Salt N Pepa - CMU | the music business explained

Salt N Pepa ruling could “pose a threat” to artists seeking to reclaim rights in the future, say lawyers

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Salt N Pepa • 3 min read

Salt N Pepa ruling could “pose a threat” to artists seeking to reclaim rights in the future, say lawyers

Salt N Pepa recently lost a termination rights dispute with Universal - they were trying to reclaim rights in their early recordings. Analysing the judgement, law firm Wobble Bond Dickinson says the ruling could “pose a threat to artists’ abilities to reclaim sound recording rights in the future”…

Chris Cooke • 21 Jan 2026

Five key developments over the Christmas break

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Music industry legal news coverage • 6 min read

Five key developments over the Christmas break

With the Christmas break now well and truly over and forgotten, here are five key developments in the music business since the last CMU Daily of 2025, including X suing the music publishers, a judge dismissing Salt N Pepa’s UMG lawsuit, Lucian Grainge’s memo, and TikTok and Spotify developments…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jan 2026

Universal calls for Salt N Pepa lawsuit to be thrown out yet again

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Salt N Pepa • 3 min read

Universal calls for Salt N Pepa lawsuit to be thrown out yet again

The legal battle between Salt N Pepa and Universal Music over the US termination right continues. The rappers filed an amended lawsuit earlier this month as they try to reclaim ownership of their 1980s recordings. The major says their legal claims are still deficient and should be dismissed…

Chris Cooke • 26 Aug 2025

Salt N Pepa say its “time to fight for our rights” as Universal legal bust up continues

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Salt N Pepa • 3 min read

Salt N Pepa say its “time to fight for our rights” as Universal legal bust up continues

Salt N Pepa have spoken about their legal dispute with Universal Music. The duo want to exercise the termination right and reclaim rights in their 1980s recordings. The major says they don’t qualify. But, the rappers insist, that right is meant to protect the artist and “we are the artist”…

Chris Cooke • 07 Aug 2025

Universal disputes Salt N Pepa’s termination rights claim - says the rappers never transferred any recording rights to their label

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Universal disputes Salt N Pepa’s termination rights claim - says the rappers never transferred any recording rights to their label

Earlier this year Salt N Pepa sued UMG claiming that the major was refusing to allow them to reclaim the rights in their 1980s recordings, even though copyright law allows them to terminate any transfer of rights after 35 years. The major now says there was never any transfer of rights to terminate…

Chris Cooke • 18 Jul 2025

Universal sued after “tanking the value” of Salt N Pepa’s catalogue

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Salt N Pepa • 3 min read

Universal sued after “tanking the value” of Salt N Pepa’s catalogue

Salt N Pepa are trying to regain control of their old recordings from Universal by exercising their termination right under US law. But the major has rejected their termination notices, arguing that their original deals were work for hire arrangements, meaning the termination right does not apply…

Chris Cooke • 20 May 2025