Music legend Sting has paid his former bandmates from The Police a sum of £600,000 since they initiated legal proceedings against him, London's High Court has heard. The 74-year-old singer and bassist, along with his company Magnetic Publishing, is accused of owing more than $2 million (approximately £1.49 million) in alleged unpaid 'arranger's fees' to drummer Stewart Copeland, 73, and guitarist Andy Summers, 83.
The Core of the Royalty Dispute
The legal battle hinges on the interpretation of agreements made between the band's formation in 1977 and a key settlement in 2016. The central question is whether a long-standing arrangement, where the songwriter (Sting) would give 15% of publishing income to the other two members as arranger's fees, applies to income from music streaming services.
Robert Howe KC, representing Sting, told the court that his client contends these fees were intended only for physical products like vinyl and cassettes, not digital streaming. He argued the court should focus on a "professionally drafted" 2016 agreement, which he says specifies the money is owed on mechanical income "from the manufacture of records."
However, Ian Mill KC, representing Copeland and Summers, asserts that the 15% figure was agreed verbally in 1977 and later formalised in contracts. He argues the 2016 settlement entitles his clients to a share of money "from all publishing income derived from all manner of commercial exploitation," which they believe includes streaming.
Payments Made and Millions Claimed
Since the legal action began in late 2024, Sting has paid over $800,000 (£595,000) in what his barrister described as "certain admitted historic underpayments." This forms part of the total £600,000 disclosed to the court. Despite these payments, a significant dispute remains over the wider claim of more than £1.49 million.
The scale of the royalties at stake is underscored by the enduring success of The Police's catalogue. Sting is believed to earn around £550,000 a year in royalties from the hit song Every Breath You Take alone. This track was the fifth best-selling song of the 1980s, yet Summers and Copeland did not receive songwriting credits for it, making the arranger's fees a critical source of income for them from its ongoing exploitation.
A Band History of Tension and Triumph
The new wave band, formed in London in 1977, achieved global stardom with a string of chart-topping albums and singles, including five UK number ones. Despite their success, the trio was famously fractious. Sting previously admitted, "We fought over everything," and the band ultimately dissolved in 1984 amid resentment.
They surprised fans with a hugely successful Reunion Tour between 2007 and 2008, comprising 151 dates worldwide. The tour reportedly earned £292 million, with Andy Summers later stating he earned about $1 million per night, calling it "a giant pay-off."
The current preliminary hearing before Mr Justice Bright is set to conclude shortly, with a full trial expected at a later date. This case highlights the complex financial legacy of iconic bands in the digital age, where historic agreements are tested by new technologies like music streaming.
