Salt-N-Pepa’s Lawsuit Against UMG Over Master Recording Ownership Dismissed by Judge

A federal judge in New York has dismissed the lawsuit filed by hip-hop pioneers Salt-N-Pepa against Universal Music Group. The iconic duo sought to regain ownership of their early master recordings, including the groundbreaking single "Push It," but the court determined their legal claim was not valid.

The case centered on a provision in U.S. copyright law that allows creators to reclaim rights after 35 years. Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandra "Pepa" Denton served termination notices in 2022 focusing on works from their influential 1986 debut, *Hot, Cool & Vicious*. However, Universal argued successfully that these recordings were produced as "works made for hire" for Noise in the Attic Productions, their original label. Judge Denise Cote concluded that the copyrights were always held by that label—a company controlled by their former producer, Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor—and were never transferred from the artists, making termination legally impossible. This "work for hire" doctrine, a common feature in older entertainment contracts, often prevents performers from reclaiming their early work, a point frequently highlighted by artist advocacy groups.

Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company with a vast catalog spanning decades, stated it was pleased with the ruling, calling the lawsuit baseless. The corporation revealed it had previously offered a settlement to increase the group's royalty rates, an approach often used to resolve disputes with veteran acts without admitting fault. "We are still willing to partner with Salt-N-Pepa to honor their incredible legacy," a UMG representative said. Legal experts note that such pre-digital era contractual designations continue to shield major labels from termination claims, a significant hurdle as catalogs from the late 1980s begin to reach their eligibility windows.

This legal setback comes shortly after the group's historic induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year, where they became the first all-female rap act to be enshrined. During the ceremony, Salt directly addressed the conflict, noting that their music had been pulled from several major streaming services—a tangible result of the ownership dispute. "It's not just about us; it's about fans losing access to cultural history," she remarked, highlighting a growing industry conflict where legacy contracts limit artists' control over digital-era revenue. The delisting of classic catalogs is an increasingly common tactic in these negotiations, putting commercial pressure on artists to drop their claims.

The court's decision firmly upholds Universal's ownership of these foundational hip-hop recordings. While the parties could still negotiate a new royalty agreement privately, the ruling sets a powerful precedent that will likely discourage similar termination efforts by other artists from that period. As more recordings from the analog era enter the digital reversion window, this case illustrates the persistent legal and financial advantages held by major labels, suggesting that many artists may find their paths to reclaiming their work legally blocked by contracts signed in a vastly different industry landscape.