Salt-N-Pepa have hit a sour note in their long-running legal fight to reclaim ownership of their music. The legendary Hip-Hop ensemble, comprised of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and Deidra “Spinderella” Roper, had accused Universal Music Group of unlawfully blocking them from regaining control of their master recordings decades after release. Central to their claim were contractual terms they claim were unjust.
However, a federal judge has ruled against them.
In a statement issued following the decision, UMG did not hold back:
“While we are gratified that the court dismissed this baseless lawsuit, it should never have been brought in the first place.”
The music juggernaut added that it had previously attempted to resolve the dispute privately and improve compensation for James and Denton (who are the members who brought the suit). They stressed that they did this despite having no legal obligation to do so.
Upon their initial filing, reps framed the battle as one rooted in artist legacy and fairness. A sentiment the ladies echoed when they accepted their entry into the rock and roll hall of fame last Fall.
Despite the drama (which has seen Salt-N-Pepa’s music removed from streamers), UMG insists that it’s open to working together. Their statement concluded:
“Even with the court’s complete rejection of their claims, we remain open and willing to find a resolution to the matter and turn the page so we can focus our efforts on working together to amplify Salt-N-Pepa’s legacy for generations to come. “