UMG Seeks Dismissal of Salt-N-Pepa Copyright Lawsuit

Salt-N-Pepa are embroiled in a legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG) over the rights to their classic albums such as Hot, Cool & Vicious and Very Necessary. The duo filed a lawsuit seeking to exercise their termination rights under copyright law, which allows artists to reclaim ownership of their masters 35 years after release. However, UMG has moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Salt-N-Pepa never directly owned or transferred the rights to their recordings; instead, the rights were signed away by their producer Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor through his production company. UMG also contends that termination rights do not apply to derivative works like remixes, which are part of the disputed catalog. The dispute has escalated to the point where UMG removed some of Salt-N-Pepa's early albums from streaming platforms, leading the duo to accuse the label of punitive tactics that harm their royalties and fan access. Both sides remain entrenched, with Salt-N-Pepa asserting their legal and moral right to reclaim their music, while UMG maintains that the law does not support the duo's claims based on the original agreements.