Amid legal battle, Salt-N-Pepa claims UMG ‘keeps us from re-releasing our music’

Two members of Salt-N-Pepa said Universal Music Group has taken down some of their hit songs from streaming services and is preventing them from re-releasing and promoting their catalog.

Cheryl James and Sandra Denton told Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts in a recent interview that Universal Music Group removed their music from platforms amid their legal battle to reclaim ownership of their early recordings under federal copyright law.

Denton said: “It just keeps us from re-releasing our music — promoting it.”

The duo’s latest allegation comes nearly three months after the two sued UMG, alleging the music company is preventing them from reclaiming ownership of their master recordings, in breach of US copyright laws.

In their complaint lodged in a US District Court in New York on May 19, James and Denton accused UMG of engaging in “self-interested and heavy-handed tactics” to block them from exercising their termination rights under copyright law. They are looking to regain control of their early catalog, which features hits like Push It, Let’s Talk About Sex, and Shoop.

Their lawsuit centers on Section 203 of the Copyright Act, which gives creators the right to reclaim their work 35 years after initially transferring the rights, provided they have properly submitted termination notices.

“When you’re an artist, in the beginning, you sign a contract saying that the copyrights will revert back to you after 35 years. And we’ve done all the things legally to get our copyrights back. But they’re just refusing, so we had to sue them.”

Cheryl James, Salt-N-Pepa

The two said they served termination notices in 2022, “eager to retake full ownership of their art and legacy.” However, they said UMG has refused to acknowledge their validity, claiming the recordings were “works made for hire.”

According to Salt-N-Pepa’s complaint, UMG retaliated by removing the music from streaming platforms in May 2024.

James told GMA: “When you’re an artist, in the beginning, you sign a contract saying that the copyrights will revert back to you after 35 years. And we’ve done all the things legally to get our copyrights back. But they’re just refusing, so we had to sue them.”

Denton added: “It’s the law. That’s what it really boils down to. It’s the law.”

UMG has already filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Back in May, a spokesperson for the music giant told MBW: “Salt-N-Pepa’s own legal filings demonstrate the repeated attempts we have made to resolve this matter amicably (including offers to enter into a mediation) ever since the artists served an invalid termination notice.”

“Clearly, the artists’ legal counsel thinks they can use the threat of negative media coverage from the lawsuit to achieve their unreasonable demands. Despite this, and consistent with our longstanding practice, we remain committed to working towards an amicable resolution.”

“Obviously, it’s something. They wanna keep it. They wanna hold onto it. And they’re tryin’ to fight us. So, obviously, they understand what’s the worth of that.”

Sandra Denton, Salt-N-Pepa

Salt-N-Pepa had earlier argued that UMG has refused to acknowledge the validity of their ownership, claiming the recordings were “works made for hire.”

Speaking to GMA, James said: “We didn’t have that leverage. We didn’t have that knowledge. We didn’t have that control in the ’80s. And so, to be held to a contract from 1985, and 40 years later, it’s, like, ridiculous.”

Meanwhile, Denton suggested that UMG’s resistance is due to the value of their catalog, telling GMA that the label is holding onto their music because they know its “worth.”

Denton claimed: “Obviously, it’s something. They wanna keep it. They wanna hold onto it. And they’re tryin’ to fight us. So, obviously, they understand what’s the worth of that.”

Salt-N-Pepa’s lawsuit against UMG is among a series of lawsuits between legacy artists and major labels over copyright reversion rights.  In 2023, a New York federal judge denied class-action status for a case filed by singer John Waite and fellow artists, claiming that UMG and Sony Music Entertainment had blocked them from reclaiming their copyright transfers using the 35-year rule.

That same year, Warner Music Group reached a settlement with Scottish group The Jesus and Mary Chain over allegations that WMG had“refused to comply” with their request to reclaim their copyrights under Section 203.

The subsequent year saw Sony Music resolve a similar lawsuit filed by David Johansen from the New York Dolls, “Southside Johnny” John Lyon, and Paul Collins. During the same period, a Florida jury determined that 2 Live Crew members could reclaim their master recording rights in their legal battle against Lil’ Joe Records.

Similar legal conflicts have involved artists including singer-songwriter Syd Straw, members of bands like The Dickies and The Dream Syndicate, and Paul McCartney.

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