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Salt-N-Pepa sue Universal over ownership of master recordings

Push It hitmakers Sandra Denton and Cheryl James claim Universal is blocking the return of their copyright, but label claims it has repeatedly attempted a resolution

But in their lawsuit, they claim that UMG has said those termination notices are not valid because Salt-N-Pepa’s songs were “works made for hire” and so the duo cannot reclaim the rights. UMG have responded, saying: “Salt-N-Pepa’s own legal filings demonstrate the repeated attempts we have made to resolve this matter amicably (including offers to enter into a mediation) ever since the artists served an invalid termination notice. They were given a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2021, and earlier this year were included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s musical influence category.

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