WATCH THE VIDEO HERE Salt-N-Pepa are the latest rappers to file a lawsuit against Universal Music Group after the label pulled most of their songs from streaming platforms last week. They are demanding the rights to their music. According to newly filed court docs, Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton are suing UMG for refusing to honor their right to reclaim ownership of their masters. Section 203 of the U.S. Copyright Act gives artists the power to terminate copyright transfers after 35 years, and the rap duo says they served notice back in 2022. But instead of handing the rights back, UMG allegedly rejected the notices and blocked classics like “Push It,” “Shoop,” and “Let’s Talk About Sex” from major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. The lawsuit claims the label kept claiming ownership of the tracks despite its legal obligation to let them go. “As they prepare to make history as only the second female hip-hop act ever inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Salt-N-Pepa are also fighting to reclaim rightful ownership of their iconic, barrier-breaking music,” a statement by Salt-N-Pepa’s legal representatives reads. “UMG has pulled their songs from all major platforms in the U.S., punishing them for asserting those rights and silencing decades of culture-shifting work.” The pair is accusing the label of “conversion,” a legal term for jacking someone’s property without permission. They are asking the court to give them declaratory relief, monetary damages, and a permanent injunction to keep UMG from interfering with their rights.
Salt-N-Pepa File Lawsuit Against UMG Over Music Rights Dispute
