Apple Music allegedly threatened to sue Jay Z's rival music streaming service Tidal over Drake's live performance at Lil Wayne's Lil Weezyana Fest, a concert that benefited Hurricane Katrina survivors in New Orleans, Page Six reported. Apple Music reportedly banned Drake from appearing on the concert's Tidal livestream.
"Apple is interfering with artistry and will not allow this artist to stream. Sorry for Big Brother's inconvenience," read a tweet from Tidal's official Twitter account during Drake's headlining performance on Saturday night.
Drake's exclusive deal with Apple Music, signed for a reported $19 million, is what prevented him from participating in the livestream, according to Page Six. Apple Music allegedly sent legal papers to Tidal stating that neither Drake nor his music could be featured on its livestream of the benefit concert.
But Drake's manager, Future the Prince, told BuzzFeed News that his client chose not to participate in the livestream on his own account and wasn't forced by Apple Music.
"The decision to not have Drake participate in the Tidal steam has nothing to do with Apple or Drake's deal," Prince told BuzzFeed News. "Point blank, 100%. I made a business decision. Apple doesn't have the power to stop us from being part of a live stream. The only people that have the power to do that are Cash Money and Universal, and they're our partners."
Drake was happy to perform at the festival, proceeds of which benefit his friend and fellow rapper Lil Wayne's Tha Carter Fund to help rebuild Louisiana communities a decade after Hurricane Katrina, local paper The Times Picayune reported.
"I sat side stage for this whole show," Drake said, according to The Times-Picayune. "I watched my hero and my idol come out and kill it. Shout out to all these strong people out here, all these survivors - and without this man, I would be nothing in the world."
