Sting is facing a lawsuit from his former Police bandmates, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, over allegations of unpaid royalties related to the band’s hit song “Every Breath You Take.”
Member Against Member
The legal action, filed in the High Court of London, claims that neither Summers nor Copeland received proper songwriting credits or compensation for their contributions to the 1983 single, which became a global chart-topping success.
The lawsuit is being pursued under the category of “general commercial contracts and arrangements” and lists Sting, whose full name is Gordon Matthew Sumner, as the defendant, along with his company, Magnetic Publishing Ltd. The former bandmates allege that they were never paid for their songwriting input, despite “Every Breath You Take” becoming one of the most successful songs of the 1980s.
Released on the band’s final album “Synchronicity,” the track topped the charts in the United States, becoming the No. 1 single of 1983. The song’s popularity extended into the 1990s, when it was sampled by P. Diddy and Faith Evans for their 1997 hit “I’ll Be Missing You.” Over the years, the track has solidified its place as one of The Police’s most iconic songs, earning recognition as the fifth best-selling single in the U.S. of the 1980s.
While the suit is still in its early stages, a spokesperson for Sting, 73, has denied that the legal action is related specifically to “Every Breath You Take” but declined to comment further on the nature of the dispute.
The Police, which was formed in 1977, experienced both critical acclaim and commercial success, with hits like “Roxanne,” “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic,” and “Don’t Stand So Close to Me.” However, after their breakup in 1984, the trio’s relationships remained complex. Despite occasional reunions and a major 2007 reunion tour, Sting has been vocal about his preference for a solo career, citing the freedom it gives him to explore his own musical direction. In 2021, Sting expressed regret over reuniting with Summers and Copeland, calling the tour an “exercise in nostalgia.”
The band’s most recent public project was in 2023, when they launched an official TikTok account to commemorate the 40th anniversary of “Synchronicity.” Despite their differences, The Police’s music continues to resonate with fans worldwide.
In addition to his musical endeavors, Sting has been a significant figure in the industry’s changing landscape. In 2022, he sold his entire songwriting catalog to Universal Music for an estimated $300 million, following a wave of high-profile catalog sales in the music world. Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie’s estate, and Bob Dylan have all made similar moves in recent years, with Dylan’s catalog fetching nearly $400 million in 2020.
Sting remains active in the performance circuit, recently headlining the Isle of Wight Festival in June, where he performed a selection of his greatest hits, including “Message in a Bottle” and “An Englishman in New York.”