"There is little debate about the song's origins. Sting has always said he wrote the words, chords and melody in one burst of inspiration while staying in Jamaica. His original demo is almost identical to the released version on the band's Synchronicity album. What Summers and Copeland now argue is that their contributions - in particular Summers' distinctive guitar arpeggio riff - transformed the track from a rough sketch into a timeless hit. Summers has described his part as rescuing the song from "going in the trash"."
"Sting, for his part, has acknowledged that Summers added his stamp but insists the structure and composition were his alone. The line between songwriting and arranging has long been one of the music industry's thorniest disputes, and the Police's case has brought it into sharp relief. The financial stakes are enormous. Since its release, Every Breath You Take has generated millions in royalties. It was declared the most played song in radio history by BMI in 2019, and it enjoyed a second life when Puff Daddy (now Diddy) reworked it into 1997's global chart-topper I'll Be Missing You."
Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland have filed a lawsuit in London's High Court seeking recognition and payment as co-writers of Every Breath You Take. Sting composed the lyrics, chords and melody in Jamaica and recorded an original demo nearly identical to the released version. Summers and Copeland claim Summers' guitar arpeggio and other contributions turned the song from a sketch into a hit, while Sting acknowledges Summers' stamp but insists he alone composed the structure. The dispute centers on the boundary between songwriting and arranging. The song has generated millions in royalties and its credits could affect a $250m catalogue sale.
Read at Business Matters
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