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The Game Sues UMG and Virgin Over Drillmatic Marketing
By @sharedot · · 6 pages
- Hip Hop
- The Game
- Umg
- Drillmatic
The Game and 100 Entertainment have sued UMG and Virgin Music Group, alleging most of a promised $500,000 budget for Drillmatic was never spent.
What the Lawsuit Says Happened
The Game and his company, 100 Entertainment, filed a complaint on Sept. 30 in California Superior Court against Universal Music Group and Virgin Music Group, alleging the labels failed to deliver most of a $500,000 marketing budget promised for his 2022 album, Drillmatic — Heart vs. Mind. The budget was meant to cover radio promotion, music videos, digital advertising and international marketing. The suit, filed by attorney Michael Trauben, claims the shortfall limited the album's exposure during its critical release window. Both HOT 97 and Mediatakeout report on the filing.
The Numbers Behind the Claim
HOT 97 reports that roughly $320,000 of the promised budget was never spent on the agreed promotional efforts, and that a $125,000 allocation for radio promotion went entirely unused. Mediatakeout, citing court documents, reports that only $179,274.79 of the proposed budget was ultimately used, and that $170,000 meant for videos, outdoor advertising, international promotion and digital marketing yielded just $88,000 in spending. The complaint also says UMG never reimbursed 100 Entertainment for promotional expenses it paid itself — including the video for 'Stupid' featuring Big Sean — and instead recouped those costs from The Game's royalties.
Why This Suit Stands Out
The surprising angle for hip-hop watchers is the sheer scale of the album that sits at the center of the dispute. Drillmatic ran 30 tracks and featured Kanye West, Big Sean and Drake, with production from Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Mike Dean and Hit-Boy — yet it debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 with about 25,000 equivalent album units in its first week, per industry figures cited by HOT 97. The lawsuit contends that with the full promotional commitment delivered, the album could have performed better, and seeks $500,000 in damages.
What Comes Next
Mediatakeout reports the suit accuses UMG and Virgin Music Group of breach of contract, and that The Game is seeking roughly $500,000 in damages plus reimbursement of his legal fees — four years after the album arrived. The case spotlights the financial fights that can erupt when artists claim labels fall short of contractual marketing commitments.