Tom Petty awarded songwriting royalties for Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me”

[Lin]

I for one am glad Petty was awarded royalties. Sounds like Smith totally ripped him off. JMO

http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/...riting-royalties-for-sam-smiths-stay-with-me/

Upon the release of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” in April 2014, a number of listeners were quick to note the distinct resemblance to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ 1989 classic “I Won’t Back Down”. As it turns out, Petty’s lawyers also took notice, and the UK crooner has since agreed to pay songwriting royalties.

According to The Sun, Smith and Petty actually settled out of court back in October, but details only emerged just this weekend. The settlement reportedly included a 12.5% writing credit to both Petty and singer-composer Jeff Lynne (of ELO fame). The song’s credit on ASCAP — that’s the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers — now lists Smith, Petty, Lynne, and Jimmy Napes as the chief songwriters........

 

[BobbyFord]

Do Not Steal.

 

[be9ak7ts16]

AwRight

 

[dpkimmel2001]

I like both songs.

 

[Lin]

One thing I found interesting is some didn't hear the similarities. I heard them immediately... but I guess it depends on how well you knew the original. Years ago when George Harrison's My Sweet Lord came under fire for being a ripoff of He's so Fine, I never heard it. I guess in the end, George was found to have subconsciously plagiarized... but his song was so much better than the Chiffons' song could ever be. IMO of course.

 

[Jeffrey00]

While I am not a fan of either artist this is very common these days. Some of the biggest rip off artists are Led Zepplin, Coldplay, radio head, and of course now every artist has to "sample" other artists just to make a hit song.

 

[VaDirt]

"About the Sam Smith thing. Let me say I have never had any hard feelings toward Sam. All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen. Most times you catch it before it gets out the studio door but in this case it got by. Sam’s people were very understanding of our predicament and we easily came to an agreement. The word lawsuit was never even said and was never my intention. And no more was to be said about it. How it got out to the press is beyond Sam or myself. Sam did the right thing and I have thought no more about this. A musical accident no more no less. In these times we live in this is hardly news. I wish Sam all the best for his ongoing career. Peace and love to all."



Tom Petty

 

[Benevolent One]

There is virtually nothing new under he sun, musically, at this point. I've written dozens of songs myself, including a pretty hard rock jam that I wrote pretty freestyle at band practice one day after I had heard a Phil Collins song, of all things, on the radio on my way to practice. That being said, some songs are just utter rip-offs of other songs and it is really annoying. Like "Can't Touch This" and Rick James' "Super Freak". Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" which is supposed to be some kind of homage to Sweet Home Alabama but the music for the verses is straight from Werewolves Of London. There's another song that was huge that was a rip off of the bass line from Ice Ice Baby. I don't remember what the song was though.