Salt-N-Pepa Takes Legal Action Against Universal Music Group
The pop rap group Salt-N-Pepa has initiated a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) in an effort to reclaim control over their master recordings. The duo, known for their iconic hits from the late ’80s to the ’90s, including tracks like “Push It” and “Shoop,” is now seeking legal redress.
Cheryl James and Sandra Denton, who were members of the group prior to the addition of DJ Spinderella, reference a specific provision in the U.S. Copyright Act. This provision allows artists who transferred their copyrights to another party the opportunity to regain those rights after 35 years. In 2022, they filed a termination notice aimed at ending UMG’s control over their original recordings.
However, their lawsuit unveils a conflict. UMG contends that Salt-N-Pepa’s songs are regarded as “works made for hire,” thereby claiming that the termination notices they submitted are invalid and that the group can’t reclaim their rights. As the lawsuit asserts, “UMG seems to have taken it upon themselves to unilaterally determine when artists are eligible for termination. This isn’t legal authority that UMG possesses.”
Moreover, UMG removed Salt-N-Pepa’s first two albums, “Hot, Cool & Vicious” from 1986 and “Salt with Deadly Pepa” from 1988, from streaming platforms between May and July 2024. Denton and James characterize this as a “punitive measure” by UMG, arguing that it not only undermines their rights but has also led to significant losses in royalties due to the missing catalog.
The duo also claims that they expected to regain rights to their 1990 album “Blacks’ Magic” in March, while also trying to secure rights to the later album in May 2026. They are pursuing financial damages alongside an injunction against UMG for copyright infringement.
In response, UMG highlighted that Salt-N-Pepa’s own legal filings reveal multiple attempts, including mediation, to address the issue since the termination notices were deemed invalid. They clarified, “We had no legal obligation to take any action, yet we sought ways to enhance artist compensation, even after the royalty stream was sold to third parties.” UMG also suggested that the artists’ legal team may be leveraging the fear of negative media portrayal to make unfair demands.
Despite not releasing new music since their last album in 1997, Salt-N-Pepa continues to tour, with performances scheduled for 2023. They made history as one of the first female rap artists to win a Grammy Award in 1995. That year, their song “None of Your Business” generated considerable acclaim, with other hits like “Shoop” and the En Vogue collaboration “Whatta Man” also reaching the U.S. top five. In 2021, they were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award and were recognized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Music Influence category earlier this year.
