Apple did not block the TIDAL stream of Drake’s performance at Lil Wayne’s “Lil Weezyana Fest” despite initial reports pointing to the contrary, Drake’s manager Future the Prince says.
In a statement issued to BuzzFeed News, Future the Prince says that he made a “business decision” and that Apple, even if they wanted to, do not have the power to block a stream of a Drake performance.
“The decision to not have Drake participate in the Tidal steam has nothing to do with Apple or Drake’s deal,” Future the Prince says. “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.”
However, TIDAL claims that Apple were behind the blockage. The music streaming service sent out the following tweets during Drake’s set:
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In a statement again issued to BuzzFeed News, a spokesperson for TIDAL claims that they have recorded documentation of Apple’s requests regarding the broadcasting of Drake’s performance.
We have all the email receipts and written correspondence that took place with said, blocked performance. That being said we choose to keep it classy.
Great show to all the performers
Great performance Wayne.
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God Bless New Orleans. 10 years stronger.
When asked about TIDAL’s stance and comments regarding the situation, Future the Prince says it’s all a publicity stunt.
“I don’t understand,” he says. “If you’re going to say something about the situation publicly, you should tell the truth. They saw the opportunity to take a situation and spin it in their favor as a publicity stunt.”
Future the Prince also says that the primary reason for preventing Drake’s performance from being streamed was their lack of knowledge regarding the “aesthetics and quality” of the broadcast.
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“We wanted to make sure the stream represented us in the right way, and we didn’t have much insight into what they were doing,” he said. “Aesthetics and quality are important to us and we didn’t have any control over that or time to investigate it. We were just there to participate in the benefit.”
A screenshot of TIDAL’s interruption message during Drake’s set can be viewed below, courtesy of BuzzFeed News.
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