilst, as part of my role, I certainly have financial oversight of and responsibility for UMG’s global businesses, the proposition that I was involved in, much less responsible for, reviewing and approving the content of ‘Not Like Us,’ its cover art or music video, or for determining or directing the promotion of those materials, is groundless and indeed ridiculous.”
UMG’s legal team added, “The premise of Drake’s motion — that he could not have lost a rap battle unless it was the product of some imagined secret conspiracy going to the top of UMG’s corporate structure — is absurd.”
Earlier this week, Drake’s legal team has filed two motions seeking to force Universal Music Group (UMG) into court-ordered compliance in their ongoing legal battle. The filings demand that UMG produce documents it has so far refused to turn over, including the custodial files of CEO Lucian Grainge, an unredacted copy of Kendrick Lamar’s recording contract, and additional financial and contractual records relevant to the case.
In the August 12 motions, Drake’s attorneys argue that Grainge’s files are directly relevant to allegations of UMG’s role in publishing and promoting defamatory material about the rapper. They also contend UMG is improperly shielding its CEO from scrutiny and withholding evidence that could prove actual malice.
The dispute comes after UMG allegedly reversed prior statements about Grainge’s involvement and claimed any relevant information would be “duplicative” of other custodians’ files. Drake’s team counters that Grainge’s communications are unique and critical to the case.
The motions also seek Lamar’s contract, asserting it is necessary for evaluating UMG’s business practices and potential motives.