Sting’s Former Bandmates Sue Over Royalty Disputes
August 27 – Two former members of Sting’s band, The Police, have filed a lawsuit against the musician, citing a lack of royalties from their work together.
Andy Summers, 82, and Stewart Copeland, 73, allege that they weren’t adequately recognized as contributors when it comes to songwriting back in 1983, nor did they receive royalties for songs written by Sting.
The Police formed in 1977 and disbanded in the 1980s, having released five albums that sold around 75 million copies worldwide. The band did come together for a brief reunion tour from 2007 to 2008.
Among their hits, one song stands out as the only No. 1 hit for The Police in the US during the 1980s. Puff Daddy, now known as Diddy, sampled this track for his song in 1997 without permission from the band. Following the legal actions, Sting was awarded 100% of the royalties from the song.
The lawsuit identifies Gordon Matthew Sumner, Sting’s real name, and his publishing company, Sting, The Magnetic Publications, as defendants.
“This situation has been building up for quite some time,” a source revealed. “Attempts for an out-of-court settlement repeatedly fell through. Andy and Stewart felt they had no choice but to take legal action.”
In 2022, Sting sold the rights to his songwriting catalog to Universal Music Group for an estimated $250 million.
Interestingly, one popular misconception is that his song is a love ballad. In reality, its lyrics focus on a stalker who fixates on his victim. “I remember sitting at my desk late at night crafting songs,” Sting reflected about his work, mentioning his previous ownership by Ian Fleming, the famed author of the James Bond series, who had stayed at his Jamaican home in May 2023. “The song carries a certain ambiguity—it can feel ominous or, on the flip side, quite warm and sweet. I think people can interpret it in both ways.”
On June 20, Sting took the stage at the Isle of Wight Festival.
