November 9, 2025
Salt-N-Pepa used the second to name out the music business over music possession and equity.
Hip-hop trailblazers Salt-N-Pepa turned their long-awaited Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame induction into greater than a celebration of their groundbreaking profession — it grew to become a rallying cry for equity and artists’ rights.
As Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper accepted the Musical Affect Award on Saturday, the trio used their speeches to attract consideration to a rising dispute over possession of their grasp recordings. “As we have fun this second, followers can’t even stream our music,” James advised the group. “It’s been taken down from all streaming platforms as a result of the business nonetheless doesn’t wish to play truthful.”
The group’s feedback referenced their ongoing authorized battle with Common Music Group (UMG), which at present holds the rights to their masters. In Could, Salt-N-Pepa filed a federal lawsuit in opposition to the label, accusing it of violating the Copyright Act by stopping them from reclaiming management of their music — a proper allowed underneath U.S. regulation after 35 years.
In accordance to Selection, courtroom paperwork present the group filed termination notices in 2022 to regain possession of songs launched underneath UMG’s subsidiaries, together with Subsequent Plateau and London Information. In response, UMG argued the group was not eligible to train termination rights since they weren’t the unique signatories on the contracts.
A spokesperson for UMG mentioned the corporate had made “repeated makes an attempt” to “resolve this matter amicably,” accusing the group’s legal professionals of utilizing “detrimental media protection” as leverage however sustaining that they remained open to a good decision.
Regardless of the authorized pressure, the night was largely joyous — a testomony to Salt-N-Pepa’s enduring affect on generations of artists. Missy Elliott, who grew to become the primary feminine rapper inducted into the Corridor of Fame two years in the past, launched the group with reward for his or her trailblazing contributions.
James devoted the respect “to each girl who picked up a mic after they advised her she couldn’t,” whereas DJ Spinderella mirrored on the milestone, saying, “I’ve been DJing for 40 years, and I’m the primary feminine DJ within the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame.”
Their efficiency introduced the group to its toes as they delivered a medley of fan favorites, together with “My Mic Sounds Good,” “Shoop,” and “Let’s Speak About Intercourse,” earlier than En Vogue joined them for his or her 1993 hit “Whatta Man.”
Even amid celebration, Salt-N-Pepa made one message clear: their combat for inventive possession is much from over.
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