The numbers are almost too staggering to believe. Every year, without lifting a finger, Sting pockets around £550,000 (nearly $740,000) from just one song - 'Every Breath You Take.'
That's more than most Australians earn in a decade, flowing from a track recorded over 40 years ago.
Now, his former Police bandmates want their slice of that golden pie, and they're taking him to court for what they claim are millions in lost royalties.
In this article
The dispute that's been simmering for decades
Andy Summers, the guitarist behind that instantly recognisable opening riff, wasn't subtle about what was coming when he told a podcaster in 2023: 'Every Breath You Take' was going in the trash until I played on it.'
He added ominously: 'It's very much alive at the moment... Watch the press—let's see what happens in the next year.'
Now we know what he meant. In London's High Court, Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland have filed suit against Sting (real name Gordon Sumner) and his publishing company, claiming they were never properly credited as songwriters on 'Every Breath You Take' and have never received royalties for their contributions.
'That song was going to be thrown out. Sting and Stewart could not agree on how the bass and drums were going to go'
According to sources close to the case, 'This has been coming for quite some time. Lawyers tried repeatedly to reach an out-of-court settlement but hit a stalemate.'
When traditional negotiation failed, the two musicians decided there was no alternative but to press ahead with court action.
The song that nearly ended up in the bin
The creative story behind 'Every Breath You Take' adds another layer to this legal drama.
Summers revealed in 2022 that the song was nearly discarded during the recording of the Police's final album, Synchronicity: 'That song was going to be thrown out. Sting and Stewart could not agree on how the bass and drums were going to go.
We were in the middle of Synchronicity and Sting says, 'Well, go on then, go in there and make it your own.''
What happened next became rock history: 'And I did it in one take. They all stood up and clapped. And, of course, the f****** thing went right round the world, straight to No. 1.'
The Police in Australia: Chart Champions
The Police were hugely successful in Australia throughout the early 1980s. 'Every Breath You Take' peaked at number 10 on the Australian charts in 1983, while the band achieved four consecutive number-one albums in Australia.
Their earlier hits 'Don't Stand So Close To Me' and 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' also performed strongly on Australian charts.
A song worth its weight in gold
The financial success of 'Every Breath You Take' is extraordinary by any measure. It was a Grammy winner, the Police's only US number-one hit, the best-selling single of 1983, and BMI has recognised it as 'the most played song in radio history.'
Summers noted that it's 'past two billion plays on Spotify, so it is actually the most-played song of all-time history, which makes my guitar riff one of the most-played riffs in history.'
The song's earning power extends far beyond radio and streaming. When Puff Daddy sampled Summers' distinctive guitar riff for his 1997 Notorious B.I.G. tribute 'I'll Be Missing You,' Sting reportedly 'took every cent it made.'
The track has also been licensed for countless films and TV shows, including The Sopranos and Stranger Things, and is now enjoying fresh popularity thanks to social media.
The broader battle over music rights
This lawsuit reflects a growing trend in the music industry. In 2022, Sting sold his entire songwriting catalogue to Universal Music Group for an estimated $250 million. Such massive deals have heightened awareness of exactly who owns what in terms of music rights.
The case joins a long list of high-profile music copyright disputes that have captivated Australian audiences. From Ed Sheeran's recent legal victories to the decades-long Led Zeppelin 'Stairway to Heaven' saga, songwriting credit battles have become increasingly common and costly.
Understanding music copyright basics
- Songwriting credits determine who receives royalties from a track
- These include performance royalties (radio, streaming), mechanical royalties (sales), and licensing fees (TV, films)
- Credits can be shared among multiple writers based on their contributions
- Disputes often arise years or decades after a song's release
- Legal battles can result in millions of dollars changing hands
What the experts say
Music industry observers note that many copyright disputes are now resolved before reaching court, with artists 'retroactively adding credits to songs to avoid the possibility of deeper legal trouble.'
Recent examples include Olivia Rodrigo adding Paramore members to her 'Good 4 U' credits and Mark Ronson adding multiple writers to 'Uptown Funk.'
However, this Police case appears different. A spokesperson for Sting has denied that the legal action relates to 'Every Breath You Take' but declined to elaborate further. This creates an intriguing mystery—if not their biggest hit, which Police songs are at the centre of this multimillion-dollar dispute?
Did you know?
'Every Breath You Take' generates more annual income for Sting than most Australians earn in their entire working lives. At £550,000 per year, the song has likely earned him over £17 million since its release in 1983—and that's just from one track in his extensive catalogue.
The human cost of success
The legal battle also highlights the personal toll of The Police's fractured relationships. Sting admitted in 2021 that he regretted the band's 2007 reunion tour, calling it 'an exercise in nostalgia.'
He explained his preference for solo work: 'It's not a power thing, at all; it's just about producing exactly the brand and style of music that feels right for you.'
Despite their differences, the 2007 Police reunion tour grossed a massive $362 million, proving the enduring appeal of their music. For Australian fans who witnessed their concerts during that tour, this current legal battle adds a bitter note to those memories.
Looking ahead
The case now rests with London's High Court, and 'the outcome could have significant implications for both the music industry and the legacies of Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland. The world will be watching to see how this dramatic chapter in rock history unfolds.
For music fans, particularly those who grew up with The Police's sound defining the 1980s, this legal battle raises uncomfortable questions about artistic ownership and fair compensation. When a song becomes part of our cultural DNA—as 'Every Breath You Take' undoubtedly has—who really deserves to profit from its enduring success?
The answer may ultimately lie in the hands of British judges, but the reverberations will be felt far beyond London's courtrooms.
What This Means For You
What are your memories of The Police's music? Do you think all band members should share equally in songwriting royalties, or should the primary songwriter keep the lion's share? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Read more: Legendary rock frontman layers legacy with epic career curtain call
Original Article
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2...-police-bandmates-over-alleged-lost-royalties
Sting Sued For Millions By Police Bandmates Over “Every Breath You Take” Royalties
Cited text: “’Every Breath You Take’ was going in the trash until I played on it,” Summers told podcaster Jeremy White in 2023. “It’s a very contentious [topic] —...
Excerpt: Andy Summers, the guitarist behind that instantly recognisable opening riff, wasn't subtle about what was coming when he told a podcaster in 2023: 'Every Breath You Take' was going in the trash until I played on it…
https://www.stereogum.com/2320731/sting-every-breath-you-take-lawsuit-the-police/news/
Sting's Ex-Police Bandmates Sue Him Over Unpaid 'Every Breath You Take' Royalties
Cited text: · In the suit, filed in London High Court, Summers and Copeland claim they were never properly credited as songwriters on “Every Breath You Take,” an...
Excerpt: In London's High Court, Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland have filed suit against Sting (real name Gordon Sumner) and his publishing company, claiming they were never properly credited as songwriters on 'Every Breath You Take' and have…
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/...ce-bandmates-sue-unpaid-royalties-1235416937/
Sting's Ex-Police Bandmates Sue Him Over Unpaid 'Every Breath You Take' Royalties
Cited text: · In the suit, filed in London High Court, Summers and Copeland claim they were never properly credited as songwriters on “Every Breath You Take,” and...
Excerpt: In London's High Court, Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland have filed suit against Sting (real name Gordon Sumner) and his publishing company, claiming they were never properly credited as songwriters on 'Every Breath You Take' and have…
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/...ce-bandmates-sue-unpaid-royalties-1235416937/
Sting Sued by the Rest of The Police for 'Every Breath You Take' Royalties
Cited text: One person told The Sun, “This has been coming for quite some time. Lawyers tried repeatedly to reach an out-of-court settlement but hit a stalemate.
Excerpt: According to sources close to the case, 'This has been coming for quite some time.
https://consequence.net/2025/08/sting-sued-police-royalties-every-breath-you-take/
“They say they are owed millions in lost royalties”: Sting sued by Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland over lost royalties from Police mega-hit | Guitar World
Cited text: “That song was going to be thrown out. Sting and Stewart could not agree on how the bass and drums were going to go. We were in the middle of Synchron...
Excerpt: Summers revealed in 2022 that the song was nearly discarded during the recording of the Police's final album, Synchronicity: 'That song was going to be thrown out.
https://www.guitarworld.com/artists...mers-and-stewart-copeland-over-lost-royalties
“They say they are owed millions in lost royalties”: Sting sued by Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland over lost royalties from Police mega-hit | Guitar World
Cited text: We were in the middle of Synchronicity and Sting says, ‘Well, go on then, go in there and make it your own.’ · “And I did it in one take. They all sto...
Excerpt: What happened next became rock history: 'And I did it in one take. They all stood up and clapped.
https://www.guitarworld.com/artists...mers-and-stewart-copeland-over-lost-royalties
Sting Sued For Millions By Police Bandmates Over “Every Breath You Take” Royalties
Cited text: It’s a Song Of The Year Grammy winner, the Police’s only US Hot 100 #1, and the best selling single of 1983. BMI has recognized it as “the most played...
Excerpt: It was a Grammy winner, the Police's only US number-one hit, the best-selling single of 1983, and BMI has recognised it as 'the most played song in radio history.'
https://www.stereogum.com/2320731/sting-every-breath-you-take-lawsuit-the-police/news/
Police Bandmates Suing Sting for 'Millions in Lost Royalties'
Cited text: 'It's now past two billion plays on Spotify, so it is actually the most-played song of all-time history,' Summers told Guitar Player late last year, '...
Excerpt: Summers noted that it's 'past two billion plays on Spotify, so it is actually the most-played song of all-time history, which makes my guitar riff one of the most-played riffs in history.'
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/police-lawsuit-sting/
Sting Sued For Millions By Police Bandmates Over “Every Breath You Take” Royalties
Cited text: The question over credit came up in a public way in 1997 when Puff Daddy sampled Summers’ lick and utilized Sting’s vocal melody, for his Notorious B....
Excerpt: When Puff Daddy sampled Summers' distinctive guitar riff for his 1997 Notorious B.I.G. tribute 'I'll Be Missing You,' Sting reportedly 'took every cent it made…
https://www.stereogum.com/2320731/sting-every-breath-you-take-lawsuit-the-police/news/
Sting's Ex-Police Bandmates Sue Him Over Unpaid 'Every Breath You Take' Royalties
Cited text: They say they are owed millions in lost royalties.” · In 2022, Sting sold the rights to his songwriting catalog to Universal Music Group, with the dea...
Excerpt: In 2022, Sting sold his entire songwriting catalogue to Universal Music Group for an estimated $250 million.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/...ce-bandmates-sue-unpaid-royalties-1235416937/
Famous Music Copyright Cases Revisited: Ed Sheeran, Led Zeppelin, Katy Perry and More
Cited text: More often these cases get resolved even before a suit is filed, with composers retroactively adding credits to songs to avoid the possibility of deep...
Excerpt: Music industry observers note that many copyright disputes are now resolved before reaching court, with artists 'retroactively adding credits to songs to avoid the possibility of deeper legal trouble…
https://variety.com/lists/song-copyright-infringement-cases-ed-sheeran-historic/
Sting being sued by former Police bandmates over lost royalties
Cited text: A spokesman for Sting denied the legal action was related to ‘Every Breath You Take’, per the article. However, they did not elaborate on the case.
Excerpt: A spokesperson for Sting has denied that the legal action relates to 'Every Breath You Take' but declined to elaborate further.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/stin...-police-bandmates-over-lost-royalties-3887349
Sting being sued by former Police bandmates over lost royalties
Cited text: Sting said in 2021 that he regretted reforming the trio in 2007, calling the tour that followed “an exercise in nostalgia”. He explained at the time t...
Excerpt: Sting admitted in 2021 that he regretted the band's 2007 reunion tour, calling it 'an exercise in nostalgia…
https://www.nme.com/news/music/stin...-police-bandmates-over-lost-royalties-3887349
The Police albums and songs sales as of 2022—ChartMasters
Cited text: The 2007 reunion tour of The Police grossed a massive $362 million, showing how popular the group still is.
Excerpt: Despite their differences, the 2007 Police reunion tour grossed a massive $362 million, proving the enduring appeal of their music.
https://chartmasters.org/the-police-albums-and-songs-sales/
The Police’s Bitter Feud with Sting Reaches a Head in a High Court Lawsuit: Report
Cited text: The case is now a matter for London's High Court to decide, and the outcome could have significant implications for both the music industry and the le...
Excerpt: The case now rests with London's High Court, and 'the outcome could have significant implications for both the music industry and the legacies of Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland.
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/police-bitter-feud-sting-reaches-145900107.html
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I particularly always loved when they played "Message in a Bottle" 
