Sting sells his catalog to Universal

Seventeen-time Grammy-winner Sting has sold his entire songwriting catalog to Universal Music, the two parties announced Thursday.

“I’ve had the privilege to work with Sting for over 20 years and I’m so thrilled to expand our relationship to now include music publishing. Sting is a songwriting genius whose music permeates global culture,” Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, said in a statement. “We are honored that by choosing UMPG for his music publishing, Sting’s entire body of work as a songwriter and recording artist — from the Police to his solo work — will all be within the UMG family.”

A number of big-name musicians have recently sold off their music portfolios, including Sony acquiring Bruce Springsteen’s songwriting catalog and recorded music copyrights for a reported $550 million in December.

Sting’s announcement didn’t include the price of the acquisition, though Deadline reported it as going for $300 million.

The sale includes copyrights and future royalties to more than 600 songs from the 70-year-old Brit’s solo career and the Police, including “Roxanne,” “Every Breath You Take,” and “Message in a Bottle.”

Sting’s influence has remained pervasive in pop culture, with his music being sampled by a number of musicians over the years, such as “Shape of My Heart” in Juice WRLD’s “Lucid Dreams” and “Every Breath You Take” by Diddy in “I’ll Be Missing You” featuring Faith Evans and 112.

“It is absolutely essential to me that my career’s body of work have a home where it is valued and respected — not only to connect with longtime fans in new ways but also to introduce my songs to new audiences, musicians and generations,” the singer, who was born Gordon Sumner, said in a statement. “Throughout my career, I have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with UMG as my label partner, under the watchful guidance of Lucian, so it felt natural to unite everything in one trusted home, as I return to the studio, ready for the next chapter.”