"We respectfully disagree with the Court's decision and fully intend to pursue our rights on appeal," the group told The Breakfast Club's Loren LoRosa. "We, Cheryl James and Sandra Denton, also known as the Hip Hop icons Salt-N-Pepa, are the creative and driving force behind all our sound recordings and have performed these songs over the past 40 years. We remain committed to vindicating and reclaiming our rights as creators under the Copyright Act."

Last year, Salt-N-Pepa filed a federal lawsuit against Universal Music Group, accusing the record label of violating the Copyright Act by not allowing them to take control of their music, despite a law that enables some musicians to do so after 35 years. The duo's music was released through UMG's subsidiaries Next Plateau London Records. Salt-N-Pepa previously filed notices of termination in 2022 to reclaim the rights to their songs. However, according to Variety, UMG responded by claiming the group could not use their “termination rights” because they didn’t sign the contract themselves.

Salt-N-Pepa recently called out UMG during their acceptance speech at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Cheryl "Salt" James, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, and Deidra Roper a.k.a DJ Spinderella approached the stage to accept the Musical Influence Award.

“As we celebrate this moment, fans can’t even stream our music," James said. "It’s been taken down from all streaming platforms because the industry still doesn’t want to play fair. Salt-N-Pepa have never been afraid of a fight. This is the Influence Award. We have to keep using our influence until the industry honors creativity the way the audience does — with love, respect and fairness — and that includes streaming platforms too.”

Zach Boog