Sting & Police Bandmates in High Court Royalty Battle

The long-standing "dynamic tension" that fueled The Police has shifted from the recording studio to the High Court in London. In a high-stakes legal battle that has captivated the music industry in early 2026, Sting (Gordon Sumner) is defending himself against a lawsuit brought by his former bandmates, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland, over what they claim are millions of pounds in unpaid digital royalties.

The conflict reached a pivotal moment on January 14, 2026, when it was revealed in court that Sting had recently paid £595,000 ($800,000) to his former colleagues. While Sting’s team described the payment as a "redress for certain admitted historic underpayments," the plaintiffs argue this is merely a fraction of what they are truly owed.

The 15% "Arranger’s Fee"

At the heart of the dispute is a 1977 verbal agreement—later formalized in 1981, 1997, and 2016—stipulating that while Sting was the primary songwriter, Summers and Copeland would receive a 15% "arranger's fee" from the publishing income.

This fee was designed to recognize the "crucial creative contributions" of the other two members. The most famous example is Andy Summers’ distinctive, Bartók-inspired guitar arpeggio on "Every Breath You Take." Without that riff, Summers argues, the song would have remained a "crap" organ-based demo rather than becoming the most-played song in radio history.

The Digital Divide: Streaming vs. Sales

The current legal stalemate hinges on how the 2016 settlement agreement is interpreted in the age of Spotify and Apple Music.

• The Plaintiffs’ View: Summers and Copeland argue that the spirit of their agreement was to share in all commercial exploitation. They contend that as streaming has replaced physical sales, their 15% should apply to all digital revenue.

• Sting’s Defense: Sting’s lawyers, led by Robert Howe KC, argue that streaming should be classified as a "public performance" rather than a sale. They maintain that the 2016 contract specifically limits their share to "mechanical income" derived from the "manufacture of records"—a term they argue applies only to physical formats like vinyl and CDs.

The Stakes: A Million-Pound Riff

The financial implications are massive. "Every Breath You Take" alone reportedly generates approximately £550,000 ($740,000) in royalties every single year. Summers and Copeland estimate their total claim—covering nearly a decade of the digital era—could be as high as £8 million ($10.75 million) plus interest.

Sting’s decision to sell his entire catalog to Universal Music Group for an estimated $300 million in 2022 has added a layer of complexity to the case, as the court must determine how that massive lump sum should be distributed among the "arrangers" of the hits.

A Legacy on Trial

Beyond the money, the case highlights the fractious history of a band that Stewart Copeland once described as "three motherfuckers who came up with incredible stuff" despite wanting to "tear each other's throats out." While the trio reunited for a successful world tour in 2007, this courtroom drama underscores the reality that for heritage acts, the "business of the back catalog" can be just as volatile as the music itself.

The preliminary hearings concluded in mid-January, with Mr. Justice Bright set to decide whether the case will proceed to a full trial later in 2026. For now, the three icons of New Wave remain at a "cold war" standstill, proving that when it comes to The Police, every cent you take is under watch.

Source - https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/every-cent-sting-ex-police-114553135.html

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