In May 2025, Salt-N-Pepa sued UMG claiming their right under Section 203 of the Copyright Act to reclaim ownership of their master recordings after 35 years. Their catalog includes iconic hits like Push It (1987), Shoop, and Whatta Man. They had filed termination notices in 2022, which UMG rejected.
UMG then removed their music from all U.S. streaming platforms, effectively holding their catalog hostage. During their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in November 2025, Salt addressed the battle from the stage: "Fans cannot even stream our music. The industry still does not want to play fair."
On January 8, 2026, Judge Denise Cote dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that Salt-N-Pepa never actually owned the copyrights — their original deal was between Next Plateau Records and NITA Productions (owned by producer Hurby Luv Bug Azor), not with the artists directly. The judge ruled they cannot terminate a grant they never executed.
Salt-N-Pepa filed a notice of appeal on February 4 and brought on prominent music attorney Richard S. Busch. Their appeal brief, filed in early April 2026, calls the district court ruling "riddled with error." UMG says they remain open to resolution.
- 01Salt-N-Pepa argue they are the creative force behind all their recordings for 40 years and should be able to reclaim their masters under the Copyright Act termination provision.
- 02The judge ruled the original contracts were between labels and NITA Productions — not the artists — meaning they never owned the copyrights to terminate.
- 03UMG removed the music from all streaming platforms after the termination notices, which Salt-N-Pepa called holding their legacy hostage.
- 04The appeal brief calls the dismissal riddled with error and adds attorney Richard S. Busch to the legal team.
This case strikes at the heart of legacy artist ownership in the music industry. The 1980s hip-hop era saw countless young artists — particularly Black artists — sign deals that traded long-term ownership for immediate access. As these catalogs have skyrocketed in value through streaming and sync deals, the question of who truly owns the music has become a multibillion-dollar industry battle. Salt-N-Pepa join Taylor Swift, Anita Baker, and Snoop Dogg in the public fight for masters. If the appeal succeeds, it could open the door for hundreds of legacy artists to reclaim their work.