Salt-N-Pepa Sue UMG, Accuse Label of Scrubbing Songs After Copyright Termination Notice
Salt-N-Pepa have accused Universal Music Group of pulling their songs from streaming services after they sought to terminate the label’s ownership of their early recordings. On May 19, the duo filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, charging that UMG ignored their 2022 Notices of Termination under Section 203 of the Copyright Act.
They maintain that UMG has overlooked their termination notices, submitted in 2022 under Section 203 of the Copyright Act. That federal provision allows creators to reclaim rights to their works after a set time. Salt-N-Pepa argue they fully met every requirement set forth by the law.
Rather than comply, UMG allegedly removed their music from streaming platforms and blocked licensing deals. The duo claims those steps amount to punishment and depreciation of their catalog.
Salt-N-Pepa are seeking a court declaration that the notices are valid, an order forcing UMG to hand over their master recordings and monetary compensation for what they describe as bad-faith conduct and conversion of property.
The group broke through in 1985 with “The Showstopper,” cementing their status as hip-hop pioneers. They became the first female rap group to win a Grammy and have sold more than 15 million albums in the United States. Their tracks have topped 1 billion streams worldwide. Songs by Cheryl James and Sandra Denton remain fixtures in films, television programs and advertising campaigns.
UMG has held the rights to their master recordings since 1986. The complaint states the label is now violating federal copyright law by refusing to honor the termination notices and cutting off access to the music in the U.S. market.
This legal fight joins a series of high-profile disputes facing UMG in 2025. In January, Drake filed a defamation suit against the company, alleging it profited from Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track “Not Like Us,” which he says contained damaging falsehoods. Limp Bizkit launched a $200 million lawsuit accusing UMG of misusing software to hide royalties. Iggy Azalea has threatened legal action over millions in allegedly unpaid royalties, rejecting an $18,000 settlement offer.
Salt-N-Pepa’s case remains pending in the Southern District of New York.
