Sam Smith Should Pay Tom Petty Songwriting Royalties Over 'Stay With Me'
Music

Petty is given a 12.5 percent songwriting credit on 'Stay With Me' after Smith acknowledges the similarities between the 2014 hit and the veteran singer's 1989 song 'I Won't Back Down'.

AceShowbiz - Tom Petty has been given a co-writing credit on Sam Smith's hit "Stay With Me". According to The Sun, the veteran singer noticed that the song, which was one of 2014's bests, sounded very similar to his 1989 classic "I Won't Back Down". His lawyers then contacted Smith's team and the case was eventually settled out of court back in October.

Details on the case, however, have just emerged now. "When Sam's track was originally released, it was clear to a lot of musicians that there were notable similarities between the tracks," a source told the British newspaper. "After it was pointed out to Sam's camp, they didn't try to fight it and amicably dished out royalties."

"It wasn't a deliberate thing, musicians are just inspired by other artists and Sam and his team were quick to hold up their hand when it was officially flagged," the source added.

"I Won't Back Down" was co-written by Petty and Jeff Lynne. The two musicians have now been given a 12.5|percent| songwriting credit for influencing "Stay With Me", which has sold nearly four million copies worldwide and earned Smith Grammy nominations.

Smith's team has issued a statement in which they acknowledged the similarities between the two songs. However, they insisted that "the likeness was a complete coincidence." They additionally confirmed that Petty and Lynne "are now credited as co-writers of 'Stay With Me' along with Sam Smith, James Napier and William Phillips."

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