Sting Being Sued by Ex-Bandmates Over Lost Royalties on “Every Breath You Take”

Photo Credit: Elvire R. / CC by 2.0

Sting is being sued for millions in lost royalties by guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland, his former bandmates in The Police.

Sting is being sued by his former Police bandmates over allegedly missing royalties. Guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland are suing the 73-year-old for “substantial” damages after years of disagreements in the 40-plus years since the band broke up.

The Police formed in 1977 in London and split in 1984 after five albums, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. The best-selling single of 1983, their hit “Every Breath You Take,” reportedly earns Sting £550,000 a year in royalties from that song alone. But Summers and Copeland say they were never given songwriting credits and therefore have not earned any royalties.

“This has been coming for quite some time. Lawyers tried repeatedly to reach an out-of-court settlement but hit a stalemate,” said a source familiar with the matter. “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 legal name, Gordon Sumner. His firm, Magnetic Publishing Limited, is also listed as a defendant. The writ was listed at London’s High Court under “general commercial contracts and arrangements.”

In 2018, Sting revealed in an interview with The Breakfast Club that he receives around $2,000 a day from Sean “Diddy” Combs for his use of “Every Breath You Take” in the rapper’s 1997 hit, “I’ll Be Missing You.” That prompted a response from Diddy, who said he actually pays Sting around $5,000 a day in royalties for the previously unauthorized use of the song—which comes out to more than $1.8 million a year.

Diddy’s track was a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., who died in 1997 at age 24. Faith Evans, Biggie’s former wife and mother to his now-adult son, accompanied Combs on the track, alongside R&B group 112. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Diddy accolades at the 1997 Billboard Music Awards.

Link to the source article – https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/08/26/sting-being-sued-by-ex-bandmates/