Salt-N-Pepa Call Out ‘the Industry’ (Meaning Universal Music Group) Over Copyright Dispute at Rock Hall of Fame Ceremony

During their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the groundbreaking rap trio Salt-N-Pepa transformed a moment of celebration into a public protest. While receiving the Musical Influence Award, Cheryl "Salt" James called out the music industry for what she described as unfair practices, revealing that the group's foundational catalog has been removed from all major streaming services. This move, she asserted, was a direct result of an industry that "still doesn't want to play fair," turning the spotlight onto systemic issues of artist rights.

The conflict stems from a federal lawsuit the group filed against Universal Music Group (UMG) in May. UMG—a global music powerhouse whose portfolio includes the master recordings for artists ranging from The Beatles to Taylor Swift—is now defending itself against allegations that it violated the Copyright Act. The suit claims the label blocked the group's attempt to reclaim their work under a U.S. copyright law that allows artists to terminate grants and regain control of their creations after 35 years. Salt-N-Pepa had served termination notices in 2022 for songs originally released through Next Plateau London Records, a label later absorbed by UMG.

In response, Universal Music Group has argued that the termination notices are not valid, contending the original agreements were signed by the artists’ production company, not the individual members. A company spokesperson stated that UMG had made "repeated attempts" to reach an "amicable" resolution and accused the artists’ legal team of leveraging "the threat of negative media coverage" to push "unreasonable demands." This type of corporate defense is not uncommon. As music industry analyst David Foster notes, "Labels frequently use technicalities, like questioning who signed a contract decades ago, to create legal hurdles. This complicates what should be a clear reversion of rights and often pressures heritage acts into expensive court battles they can ill afford."

Despite the legal tensions, the induction ceremony stood as a powerful homage to the group’s cultural legacy. Missy Elliott—who in 2021 became the first female rapper inducted into the Hall of Fame—honored the trio, emphasizing how Salt-N-Pepa helped open doors for women in hip-hop. James dedicated the award "to every woman who picked up a mic when they told her she couldn't." DJ Spinderella also marked a historic milestone, announcing, "I’ve been DJ-ing for 40 years, and I’m the first female DJ in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

The evening culminated with a vibrant performance of classic tracks such as "My Mic Sounds Nice," "Shoop," and "Let's Talk About Sex." For the finale, they were joined by the R&B group En Vogue for a rendition of their 1993 collaborative hit "Whatta Man." This celebratory set served as a bittersweet reminder of the very music currently locked away from listeners due to the unresolved legal battle, highlighting the real-world impact of the group’s fight for creative and financial autonomy.