Sting sells solo and The Police song catalogue for reported £221 million

It encompasses his solo work and The Police

Sting
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 10th Feb 2022
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.

"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."

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.

The real names of famous musicians:

Mark Berry (Bez)


John Martin Maher (Johnny Marr)


Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (Lana Del Rey)


William Bruce Rose (Axl Rose)


Gerard Crosbie (Gerry Cinnamon)


Edward Louis Severson III (Eddie Vedder)


Farrokh Bulsara (Freddie Mercury)


Michael Peter Balzary (Flea)


Perry Bernstein (Perry Farrell)


Robert Deal (Mick Mars)


Frank Ferrano (Nikki Sixx)


Frank Edwin Wright III (Tré Cool)


Courtney Michelle Harrison (Courtney Love)


Georg Albert Ruthenberg (Pat Smear)


Chaim Klein Witz (Gene Simmons)


James Newell Osterberg, JR. (Iggy Pop)


Vincent Damon Furnier (Alice Cooper)


Saul Hudson (Slash)


Michael Ryan Pritchard (Mike Dirnt)


Ronald James Padavona (Ronnie James Dio)


Bree Joanna Alice Robinson (Brody Dalle)


Chad Robert Turton (Chad Kroeger)


Deborah Anne Dyer (Skin)


Nicholas Jones (Nicky Wire)


Amy Lynn Hartzler (Amy Lee)


William Perks (Bill Wyman)


Jeffrey Isbell (Izzy Stradlin)


Stanley Eisen (Paul Stanley)


Henry Garfield (Henry Rollins)


Richard Harrison (Rick Parfitt)


Vincent Neil Wharton (Vince Neil)


Stevland Hardaway Morris (Stevie Wonder)


Michael McKagan (Duff McKagan)


Ian Kilmister (Lemmy)


John Baldwin (John Paul Jones)


Joan Larkin (Joan Jett)


Keith Palmer (Maxim Reality)


Eric Patrick Clapp (Eric Clapton)


Susan Janet Ballion (Siouxsie Sioux)


David Robert Hayward Stenton Jones (David Bowie)


Richard Wayne Penniman (Little Richard)


John Simon Ritchie (Sid Vicious)


Paul Daniel Frehley (Ace Frehley)


Louis Firbank (Lou Reed)


John Graham Mellor (Joe Strummer)


Mark Feld (Marc Bolan)


David Howell Evans (The Edge)


Marvin Lee Aday (Meatloaf)


Steven Victor Tallarico (Steven Tyler)


John Michael Osbourne (Ozzy Osbourne)


John Francis Bongiovi (Jon Bon Jovi)


John Anthony Gillis (Jack White)


Paul David Hewson (Bono)


Reginald Kenneth Dwight (Elton John)


Gordon Sumner (Sting)


Robert Allen Zimmerman (Bob Dylan)


Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (Lorde)


Gary Mounfield (Mani)


Alan John Wren (Reni)


Quentin Leo Cook (Fatboy Slim)


Jake Edwin Charles Kennedy (Jake Bugg)


Roger Keith Barrett (Syd Barrett)


George Ezra Barnett Smitherson (George Ezra)


William John Paul Gallagher (Liam Gallagher)


Rory Charles Graham (Rag'n'bone Man)


Stephanie Lynn Nicks (Stevie Nicks)


William Michael Albert Broad (Billy Idol)


Steven Patrick Morrissey (Morrissey)


Leslie Sebastian Charles (Billy Ocean)


Paul Arthurs (Bonehead)


Graham McPherson (Suggs)


Stuart Leslie Goddard (Adam Ant)


Andrew John Hozier-Byrne (Hozier)


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