Salt-N-Pepa Sue UMG Over Rights To Their Master Recordings And Are Seeking At Least $1M In Damages
Salt-N-Pepa are taking Universal Music Group (UMG) to court.
Comprised of Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, the rap duo Salt-N-Pepa — who has released 11 albums since their debut in 1986, according to Genius — has filed a lawsuit over their masters. According to the Associated Press, they allege that ownership of their masters should be transferred to them and that UMG is in violation of the Copyright Act of 1976, which states that artists have the right to reclaim ownership of their masters and can void previous agreements after several decades. In 2022, the pair first filed to terminate the terms they had established with UMG, stating they were “eager to retake full ownership of their art and legacy,” and adding, “inexplicably, UMG has refused to honor” their rights.
The pair believe they should have ownership of their masters for albums such as debut “Hot, Cool & Vicious” (1986), “Push It” (1987), and by 2026, “Very Necessary” (1993).
In response, UMG said in a June 2022 letter, per Rolling Stone, “UMG’s copyright ownership interest in the Sound Recordings is not subject to termination. For the reasons stated, UMG will continue to possess the exclusive right to exploit the Sound Recordings pursuant to its rights. Ms. James and Ms. Denton are hereby advised to refrain from attempting to exploit the Sound Recordings or taking any other actions interfering with UMG’s continuing rights in the Sound Recordings.”
UMG has reportedly pulled the group’s music from streaming services, according to the outlet.
“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 lawsuit read.
Salt-N-Pepa are looking to be awarded actual and punitive damages for revenue they have lost from UMG, which they claim exceeds $1 million. Additionally, they are seeking a permanent injunction for the rights to the recordings.
“[They’re] punishing them for asserting those rights and silencing decades of culture-shifting work,” the reps wrote, per Rolling Stone. “Like many artists, they’re challenging a system that profits from their work while denying them control. This fight is about more than contracts—it’s about legacy, justice, and the future of artist ownership.”
