Salt-N-Pepa are suing Universal Music Group (UMG) for the rights to their catalog, which incorporates enduring rap hits like 1987’s “Push It” and 1993’s “Shoop.” The duo says UMG has pulled its songs from streaming platforms in retaliation for its efforts to reclaim possession of its masters, in accordance with paperwork considered by Pitchfork.
Salt-N-Pepa’s rappers, Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, are the plaintiffs within the lawsuit. The group’s former DJ, Spinderella, will not be a celebration to the grievance.
James and Denton are basing their declare on the Copyright Act of 1976, which permits artists to terminate contracts and reclaim their recordings after a number of many years. How a lot time should go, and the way the rights can be transferred, has lengthy been a supply of competition between artists and their longstanding labels. The lawsuit argues, “UMG has indicated that it’s going to maintain Plaintiffs’ rights hostage even when it means tanking the worth of Plaintiffs’ music catalogue and depriving their followers of entry to their work.” Salt-N-Pepa are searching for each damages for misplaced revenue and punitive damages for UMG’s obvious refusal to adjust to the copyright act.
A authorized consultant for Salt-N-Pepa—who’re being inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame through the Musical Affect class—stated in a press release, “As they put together to make historical past as solely the second feminine hip-hop act ever inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame, Salt-N-Pepa are additionally combating to reclaim rightful possession of their iconic, barrier-breaking music underneath the U.S. Copyright Act. In a shocking act of retaliation, UMG has pulled their songs from all main platforms within the U.S., punishing them for asserting these rights and silencing many years of culture-shifting work. Like many artists, they’re difficult a system that income from their work whereas denying them management. This battle is about greater than contracts—it’s about legacy, justice, and the way forward for artist possession.”
