If you've heard Sam Smith's huge hit 'Stay With Me' and thought 'Hmmm, where do I know that from?', you might have your answer.
The young singer was ordered to pay royalties to the writers of 'I Won't Back Down' - i.e. Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne - in October after a court ruled that there were unmistakable similarities between the two songs.
A representative for Smith told NME that any similarities were a "complete coincidence".
"Recently the publishers for the song 'I Won't Back Down,' written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, contacted the publishers for 'Stay With Me,' written by Sam Smith, James Napier and William Phillips, about similarities heard in the melodies of the choruses of the two compositions," a statement read.
"Not previously familiar with the 1989 Petty/Lynne song, the writers of 'Stay With Me' listened to 'I Won’t Back Down' and acknowledged the similarity. Although the likeness was a complete coincidence, all involved came to an immediate and amicable agreement in which Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne are now credited as co-writers of 'Stay With Me' along with Sam Smith, James Napier and William Phillips."
The ruling means that Petty and Lynne will receive a 12.5% writing credit and will receive royalties for the song, going forward.
What do we think? Intentional rip-off or 'complete coincidence'?
