Drake Scores Pre-Trial Legal Win in UMG Lawsuit

Drake has been having a decent 2025 where it counts. Despite the corny jokes at awards shows and other big events, he’s been pretty much winning. From sold-out shows in Australia to WWE showing him love, the 6God is on the right course. Regarding his lawsuit against UMG, he’s moving in the right direction after securing an important legal victory.

Get this: a ruling from Judge Jeanette Vargas on March 4 denied UMG’s request to delay a crucial pre-trial hearing initially set for April 2. Despite UMG’s arguments for postponement, the hearing will proceed as planned.

Moreover, the discovery process, where both parties exchange information relevant to the case, will begin shortly. UMG had argued that this stage should be delayed, claiming it was “premature” given the current status of the case. However, Judge Vargas dismissed this argument, stating that any requests to delay discovery further would require a separate motion, which would be considered during the April 2 hearing.

Here’s what was said in response to the ruling, where Drake’s legal team issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the court’s decision: “We are pleased with the Court’s decision to reject UMG’s continued attempts to stall discovery—another clear sign that UMG cannot run from or bury the truth. This ruling, along with our motion for discovery in Texas yesterday, together represent major steps forward in holding UMG accountable to shareholders and artists for their repeated and egregious actions.”

ICYMI, the wide-ranging lawsuit filed by Drake in New York federal court, accuses UMG, the parent company of both Drake’s and Kendrick’s record labels, of defamation and harassment. The legal action stems from promoting Kendrick’s track “Not Like Us,” which Drake claims has hurt his reputation. In a letter to the court, Drake’s attorney, Michael J. Gottlieb, argued that delaying discovery would unfairly harm Drake, especially since UMG has continued to promote the track, including during the high-profile Super Bowl halftime show, which garnered over 133.5 million viewers.