Salt-N-Pepa vs. UMG: How “Push It” Disappeared After Rights Battle

So, heads up—the hip-hop legends Salt-N-Pepa are officially suing Universal Music Group, claiming the label yanked their biggest hits from Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming outlets. Their lawsuit, filed March 11 in Manhattan federal court (People Magazine; Law360), alleges that UMG retaliated after the duo served termination notices late last year to reclaim ownership of classic tracks like “Push It,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” “Shoop” and “Whatta Man.”

In November 2023, Salt-N-Pepa exercised their rights under the U.S. Copyright Act to terminate old contracts for dozens of songs originally released through the Next Plateau label in the ’80s and ’90s. Next Plateau eventually became part of UMG’s catalog, and the group says they followed every legal step—serving notices more than two years before the intended termination date—to get their masters back. Instead of negotiating, UMG allegedly pulled more than 200 recordings worldwide on March 1, according to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone.

The lawsuit cites emails and internal memos showing UMG executives discussing a “massive takedown” shortly after learning about the pending terminations. Salt-N-Pepa’s attorneys argue this was a clear act of bad faith, designed to punish the duo for daring to ask for what’s theirs. They’re seeking statutory damages, an injunction to get their music back online, and reimbursement for lost streaming revenue—which could total into the millions, given the cultural impact of those songs.

Universal, for its part, has yet to publicly address the specific allegations, but a spokesperson told Variety that UMG “follows industry-standard procedures” and disputes any claim of unlawful retaliation. Label insiders say the removals may have been a precautionary move while the legal dust settles, though that hardly comforts fans now hunting for “Push It” on their morning run playlists.

This clash spotlights a growing trend of legacy artists pushing back against major labels to own their creative output. From Prince’s war with Warner Bros. in the ’90s to Taylor Swift’s ongoing masters saga, the fight for artists’ rights shows no signs of slowing down. Salt-N-Pepa’s case could set a fresh precedent, especially if a judge rules in favor of their interpretation of termination rules.

Anyway, that’s the skinny on why two of hip-hop’s pioneering women are off your stream—and potentially back in court. Do with it what you will.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine; Law360; Rolling Stone; Variety
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed