> At a Glance
> – Federal judge threw out Salt-N-Pepa’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group on January 8
> – The 1986 agreements never transferred copyrights to the rap duo, court rules
> – UMG calls suit “baseless” and keeps music off U.S. streaming
> – Why it matters: The ruling blocks the group from reclaiming master recordings under U.S. termination-rights law
Salt-N-Pepa cannot claw back their classic masters from Universal Music Group. A New York federal judge agreed with UMG that the pioneering hip-hop act never owned the copyrights in the first place.
Court Ruling
U.S. District Judge Denise Cote granted UMG’s motion to dismiss the May 2025 complaint. She found the artists failed to show they ever held-or transferred-copyrights to recordings like “Push It” and “Shoop.”
> “Plaintiffs do not plausibly allege a claim for declaratory relief and Count One is dismissed in full.”
> – Judge Denise Cote
What the Suit Claimed
- Filed May 2025 by Cheryl James (Salt) and Sandra Denton (Pepa)
- Cited 35-year termination right under U.S. Copyright Act
- Accused UMG of removing catalog from Spotify, Apple Music after 2022 notices
- Sought damages, injunction, and declaration of ownership
UMG’s Response
A label spokesperson told News Of Los Angeles:
> “While we are gratified that the court dismissed this baseless lawsuit, it should never have been brought in the first place.”
The company added it made multiple pre-suit offers to boost the duo’s pay and restore access for fans.
Songs Affected
| Track | Streams on Spotify |
|---|---|
| “Push It” | 210 million |
| Others | Pulled from U.S. services |
Key Takeaways
- Judge says 1986 contracts did not assign copyrights to Salt-N-Pepa
- Termination rights apply only to authors who executed the original grant
- UMG retains control and keeps door open for future talks
- No comment yet from the artists’ camp
The ruling leaves the hip-hop legends without legal leverage to regain their most famous recordings.
