The Police Royalties Dispute: Sting Settles Lawsuit with Bandmates Over Unpaid Royalties
Musician Sting has reportedly settled a lawsuit with his former bandmates from The Police, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland, over unpaid royalties. Sting's lawyers confirmed that Summers and Copeland received a payment of over $800,000. The dispute arose from the band's hit songs like "Roxanne" and "Every Breath You Take," for which Summers and Copeland claimed they were owed royalties. The bandmates did not receive writing credits on most of the songs but argued that they had an oral agreement with Sting to share income, which was later formalized in written contracts.
The agreement recognized Sting as the band's chief composer but acknowledged the contributions of Summers and Copeland. Summers, in particular, emphasized his crucial role in creating the guitar line for the song "Every Breath You Take," which is one of The Police's most lucrative tracks. Despite the band's success, they faced challenges in their working relationship, leading to their disbandment in 1984. Sting later sold the rights to his songwriting catalog to Universal Music Group for a substantial amount.
The ongoing legal battle between Sting and his former bandmates revolves around the interpretation of their previous agreements in the context of changes in the music industry, particularly the shift to streaming platforms. Summers and Copeland are seeking additional royalties from all downloads and streaming income, arguing that the language of their agreements should encompass these new revenue streams. The total value of their claim is estimated to be at least £8 million, with the possibility of increasing further if their amended case is allowed to proceed.
Sting's legal team contends that streaming income should not be considered as sales but as public performance, and therefore, the musician should not be obligated to pay additional royalties. The outcome of the preliminary hearing will determine whether the case proceeds to trial. The hearing is expected to conclude soon, with a trial date to be set in the future.