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Salt-N-Pepa used their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction stage to shine a spotlight on a longstanding battle behind the scenes — the fight for ownership of their music.
While accepting the honor, Cheryl “Salt” James called out Universal Music Group (UMG) for removing their classic hits from streaming platforms amid a dispute over their masters, specifically referencing their iconic 1987 smash “Push It.”
“Our music has been taken down from all streaming platforms because the industry still doesn’t want to play fair,” Salt said, making it clear that the barrier keeping fans from their catalog isn’t accidental — it’s business.
The legendary duo emphasized that this milestone moment should not overshadow the ongoing struggle artists face to control the rights to their own work. Their message echoed the broader conversation across the music industry, where artists continue to challenge long-standing record label practices.
Salt-N-Pepa may have just cemented their place in the Rock Hall, but their fight for fairness — and for their music to remain accessible to the world — is far from over.
Salt-N-Pepa calls out UMG during their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech for obstructing the rights to their catalog: “The industry still doesn’t want to play fair” pic.twitter.com/dJUJFyKVYa
— Variety (@Variety) November 9, 2025
