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New York Post
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Salt-N-Pepa sue record label to reclaim rights to their recordings including ‘Push It'
Salt-N-Pepa are telling their record label not to push it as they fight for the rights to their music. The groundbreaking duo behind hip-hop classics, including 1993's 'Shoop' and 1987's 'Push It' says in a lawsuit that Universal Music Group is violating copyright law by refusing to agree to turn over the rights to their master recordings. Cheryl 'Salt' James and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton filed the lawsuit in federal court in New York on Monday, asserting 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. Advertisement 4 Sandra Denton and Cheryl James of Salt-N-Pepa attend the Room to Read 2025 New York Gala on May 13, 2025, in New York City. Getty Images for Room to Read The fight, which has led to UMG pulling Salt-N-Pepa's music from streaming services, comes as many artists with beloved legacies are making lucrative sales of their catalogs, 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. UMG representatives did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Advertisement The lawsuit suggests that situations like Salt-N-Pepa's are the very reason the provision of the copyright act exists. It allows artists who made deals 'at the beginning of their careers' when they were relatively powerless to use the cultural standing and musical legacy they later established. 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 honor' their rights. Advertisement 4 Denton, DJ Spinderella, and James (from left to right), attended a ceremony honoring Salt-N-Pepa with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Nov. 4, 2022, in Los Angeles. Invision 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.' Advertisement 4 The groundbreaking duo behind hip-hop classics says in a lawsuit that Universal Music Group is violating copyright law by refusing to agree to turn over the rights to their master recordings. Getty Images for Room to Read 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.' But the UMG lawyers said in the letters that James and Denton were not even personally parties in the 1986 agreement that covered their initial albums, and there is no evidence that they granted the label copyright that they can now reclaim. 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. Advertisement They were later joined by DJ Spinderella, who was not part of the early agreements under dispute and is not involved in the lawsuit. 'Salt-N-Pepa boldly changed the look of rap and hip-hop,' the lawsuit says. 'They were not afraid to talk about sex and to share their thoughts about men. Their sound recordings 'Let's Talk About Sex' and 'None of Your Business,' for example, were huge hits. They talked candidly about women's sexuality and empowerment when such topics were frowned upon, heavily criticized, and called taboo.' 4 Cheryl 'Salt' James (left) and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton (right) filed the lawsuit in federal court in New York on Monday, asserting that the Copyright Act of 1976 now applies to them. Brian Zak/NY Post Advertisement In 1995, they became the first female rap group to win a Grammy, and in 2021, they received a Grammy lifetime achievement award. Later this year, they'll become members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when they receive the organization's Musical Influence Award.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Salt-N-Pepa suing record label over rights to catalogue
Salt-N-Pepa are suing Universal Music Group (UMG) over rights to their master recordings. On Monday, lawyers acting for the hip-hop group, comprised of Cheryl 'Salt' James and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton, filed a lawsuit in a court in New York. According to the complaint, obtained by The Associated Press, Salt-N-Pepa allege executives at UMG have violated copyright law by refusing to give them back the rights to their master recordings, citing a law in which artists can seek to terminate decades-old agreements. James and Denton claim they filed to end a contract under the Copyright Act of 1976 back in 2022 but "UMG has refused to honour" their request. "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 reads. Salt-N-Pepa allege they should now own the rights to recordings on their 1986 debut album Hot, Cool & Vicious as well as to the 1987 hit Push It. In addition, they believe the rights to the 1993 album Very Necessary, which includes the singles Shoop and Whatta Man, should be returned to them this year or in 2026. They are seeking damages from UMG that could "well exceed $1 million (£750,000)". Elsewhere, reps for Salt-N-Pepa alleged the removal of the group's music from streaming platforms was a "stunning act of retaliation". "(They're) punishing them for asserting those rights and silencing decades of culture-shifting work," a spokesperson told 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." Representatives for UMG have not yet commented on the lawsuit. Later this year, Salt-N-Pepa will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame under the musical influence category.
News18
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Salt-N-Pepa Sue Universal Music Group, Claim Label Is ‘Holding Their Catalogue Hostage'
Last Updated: Salt-N-Pepa are suing Universal Music Group to reclaim their music rights, citing the Copyright Act of 1976. Salt-N-Pepa are drawing a firm line with Universal Music Group (UMG) in a legal showdown over the rights to their iconic music. The pioneering hip-hop duo, known for hits like 'Push It" and 'Shoop," has filed a federal lawsuit in New York, accusing UMG of unlawfully blocking their attempt to reclaim ownership of their master recordings. Cheryl 'Salt" James and Sandra 'Pepa" Denton are invoking the Copyright Act of 1976, which grants artists the ability to regain control over their work decades after signing away their rights. The duo says they exercised this legal right back in 2022 but UMG isn't playing ball. 'Inexplicably, UMG has refused to honor" their request, the lawsuit reads, despite the duo's claim that their early work including their breakout 1986 album Hot, Cool & Vicious and the smash single 'Push It" now falls within the legal window for rights reversion. Their suit also points out that additional recordings, including the wildly successful 1993 album Very Necessary, featuring 'Shoop" and 'Whatta Man," should also revert to them by the end of this year and in 2026. As the standoff escalated, Salt-N-Pepa allege that UMG retaliated by pulling their music from streaming platforms, leaving fans without access to their biggest hits. '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 claims. The duo is now seeking both actual and punitive damages, with the filing stating that the financial losses could 'well exceed $1 million." They're also demanding a court order to officially transfer the rights back to them. UMG has yet to publicly respond, but according to letters included in the lawsuit, the label has expressed a willingness to mediate. Their lawyers, however, argue that the original 1986 contracts didn't directly involve James or Denton, and that the recordings in question qualify as 'works made for hire", a designation that would prevent artists from reclaiming rights. Salt-N-Pepa's attorneys reject that interpretation, saying the contracts clearly show the duo was never hired under that arrangement. The trailblazing pair—who burst onto the scene from Queens, New York, in the mid-'80s—became cultural game-changers. 'Salt-N-Pepa boldly changed the look of rap and hip-hop," their legal team asserts. 'They were not afraid to talk about sex and to share their thoughts about men. Their sound recordings 'Let's Talk About Sex' and 'None of Your Business,' for example, were huge hits. They talked candidly about women's sexuality and empowerment when such topics were frowned upon, heavily criticized, and called taboo." They were the first all-female rap group to win a Grammy in 1995 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. Later this year, they'll add another milestone to their career as they're set to be honored with the Musical Influence Award by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. DJ Spinderella, a key part of Salt-N-Pepa's legacy, is not involved in the lawsuit, as she wasn't part of the original contracts at the center of the case. As Salt-N-Pepa fight to reclaim their artistic legacy, their lawsuit highlights an ongoing struggle many artists face: navigating decades-old contracts to regain control over the music that defined their careers. First Published:
Toronto Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Salt-N-Pepa sue record label to reclaim rights to recordings, including 'Push It'
Published May 19, 2025 • 3 minute read Sandra Denton (Pepa), from left, DJ Spinderella, and Cheryl James (Salt) attend a ceremony honouring Salt-N-Pepa with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Los Angeles. Photo by Richard Shotwell / Invision Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Salt-N-Pepa are telling their record label not to push it as they fight for the rights to their music. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The groundbreaking duo behind hip-hop classics including 1993's 'Shoop' and 1987's 'Push It' say in a lawsuit that Universal Music Group is violating copyright law by refusing to agree to turn over the rights to their master recordings. Cheryl 'Salt' James and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton filed the lawsuit in federal court in New York on Monday asserting 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 many artists with beloved legacies are making lucrative sales of their catalogs, while others get stuck in classic record-label battles over old contracts. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. '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 representatives did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The lawsuit suggests that situations like Salt-N-Pepa's are the very reason the provision of the copyright act exists. It allows artists who made deals 'at the beginning of their careers' when they were relatively powerless to use the cultural standing and musical legacy they later established. 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 honor' their rights. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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.' But the UMG lawyers said in the letters that James and Denton were not even personally parties in the 1986 agreement that covered their initial albums, and there is no evidence that they granted the label copyright that they can now reclaim. 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Salt-N-Pepa boldly changed the look of rap and hip-hop,' the lawsuit says. 'They were not afraid to talk about sex and to share their thoughts about men. Their sound recordings 'Let's Talk About Sex' and 'None of Your Business,' for example, were huge hits. They talked candidly about women's sexuality and empowerment when such topics were frowned upon, heavily criticized, and called taboo.' In 1995 they became the first female rap group to win a Grammy, and in 2021, they received a Grammy lifetime achievement award. Later this year they'll become members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when they receive the organization's Musical Influence Award.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Salt-N-Pepa sue record label to reclaim rights to their recordings including 'Push It'
Salt-N-Pepa are telling their record label not to push it as they fight for the rights to their music. The groundbreaking duo behind hip-hop classics including 1983's 'Shoop' and 1987's 'Push It' say in a lawsuit that Universal Music Group is violating copyright law by refusing to agree to turn over the rights to their master recordings. Cheryl 'Salt' James and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton filed the lawsuit in federal court in New York on Monday asserting 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 many artists with beloved legacies are making lucrative sales of their catalogs, 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. UMG representatives did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The lawsuit suggests that situations like Salt-N-Pepa's are the very reason the provision of the copyright act exists. It allows artists who made deals 'at the beginning of their careers' when they were relatively powerless to use the cultural standing and musical legacy they later established. 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 honor' their rights. 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.' But the UMG lawyers said in the letters that James and Denton were not even personally parties in the 1986 agreement that covered their initial albums, and there is no evidence that they granted the label copyright that they can now reclaim. 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. 'Salt-N-Pepa boldly changed the look of rap and hip-hop,' the lawsuit says. 'They were not afraid to talk about sex and to share their thoughts about men. Their sound recordings 'Let's Talk About Sex' and 'None of Your Business,' for example, were huge hits. They talked candidly about women's sexuality and empowerment when such topics were frowned upon, heavily criticized, and called taboo.' In 1995 they became the first female rap group to win a Grammy, and in 2021, they received a Grammy lifetime achievement award. Later this year they'll become members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when they receive the organization's Musical Influence Award. ___ AP Music Writer Maria Sherman contributed to this report.
