Salt-N-Pepa's Legal Battle with UMG Ends with Dismissal: What’s Next?

Salt-N-Pepa's high-profile legal battle against UMG has taken a surprising turn as their federal lawsuit was dismissed this past Thursday, January 8. In a ruling by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote, the legendary hip-hop duo's complaint was thrown out in the Southern District of New York.

The Queens-based rap pioneers had accused UMG of violating the Copyright Act, claiming the label was obstructing their attempts to reclaim their master recordings and retaliated by pulling their music from digital streaming platforms.

However, Judge Cote ruled that Salt-N-Pepa never owned the copyrights nor transferred any rights to themselves or others. She stated, "Even viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, the 1986 agreements do not indicate that Plaintiffs ever owned the copyrights to the sound recordings or that they granted a transfer of those rights to anyone else. Federal law allows termination rights only to authors who executed the original grant, and the court emphasized that 'Plaintiffs can only terminate copyright transfers that they executed.'"

Following the dismissal, UMG released a statement expressing relief over the court's decision, labeling the lawsuit as "baseless" and pointed out their multiple attempts to resolve the matter amicably prior to litigation. They emphasized that their goal has always been to improve the artists' compensation and ensure their fans could access Salt-N-Pepa's music.

Despite the ruling, UMG expressed a willingness to discuss potential resolutions with Salt-N-Pepa, aiming to focus on their legacy for future generations. Salt-N-Pepa, however, remains steadfast in their commitment to reclaiming their rights, indicating that the fight may not be over just yet. In fact, Cheryl James and Sandra Denton initiated their legal actions in May 2025, which traces their efforts back to notices of termination they filed in 2022.

The music industry will surely keep a close eye on how this story unfolds as Salt-N-Pepa stand firm in their mission to assert their rights as creators.