Sting sued by Andy Summer and Stewart Copeland over "Every Breath You Take"

[Draconator]

Royalties. Sad. 

 

Sting is being sued by his former Police bandmates over royalties from "Every Breath You Take."

 

Sting was issued with a High Court writ by guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland. They are seeking "substantial" damages.

 

According to The Sun, a source said, "This has been coming for quite some time. Lawyers tried repeatedly to reach an out-of-court settlement but hit a stalemate. Andy and Stewart decided there was no alternative than court so pressed the button. They say they are owed millions in lost royalties."

 

Sting appears as a defendant under his real name, Gordon Matthew Sumner. His firm, Magnetic Publishing Limited, is also listed as a defendant.

 

The Police formed in 1977 and split in the mid-1980s, having sold 75 million records worldwide. "Every Breath You Take" was the best-selling single of 1983 and the fifth best-selling of the decade.

 

https://www.rttnews.com/3570038/sting-sued-by-former-police-bandmates-over-every-breath-you-take-royalties.aspx

[UConn James]

Another article says the pair claims they weren’t given song-writing credits in the early ‘80s when it came out. So I guess they’re seeking a larger percentage of the song’s profits since as well as a share of the substantial rap sampling use that Sting sued for and won. 
 

Quote

Summers and Copeland argue they were instrumental in shaping the song's final form, with Summers' riff and Copeland's contribution being defining elements.

I dunno. The time for this might’ve been… ohhh, say… 40 years ago. Also I had thought songwriting credit was for lyrics. Which, were Sting’s. As the story goes, he wrote it in 30 minutes after waking up with them in his head.
 

Credit for instrumentals and such follow underneath on CDs I’ve ever bought. And that percentages of profits was a thing worked out by signed contracts prior to / during / shortly after the album was produced or a tour done. Always wondered what percentage a frontman gets for vocals and instrument vs. band members who only play an instrument. 
 

Like, hell. Ringo didn’t ask for songwriting credit for “Yesterday”, did he? That was Paul’s song. WTF?!

They’re just looking for a bigger cut after the fact and how court rulings have gone in the last decade or so about royalties. 

Edited September 1 by UConn James

[Another Fan]

1 hour ago, Draconator said:

Royalties. Sad. 

 

Sting is being sued by his former Police bandmates over royalties from "Every Breath You Take."

 

Sting was issued with a High Court writ by guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland. They are seeking "substantial" damages.

 

According to The Sun, a source said, "This has been coming for quite some time. Lawyers tried repeatedly to reach an out-of-court settlement but hit a stalemate. Andy and Stewart decided there was no alternative than court so pressed the button. They say they are owed millions in lost royalties."

 

Sting appears as a defendant under his real name, Gordon Matthew Sumner. His firm, Magnetic Publishing Limited, is also listed as a defendant.

 

The Police formed in 1977 and split in the mid-1980s, having sold 75 million records worldwide. "Every Breath You Take" was the best-selling single of 1983 and the fifth best-selling of the decade.

 

https://www.rttnews.com/3570038/sting-sued-by-former-police-bandmates-over-every-breath-you-take-royalties.aspx

From memory despite all their albums and what not they did.....  they all hated each other back in the day as well.  Like I want to say they broke each other's bones in backstage fights.  

 

Still sad though....  it's like Hall and Oates together for over 40 plus years but today they have restraining orders against each other.  

[T&C]

That song is more creeper than Happy Together... so someone Should be sued.

[US Egg]

🎶For every cent you made we will be suing you.🎶

 

 

Edited September 2 by US Egg

[LeviF]

17 hours ago, UConn James said:

Also I had thought songwriting credit was for lyrics.

 

Obviously that's a substantial portion of it but no, "songwriting" involves everything you end up hearing in the final product.

[UConn James]

9 minutes ago, LeviF said:

 

Obviously that's a substantial portion of it but no, "songwriting" involves everything you end up hearing in the final product.

So “Don’t Fear the Reaper” is mostly credited to Albert Bouchard (played by Will Ferrell) b/c ‘You’re gonna want that cowbell!!!’

[Simon]

20 hours ago, Another Fan said:

From memory despite all their albums and what not they did.....  they all hated each other back in the day as well.  Like I want to say they broke each other's bones in backstage fights.  

 

I think it was more of a case of Copeland and Summers hating Sting because he's an arrogant, self-important, pretentious jackass.

[stuvian]

I never liked Sting from the word go. A totally pretentious arsehole.

[UConn James]

10 hours ago, Simon said:

 

I think it was more of a case of Copeland and Summers hating Sting because he's an arrogant, self-important, pretentious jackass.

Like they aren’t, if one really knew them / they had as much publicity as Sting? 🤷‍♂️

[Simon]

46 minutes ago, UConn James said:

Like they aren’t, if one really knew them / they had as much publicity as Sting? 🤷‍♂️

 

There are a wide variety of individuals (producers, session musicians, sound engineers, management, etc etc ad infinitum) that had all of these same problems with "Sting". Every single credible summation I have ever read from journalists, professional musicians and/or business insiders about that band paints Summers as a quiet, soft-spoken amiable guy, Copeland as a friendly, high-energy joyful puppy and Sting as an obnoxious, domineering, insulting, dismissive, self-centered ashhole.