Nicki Minaj has made an example of music streaming service Spotify, who refused to promote her latest album as punishment for her decision to preview it on her Queen radio show 10 minutes early. Nicki launched a deluge of frustrated messages on Sunday night, taking aim at Canandian rapper Drake and Kylie Jenner’s musician boyfriend Travis Scott, who both beat her to a debut at number 1 in the official album charts this week. Nicki wrote: ‘Spotify put Drake’s face on every playlist but told me they’d have to teach me a lesson for playing my music 10 mins early on #QueenRadio. Even tho they’ve been giving away my music for free for years & I am one of the top Spotify artists of all time.’ She continued: ‘Spotify had to teach me a lesson but rewarded the man who has had an Apple radio show the longest; inadvertently helping the Apple platform the most. Oh I can’t wait for #QueenRadio on Tuesday. They took away my promotion they had promised for the 1st cpl days b/c of this. #Queen’ (sic)
Just this weekend, Nicki revealed that she dropped a Drake collaboration for the album at the eleventh hour. Determined to drop new music on a specific date, the artist said they were still going ‘back and forth’ 12 hours before she had to hand her album to the record label. Yet the female artist was also frustrated that Travis’ famous girlfriend Kylie was boosting his tour profile by promising fans a visit with their six-month-old baby, Stormi Webster. Nicki vented: ‘I put my blood sweat & tears in writing a dope album only for Travis Scott to have Kylie Jenner post a tour pass telling ppl to come see her & [their baby] Stormi. lol. Im actually laughing. #Queen broke the record of being number 1 in 86 countries. Thank Jesus & thank you to my fans.’
She added: ‘My label didn’t want to defend me for fear of Spotify trying to teach Ariana [Grande] a “lesson” too!’ The rant went on: ‘Do you know how many women get systematically blackballed out of their positions in an office building & can’t fight back?’
Nicki delighted fans with the surprise release of her album on Queen radio 10 days ago. The artist insists that there had been a misunderstanding, because the music was available on iTunes, so she assumed it would be on Spotify and Tidal too.