The Game sues UMG and Virgin Music for $500K, alleging they underspent his Drillmatic marketing budget by over $300K and skipped radio promotion.
- October 3, 2026
AceShowbiz - The rapper The Game is taking legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Virgin Music Group, seeking $500,000 in damages over alleged failures to properly fund the marketing of his 2022 album Drillmatic - Heart vs. Mind.
According to a report from Billboard dated October 2, 2026, The Game's label, 100 Entertainment, filed a lawsuit on September 30 claiming that UMG and Virgin Music breached their contract by not fully utilizing the $500,000 marketing budget agreed upon for the album’s promotion. The suit alleges that only $179,000 of the allocated funds were actually spent, significantly less than promised.
In the complaint, The Game's attorney, Michael Trauben, accuses the music companies of neglecting essential digital marketing tactics and failing to allocate any money toward radio promotion. Due to this shortfall, 100 Entertainment reportedly had to cover marketing expenses out of their own pocket to maintain the album's rollout schedule, including funding the promotional campaign for the single "Stupid," which features Big Sean.
The lawsuit further states that UMG has not reimbursed these expenses. Trauben emphasizes that the album suffered commercially because it was deprived of nearly two-thirds of the expected promotional support during its critical release period. This lack of proper marketing, the complaint argues, directly impacted the album’s sales, royalties, and streaming revenue, losses that will be quantified during the trial.
UMG and Virgin Music Group have denied any breach of contract in previous communications with 100 Entertainment, according to Billboard’s report. As of now, no official comment has been made by either party in response to the lawsuit.
Drillmatic - Heart vs. Mind was released on August 12, 2022, featuring a total of 30 tracks. The album includes guest appearances from high-profile artists such as Lil Wayne, Ye, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, and Roddy Ricch, among others.
This legal dispute highlights ongoing tensions between artists and major music labels regarding promotional commitments and budget allocations, particularly in the digital age where marketing strategies are crucial for an album's success.
The Game’s legal team and UMG have been contacted for further comment but have not provided additional statements at this time.
This article is based on reporting originally published by Xxlmag.
