(AllHipHop News) The ongoing struggle between Apple, Tidal, Spotify, YouTube, Pandora, and Rapsody for the streaming market has led to allegations of smear campaigns, sabotage, and backroom deals. As music streaming becomes this generation’s preferred method of consuming music, there is a lot of potential profits on the table for all of these competing companies.

[ALSO READ: Spotify’s Contract With Sony Music Leaks – How Does Spotify’s Stream Payout Compare To Jay Z’s Tidal?]

In order to draw in users, the streaming services are each trying to add features to its particular brand. Tidal attempted to separate itself from the pack by offering high quality sound, exclusive content, and the idea of it being an “artist owned” service.

Several entertainers including Jay Z, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Madonna, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Daft Punk, J. Cole, Rihanna, and Usher were among the acts presented as part owners of Tidal. But many other notable superstars did not sign on as partners in the company. One of those being Drake.

[ALSO READ: Tidal Executive Clarifies Jay Z Is Not Majority Owner Of Company, Artists Equal Owners (VIDEO)]

Billboard Senior Branding Correspondent Andrew Hampp spoke with Bloomberg Business about Tidal and its rivals. Hampp claims Drake was close to joining Jay and the rest of the high-profile Tidal backers, but Apple executive Jimmy Iovine apparently convinced the “6 God” rapper to hold off.

“Apple has incredible marketing spend and brand power. Whenever they launch a new product, they go big. They’re spending a minimum of $100 million that first month,” said Hampp. “Tidal spent maybe $10 million marketing itself. There’s also the fact Jimmy Iovine has directly gone after all the artists who were supposed to be involved with Tidal. Drake was literally a Tidal partner until two days before the launch. Then he mysteriously disappeared.”

This revelation comes in conjunction with a New York Post report that claims Drake was offered $19 million to become a guest DJ on Apple’s iTunes Radio and other opportunities. Iovine reportedly joined Apple as a “special adviser” on creative matters after Apple bought Beats Electronics in 2014. Beats was founded by Iovine and Dr. Dre.

Jay Z briefly mentioned Iovine in his controversial “Tidal Freestyle” at the B-Sides Concert in New York City. The Tidal investor rapped, “Pharrell even told me go with the safest bet. Jimmy Iovine offered a safety net. Google dangled around a crazy check.”