Sting, the frontman of legendary rock band The Police, has reportedly paid his former bandmates more than half a million pounds after acknowledging a shortfall in their royalty payments. This development comes amidst an ongoing high-stakes legal battle over earnings from the band's iconic catalogue.
The Core of the Royalty Dispute
Guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland initiated legal proceedings against Sting, whose real name is Gordon Sumner, last year. They claimed they were owed between £1.5 million and £8 million in unpaid royalties for global hits including "Roxanne" and "Every Breath You Take".
According to the BBC, lawyers for Sting confirmed the musicians have now received a payment of over $800,000 (approximately £595,000). However, Sting's legal team denies that Summers and Copeland are entitled to any share of his personal income from streaming and download sales of the band's music, which is a central point of contention.
Historic Agreements and Crucial Contributions
The legal case hinges on a series of agreements dating back to the band's formation. While Summers and Copeland did not receive formal writing credits on most of The Police's biggest songs, they argue an "oral agreement" to share income was made in 1977. This was allegedly formalised in written contracts signed in 1981 and later revised in 1995 and 2016.
These agreements reportedly acknowledged Sting as the chief composer but also recognised the essential contributions of his bandmates. A prime example is Andy Summers' instantly recognisable guitar riff on "Every Breath You Take" from the 1983 album Synchronicity. Summers has stated the song had no guitar part when Sting wrote it, and the iconic riff was his own creation in the studio.
That song alone is a major financial asset. Recognised as the most-played song in radio history by Broadcast Music Inc., it generates substantial royalties. In 2009, CBS News reported Sting earned an estimated $2,000 (around £1,495) per day from the original after winning a case against Sean "Diddy" Combs for an unauthorised sample.
The Modern Battle: Streaming vs. Sales
The current legal hearing, which began on Wednesday 14 January 2026, focuses on a critical modern interpretation. Lawyers for Summers and Copeland are seeking court permission to argue that under the terms of their historic agreements, they are owed money from all downloads and streaming income.
Their position is that the language of the old contracts should be viewed in light of the seismic shift in the music industry, where streaming income has largely replaced revenue from physical sales like vinyl, CDs, and cassettes. They acknowledge the recent £595,000 payment but contend no interest was added for the "historic underpayment".
Sting's legal team counters that streaming constitutes a "public performance" rather than a sale, and therefore should not be subject to the same royalty sharing. They have asked the court to throw out the attempt to amend the case, stating it has "no real prospect of success".
The total value of the claim stands at "not less than £8 million" and would be "considerably larger" if their amended case proceeds. A two-day preliminary hearing was held without the former band members present and was due to conclude on Thursday 15 January, with a full trial expected at a later date.
The Police, who formed in 1977 and disbanded in 1986, remain one of the UK's most successful musical exports, having sold around 75 million records worldwide. Despite their acrimonious split and Sting's subsequent sale of his songwriting catalogue for an estimated $200 million in 2022, the legacy of their music continues to fuel both nostalgia and legal debate.
