Singer Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, the founding members of the group known as Salt-N-Pepa, are said to have filed a copyright lawsuit against Universal Music Group.
According to the litigation filed this week, the musicians claim that their former label is illegally refusing to turn over their master recordings.
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The lawsuit, according to sources, invokes the Copyright Act of 1976, which mandates that after 35 years artists can reclaim the rights to their work and renegotiate licenses.
The legislation is said to empower artists whose work may have grown significantly in value after it was released. It is on this ground that the Salt-N-Pepa team is exercising their right.
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Other details indicate that the artistes had filed to end their contract and reclaim ownership of their works but UMG has “inexplicably” refused to honor” their request.
If their petition is granted by the court, the group would be entitled to music, including their 1986 debut LP Hot, Cool & Vicious and 1987’s smash Push It. They will also own the rights to their 1993 album, Very Necessary.
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The musicians are also asking for financial compensation from the record label, as they claim to have been “maliciously punished for daring to assert their rights, adding that they are owed damages that may exceed $1 million”.
However, UMG has indicated that Salt-N-Pepa’s music has been classified as “works made for hire,” meaning it was made to allow the label to continue to retain the rights to the music made by the group.
Citing a 1986 agreement, the record label claimed that James and Denton were not named personally as parties and did not grant UMG the copyrights that were [currently] being sought.
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Salt-N-Pepa was formed in New York City in 1985. The group makes a mark as one of the top female rappers in hip-hop.
As one of the commercially successful rap groups, they made hits like Shoop, Push It, and Whatta Man, and would be due for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
