*Salt-N-Pepa are taking their fight with Universal Music Group to the next level. The duo has formally appealed a federal judge’s decision that dismissed their lawsuit seeking control of their master recordings.
According to Music Business Worldwide, the notice of appeal was filed on February 4 and entered into the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit docket the following day. It challenges a January 8 ruling by District Judge Denise Cote, who determined that the artists never owned the copyrights to their sound recordings and therefore cannot reclaim them under Section 203 of the Copyright Act.
Section 203 permits artists to terminate copyright transfers 35 years after the original grant, but only if they executed the transfer themselves. Salt-N-Pepa, comprised of Cheryl James and Sandra Denton, filed termination notices in 2022 and sued UMG in May 2024 . However, the court found that the 1986 agreement granted ownership to Noise In The Attic Productions, controlled by producer Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor, which then transferred rights to Next Plateau Records, a predecessor to UMG.
In her ruling, Judge Cote wrote: “The only copyright transfer effectuated by these agreements was the one from NITA to Next Plateau Records. And the statutory text in Section 203 is clear: plaintiffs can only terminate copyright transfers that they executed. They cannot terminate a copyright grant executed by NITA. As a result, plaintiffs do not plausibly allege a claim for declaratory relief.”
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The court also rejected the duo’s conversion claim, concluding they never owned the master tapes. A spokesperson for UMG said the company is “gratified that the court dismissed this baseless lawsuit,” adding that it remains “open and willing to find a resolution to the matter.”
The appeal filing also reveals that Nashville-based attorney Richard S. Busch of King & Ballow is now representing the duo. Busch is widely known for representing the Marvin Gaye heirs in the high-profile “Blurred Lines” copyright case involving Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke.
Salt-N-Pepa’s early catalog remains unavailable on U.S. streaming platforms, following the label’s rejection of their termination notices and subsequent removal of recordings. Despite the setback, the group — inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2025 — is continuing its legal effort to regain control of its work.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Salt-N-Pepa Lose Master Recordings Lawsuit Against UMG
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