Image/SamSmith YouTube

Sam Smith will pay Tom Petty a 12.5% royalty for similarities between Sam’s “Stay With Me” and Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down”.

The two songs really do sound similar, but is it really close enough to claim royalties from Tom Petty and co-writer Jeff Lynne? If I remember anything from my Music Business class, if there are even 4 notes that are the same in as a melody, the artist can call plagiarism.

Do you think the two have the same melody?

The two parties settled out of court this past October. This also means that Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne will recieve songwriting credit on “Stay With Me”.

Andy Corbin – Music Business Enthusiast – January 26, 2015