The Game is taking legal action and it has the industry sitting up and paying close attention.
The rapper’s label, 100 Entertainment, has filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group and Virgin Music Group, alleging they failed to spend the marketing budget promised for his 2022 album ‘Drillmatic – Heart vs. Mind.’
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The lawsuit was filed Wednesday, September 30, in California Superior Court.
According to the complaint, UMG promised a $500,000 recoupable marketing fund for ‘Drillmatic – Heart vs. Mind,’ but allegedly spent just $179,274.79 of that amount.
The suit claims key digital opportunities were missed and that none of a $125,000 allocation earmarked for radio promotion was spent. It also alleges the label used just $87,947.58 of a promised $170,000 budget for music videos.
As a result, 100 Entertainment says it was forced to cover a “substantial portion” of the production costs for the ‘Stupid’ music video featuring Big Sean, expenses it claims have yet to be reimbursed.
The Game’s attorney, Michael Trauben, outlined the alleged impact in the complaint:
“Deprived of nearly two-thirds of its bargained-for promotional support during the critical release cycle, the album did not perform as it would have had Defendants administered the marketing and promotion fund as the parties approved.”
‘Drillmatic’ debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 in August 2022 and spent two weeks on the chart.
100 Entertainment is seeking at least $500,000 in damages, citing the album’s alleged “diminished commercial performance.”
UMG and Virgin previously denied any breach of contract in legal communications.
