Salt-N-Pepa sue UMG in bid to reclaim masters

Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, the founding members of Salt-N-Pepa, filed a copyright lawsuit against Universal Music Group on Monday (May 19) per the Associated Press, claiming their former label is illegally refusing to turn over their master recordings.

Formed in New York City in 1985, Salt-N-Pepa carved a new space for female rappers in hip-hop and became one of the most commercially successful rap groups of all time thanks to hits like “Shoop,” “Push It,” and “Whatta Man.” In November, they’ll be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Outkast, the White Stripes, and others.

The lawsuit invokes the Copyright Act of 1976, a law which mandates that after 35 years artists can reclaim the rights to their work and renegotiate licenses. This empowers artists whose work may grow significantly in value after its release, and Salt-N-Pepa’s team argue that the law was passed specifically for artists like them.

Even though Salt-N-Pepa filed to end the contract and reclaim ownership as the law allows, “Inexplicably, UMG has refused to honor” their request, according to filings viewed by the AP. Salt-N-Pepa would be entitled to music including their 1986 debut LP Hot, Cool & Vicious and 1987’s smash “Push It,” with the rights to their quadruple platinum 1993 album Very Necessary coming later.

In addition, Salt-N-Pepa are asking for punitive damages and money lost. The group’s catalog pre-1993 is currently unavailable to stream in the United States; Salt-N-Pepa’s attorneys claim the group has been “maliciously punished for daring to assert their rights” and are owed damages that may “well exceed $1 million.” “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.

UMG’s response casts Salt-N-Pepa’s music as “works made for hire,” which the label maintains would allow them to retain the rights to Salt-N-Pepa’s music. Pursuant to a 1986 agreement, UMG claims, James and Denton were not named personally as parties and did not grant UMG the copyrights that they are seeking.