Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, collectively known as Salt-N-Pepa, have filed a federal lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) to regain ownership of their master recordings. The duo alleges that UMG has unlawfully retained control over their music and retaliated by removing their songs from major streaming platforms.
The lawsuit, filed on May 19, 2025, in New York federal court, asserts that under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, artists have the right to terminate previous agreements and reclaim ownership of their recordings after a certain period. Salt-N-Pepa claim they exercised this right in 2022 by notifying UMG of their intent to reclaim their masters, including hits like “Push It,” “Shoop,” and “Let’s Talk About Sex.” However, they allege that UMG refused to honor these notices and subsequently removed their music from platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
“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,” stated the duo’s legal representatives.
Salt-N-Pepa argue that this action has significantly hindered their ability to earn revenue and diminished the cultural and financial value of their work. They are seeking declaratory relief, damages, and a permanent injunction to prevent further interference from UMG.
UMG contends that the original recordings were “works made for hire” and that James and Denton were not parties to the initial contracts, thus challenging their claim to ownership.
This legal battle coincides with Salt-N-Pepa’s upcoming induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, making them only the second female hip-hop act to … this honor.
“We didn’t have as much control over our business,” James reflected in a previous interview. “That model has changed. There’s way more opportunity for women to really be the CEO of their music, of their careers, and that’s really good to see.”
As the case unfolds, it highlights the broader issue of artists’ rights and the ongoing efforts by legacy artists to reclaim control over their music catalogs. UMG has not yet commented on the litigation.