Eighties rap group Salt-N-Pepa is suing their record label, Universal Music Group for refusing to turn over the rights to their master recordings.
Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton assert that the Copyright Act of 1976, which says that after several decades artists can terminate previous agreements and reclaim ownership of their recordings, clearly now applies to them.
The fight, which has led to UMG pulling Salt-N-Pepa’s music from streaming services, comes as a lot of artists with beloved legacies are making lucrative sales of their catalogues, while others get stuck in classic record-label battles over old contracts.
“UMG has indicated that it will hold Plaintiffs’ rights hostage even if it means tanking the value of Plaintiffs’ music catalogue and depriving their fans of access to their work,” the suit says.
The suit says James and Denton filed to terminate their agreement under the law in 2022, “eager to retake full ownership of their art and legacy,” but that, “Inexplicably, UMG has refused to honour” their request.
James and Denton say that by law, they should now be able to own early recordings, including those from their 1986 debut album, “Hot, Cool & Vicious,” and 1987’s “Push It,” a B-side whose remix caught on and became their breakthrough hit.
They say other recordings should legally be theirs later this year and in 2026, including the 1993 album “Very Necessary,” which includes “Shoop” and “Whatta Man.”
The duo is seeking both actual damages for money lost and punitive damages in amounts to be determined for UMG’s actions. The suit says actual damages could “well exceed $1 million.” They also want a permanent injunction confirming their rights to the recordings. They said by pulling the songs from streaming and other commercial platforms, the label has “maliciously punished” Salt-N-Pepa “for daring to assert their rights.”
The label’s lawyers said in letters included as exhibits in the lawsuit that they have encouraged mediation and want to reach a “mutually acceptable resolution.”
UMG maintains that the recordings were “works made for hire,” which would not allow for the reclaiming of rights. Salt-N-Pepa’s lawsuit says the women’s agreements with the label make it very clear that they were not.
The Queens, New York, duo of James and Denton became Salt-N-Pepa in 1985. They were later joined by DJ Spinderella, who was not part of the early agreements under dispute and is not involved in the lawsuit.
Later this year, they’ll become members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when they receive the organisation’s Musical Influence Award.