In a high-stakes legal dispute, iconic musician Sting finds himself pitted against his former Police bandmates, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, over the lucrative streaming royalties generated by the group’s extensive back catalogue. The case, heard at the High Court in London, centres on the interpretation of various agreements made between the band members dating back to their formation in the late 1970s.
At the heart of the matter is the definition of “mechanical income” and “public performance fees” – terms that have taken on new significance in the digital streaming era. Sting’s legal team argues that the 15% “arranger’s fee” agreed upon by the band members does not apply to streaming revenue, a position contested by Copeland and Summers.
The dispute has already seen Sting pay over £595,000 in “historic underpayments”, but the wider legal claim remains unresolved. Sting maintains that the arranger’s fee should only apply to physical product sales, such as vinyl and cassettes, a distinction that has become increasingly crucial as the group’s biggest hit, “Every Breath You Take,” has amassed over 3 billion streams on Spotify alone.
Representing Copeland and Summers, as well as their respective companies, barrister Ian Mill KC argues that the 15% figure was agreed upon back in 1977 and later formalised in written contracts. He contends that the 2016 settlement agreement entitles the former bandmates to a share of all publishing income, including that generated by streaming.
The high-profile case has significant implications for the music industry, as it grapples with the evolving landscape of digital royalties. With a verdict expected in a similar case involving the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the outcome of this dispute could set a precedent that reverberates throughout the sector.
As the legal battle unfolds, the once-harmonious relationship between Sting and his former Police colleagues appears to have soured, underscoring the complexities and tensions that can arise even among the most successful of musical collaborations.
