Sting sells solo and The Police song catalogue for reported £221 million
It encompasses his solo work and The Police
Last updated 14th Feb 2022
Geordie music icon Sting has sold his entire song catalogue to Universal Music Publishing Group in a deal reported to be worth $300 million (approx. £221 million).
The massive global deal encompasses Sting’s solo material and all of his recordings with The Police.
Notable songs included in the sale are ‘Roxanne’, ‘Every Breath You Take’, ‘Shape Of My Heart’, ‘If I Ever Lose My Faith In You’, ‘Fields Of Gold’, ‘Desert Rose’, ‘Message in a Bottle’, ‘Englishman in New York’ and ‘Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic’.
The 70-year-old Wallsend-born musician – real name Gordon Sumner – fronted The Police from 1977 to 1984 before he launched a successful solo career.
With more than 100 million record sales between The Police and his solo works, Sting is one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Watch 'Don't Stand So Close To Me' by The Police:
"I am delighted to have Jody and the team at UMPG curate and manage my song catalogue,” comments Sting. “It is absolutely essential to me that my career's body of work have a home where it is valued and respected – not only to connect with longtime fans in new ways but also to introduce my songs to new audiences, musicians and generations.
“Throughout my career, I have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with UMG as my label partner, under the watchful guidance of Lucian, so it felt natural to unite everything in one trusted home, as I return to the studio, ready for the next chapter."
Jody Gerson, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Publishing Group adds: "So many memories from my youth are tied to the great songs written by Sting — whether it was first seeing the Police perform in Philadelphia or hearing his music on the radio or playing those albums until I wore them out.
“I could never have imagined that someday I would get to lead a company that will be the guardian of Sting's remarkable songwriting legacy. Every one of us at UMPG looks forward to this work with a sense of honour, responsibility and enormous excitement about what we can achieve for his music in the future."
Watch 'Englishman In New York' by Sting:
Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Group comments: "I've had the privilege to work with Sting for over 20 years and I'm so thrilled to expand our relationship to now include music publishing. Sting is a songwriting genius whose music permeates global culture.
“We are honoured that by choosing UMPG for his music publishing, Sting's entire body of work as a songwriter and recording artist — from the Police to his solo work — will all be within the UMG family. It's a responsibility we don't take lightly as well as a great validation of what we have built for artists at UMG."
Over the past 18 months, an array of music legends have sold their song rights including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham, Mötley Crüe, David Coverdale, Metallica producer Bob Rock and the estate of David Bowie.
Take a look through Sting's incredible career:
1977 - The formation of The Police
Sting, along with Stewart Copeland and Henry Padovani formed The Police in 1977. However, it wasn't long before there were some line-up changes with the addition of Andy Summers. The band then spent some time as a four-piece band, but it was short-lived when Henry then left, and the band continued as a trio.
'Fall Out' was the band's first single, which included the original line-up of Sting, Stewart Copeland and Henry Padovani.
1979 - The Police re-released ’Roxanne’
It wasn't until 1979 that The Police had success in the charts with the re-release of their song 'Roxanne'. The song originally failed to chart in the UK, when it was released in 1978.
Following its re-release the song peaked at Number 12 and was ranked 388 in Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs of All Time'.
As part of The Police, Sting had huge success with many songs he wrote including Number 1 hits 'Message in a Bottle' (1979), 'Walking on the Moon' (1979), 'Don't Stand So Close to Me' (1980), 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' (1981), and 'Every Breath You Take' (1983).
1984 ‘Every Breath You Take’ won two Ivor Novello Awards
'Every Breath You Take' was nominated for four Ivor Novello Awards, winning two - The Best Song Musically And Lyrically and Most Performed Work. In total Sting has won seven Ivor Novello Awards for his work between 1982 and 2002.
1985 - Sting released ‘The Dream of the Blue Turtles’
'The Dream of the Blue Turtles' was Sting's debut solo album. The singer released five songs from the album including his Number 12 hit 'Russians'.
Sting received several Grammy nominations for his album including ones for Album of the Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance and Best Engineered Recording.
1986 - The Police started their hiatus
The Police started their hiatus which was to last until 2007, with a brief reunion in 2003, when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1988 - ‘Nothing Like the Sun’ won a BRIT Award
'Nothing Like the Sun' won a BRIT Award for Best British Album.
'Nothing Like the Sun' was Sting's second solo album and featured singles 'We'll Be Together', 'Be Still My Beating Heart', 'Englishman in New York', 'Fragile', and 'They Dance Alone'.
1990 - Remix of ‘Englishman in New York’ released
Once again it took a re-release of one of Sting's songs to see chart success. Originally released in 1988 'Englishman in New York' only reached Number 51 in the UK, however it was successful across Europe. It wasn't until 1990 that the song was remixed and released in the UK reaching Number 15.
1992 - Sting received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of Northumbria
Sting was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Northumbria in 1992. Sting is pictured with his wife Trudie Styler.
1994 - Sting won a BRIT Award and several Grammys
Sting won a BRIT Award for British Male Solo Artist in 1994. Sting was also nominated for seven Grammy Awards winning three, he won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for 'If I Ever Lose My Faith in You', and Best Music Video, Long Form and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for 'Ten Summoner's Tales.'
2000 - Sting received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Sting received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000.
2002 - Sting won a Golden Globe and inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame
Sting's song 'Until' won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Barry Manilow, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Michael Jackson, and Randy Newman were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame that year.
2003 - Sting received a CBE
Sting received a CBE for services to music, from Queen Elizabeth II.
At the time Sting said: "I'm surprised and flattered to receive this honour. If my mum and dad were still here they would be made up."
He also won the Century Award at the Billboard Music Awards.
2007 - The Police reunite
In February 2007, The Police reunited to open the 49th Annual Grammy Awards with their hit 'Roxanne', to celebrate their 30th anniversary. The band then went on 'The Police Reunion Tour' later that year, with the UK leg of the tour selling out in just 30 minutes.
2010 - Sting released ‘Symphonicities’
'Symphonicities' was Sting's 10th studio album, it contained new recordings of existing songs and featured hits such as 'Englishman in New York', 'Roxanne' and 'I Burn for You'.
The album accompanied Sting's album of the same name which saw the songwriter embark on a world tour across 2010 and 2011, including 133 shows.
2014 - Sting received a Kennedy Center Honor
In 2014, Sting was made a Kennedy Center Honoree at the White House. The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual ceremony where the honours are given to those in the performing arts who have contributed to American culture. In the same year that Sting received his honour, Al Green, Tom Hanks, Patricia McBride, and Lily Tomlin also received them.
2014/2015 - Sting and Paul Simon go on tour
Sting and Paul Simon join forces for their 'On Stage Together Tour'. The tour sees the pair performing at 52 shows across North America, Europe and Oceania.
2017 - Sting jointly won the Polar Music Prize
In 2017, Sting was awarded the Polar Music Prize jointly with Wayne Shorter from the USA. The Polar Music Prize was founded in 1989 by the manager of the Swedish band ABBA, Stig Anderson. Every year the award is given to one contemporary musician and one classical musician.
2018 - Sting's musical The Last Ship goes on a UK tour
Sting's musical The Last Ship had its world premiere back in 2014, however it wasn't until 2018, that the musical was performed in the UK.
The musical was created as a tribute to the shipbuilding community where Sting grew up in Wallsend.
The UK version starred Jimmy Nail, who also appeared in the short-lived Broadway shows in 2014 - 2015.
2021 - Sting released ‘Duets’ and 'The Bridge'
Sting released a compilation album in March 2021 called 'Duets'. The album contains 17 collaborations with the likes of Eric Clapton, Mary J. Blige, Shaggy, and Annie Lennox.
In November 2021, Sting released his 15th studio album called 'The Bridge'. The album reached Number 27 in the UK.
2022 - The Police: Around The World Restored & Expanded
In 2022, The Police announced the release of a remastered version of their Around The World documentary which originally came out in 1982. The new version, called The Police: Around The World Restored & Expanded, has remastered footage as well as previously unseen clips from their first world tour.
2022 - 'Every Breath You Take' surpasses 1 billion views on YouTube
In October, The Police's 1983 track 'Every Breath You Take' hit a new milestone as the music video surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube. The video was added in 2010 and has proved it's still just as popular to this date!
2023 - Sting announced to receive coveted songwriting honour
Sting will receive a coveted Academy Fellow award at The Ivors ceremony on Thursday 18th May at Grosvenor House in London.
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