Sting recently paid his former bandmates in The Police over $800,000 in royalties after a legal dispute, as reported by BBC.
Sting makes a massive payment
The payment came as Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers launched legal proceedings against the musician, claiming they were owed significant royalties for hit songs.
“Sting has paid his former bandmates in The Police more than half a million pounds after acknowledging underpaying royalties, court documents show,” BBC reported. “In a filing at London’s High Court, the musician’s lawyers said Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland received a payment of ‘over $800,000’ (£595,000) after they launched legal proceedings last year.”
The lawsuit revolves on royalties for some of The Police’s most famous tracks, with substantial financial claims at stake.
“The pair sued Sting and his publishing company in September, claiming they were owed between $2m (£1.5m) and $10.75m (£8m) in royalties for hit songs like Roxanne and Every Breath You Take,” the report continued.
“At a hearing on Wednesday, their lawyers said their claim could rise above £8m.”
The case noted ongoing disputes over music royalties between former bandmates, with the legal proceedings continuing despite the initial payment.
The legal battle arises from agreements dating back to The Police’s formation in 1977. The dispute centers on an oral agreement under which Sting, as the principal songwriter, would share 15% of the publishing income with his bandmates for their creative contributions. This arrangement was later formalized through contracts in 1997 and 2016.
The core issue revolves around modern digital revenue streams that didn’t exist when the original agreements were made. The lawsuit specifically questions whether Summers and Copeland are entitled to shares of streaming and download income. Sting contests this as not covered under the prior “mechanical income” or “public performance” terms established in earlier contracts.
