This is a bit of news you probably were not expecting. Tom Petty has been awarded a songwriting credit on Sam Smith’s hit “Stay With Me,” which bears a melodic resemblance to Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.”
Stereogum cites The Sun reporting that the deal was settled out of court back in October. Both Petty and singer/composer Jeff Lynne were given a 12.5% writing credit. The song’s full writing credit now lists Smith, Petty, Lynne, and Jimmy Napes as the songwriters.
Sam Smith’s rep released a statement:
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. 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.
There are always songs that sound alike, but it’s not very often where the original artist actually gets a songwriting credit. There really is nothing new under the sun, and in nearly all of these cases, it’s just a coincidence. If there is any “borrowing” it’s probably subconscious, the result of a composer’s lifetime spent consuming music.
It’s smart for Smith’s camp to just pony up rather than insist, because there was no malicious intent, they don’t owe royalties. By the same token, maybe Lynne and Petty should have just chilled out. It’s a situation that could happen to anyone–for instance, like Lynne’s very good friend, the late George Harrison.
Here are the two songs, in case you were curious about the similarities.
I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
Stay With My – Sam Smith
