Salt-N-Pepa Slam Music Industry Over Streaming Dispute

Three days ago, pioneering female rap group Salt-N-Pepa was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, their induction ceremony was marked by a dispute over the ownership of their music masters.

During their acceptance speech, Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandra "Pepa" Denton revealed that their songs have been removed from major streaming platforms due to an ongoing legal battle with their record label, Universal Music Group. The group accused the industry of not wanting to "play fair" with their music.

Salt-N-Pepa filed a federal lawsuit against UMG in May 2022, claiming the label is violating the Copyright Act by not allowing them to reclaim control of their songs after 35 years. The group said they had filed notices of termination, but UMG disputed their ability to do so.

Despite the legal dispute, the induction ceremony was mostly celebratory, with the group performing a medley of their hits and being joined by fellow R&B group En Vogue. The event also highlighted Salt-N-Pepa's influence on the music industry and the next generation of female rappers.