Sting has responded through his legal team to a lawsuit filed by his former Police bandmates, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. A report from The New York Times detailed the response.
The legal dispute centers around a 1977 agreement made when The Police was formed. Sting allegedly promised his bandmates specific royalty percentages in this agreement.
A New York Times report states that when Sting formed the Police in 1977, he reached an agreement with his two bandmates, reportedly promising Summers and Copeland 15 per cent of “some royalties” from the songs Sting wrote alone, which was meant to “keep things sweet” within the band.
Sting’s lawyers stated that the lawsuit is an “illegitimate attempt” to reinterpret the agreement and argued that Sting actually “substantially overpaid” Summers and Copeland under the terms of the 2016 agreement, according to their legal response.
The dispute involves a substantial $2 million claim. It highlights ongoing tensions over royalty arrangements from The Police’s catalog.
This legal battle brings renewed attention to one of rock’s most successful bands and their complex financial arrangements, which have spanned nearly five decades.
Wikipedia reported that The Police originated in London in 1977. Sting joined after drummer Stewart Copeland saw him perform with his previous jazz-rock fusion band, Last Exit. The band quickly rose to international fame and eventually sold 75 million records worldwide. They established themselves as one of the most commercially successful rock acts of the late 1970s and 1980s.
The financial stakes in this dispute are significant, particularly given the enduring popularity of The Police’s catalog. Digital Noise Magazine noted that major hits like “Every Breath You Take” reportedly earn Sting around £550,000 annually. However, Summers and Copeland did not receive writing credits for this song. The lawsuit primarily revolves around the interpretation of how royalties should be split between mechanical royalties from physical and digital sales versus performance royalties from public playing, including radio and streaming.
The Independent revealed that Summers and Copeland assert entitlement to both types of royalties. Sting maintains that their agreement only covers mechanical royalties. This distinction has become increasingly important in the digital age, where streaming and performance royalties represent a growing portion of music industry revenue.
The last time the three musicians performed together was during a 151-show worldwide reunion tour in 2007-2008. The tour generated an estimated £292 million ($393 million). Music Business Worldwide reported that Summers earned $1 million per performance during this tour.
“We sold out every stadium in the world,” Summers said about the reunion tour. He called it “a giant pay-off for all of us and quite incredible: the most money I’ve ever made.”
