Salt-N-Pepa File Appeal in Master Recording Lawsuit Against Universal Music Group

Grammy-winning rap duo Salt-N-Pepa have filed a notice of appeal challenging the dismissal of their lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over the copyrights to their master recordings. The appeal, filed on February 4, 2026, contests a January 8 ruling by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote.

Background of the Legal Battle

The core of the dispute centers on Salt-N-Pepa’s attempt to reclaim ownership of their early recordings under Section 203 of the Copyright Act. This section allows artists to regain copyrights they initially transferred to labels 35 years after the original grant. Judge Cote initially ruled that Cheryl James (“Salt”) and Sandra Denton (“Pepa”) never owned the copyrights to their sound recordings, making them ineligible to reclaim them.

Salt-N-Pepa’s Argument

Salt-N-Pepa maintain that existing contracts from their early career demonstrate a legitimate transfer of ownership. They argue they have the right to terminate UMG’s ownership of their sound recordings based on these agreements.

The Court’s Initial Ruling

The court’s initial decision hinged on the interpretation of agreements dating back to 1986. Salt-N-Pepa signed their first recording agreement with Noise In The Attic Productions, Inc. (NITA), a company owned by their producer, Hurby Azor. This agreement designated NITA as the “sole and exclusive owner” of all rights. Azor subsequently entered into a distribution agreement with Next Plateau Records, which acquired ownership from NITA. UMG later became a successor-in-interest to Next Plateau, inheriting the rights to Salt-N-Pepa’s master recordings.

While Salt-N-Pepa signed an “inducement letter” related to the distribution agreement, they were not signatories to the agreement itself. Judge Cote determined that the 1986 agreements did not indicate that Salt-N-Pepa ever owned the copyrights or transferred those rights to anyone. The ruling emphasized that only NITA transferred copyrights to Next Plateau Records, and Section 203 of the Copyright Act applies only to artists who previously owned and then transferred their copyrights.

Recent Recognition and Continued Fight

Despite the legal setback, Salt-N-Pepa continue to receive accolades for their contributions to music. The hip-hop duo was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2025 and will be honored at the 57th NAACP Image Awards on February 28, 2026. During their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech, they vowed to continue fighting to reclaim the rights to their master recordings.

“Plaintiffs can only terminate copyright transfers that they executed. They cannot terminate a copyright grant executed by NITA.” – Judge Denise Cote Music Business Worldwide

The outcome of the appeal will determine whether Salt-N-Pepa can exercise their rights under Section 203 and regain control of their early recordings.