Sting’s $2,000-a-Day Secret: The Untold Story Behind Diddy’s “I’ll Be Missing You” and the Most Lucrative Royalty Deal in Music History
**NEW YORK—** In the glittering world of music, fortunes are made, legends are born, and secrets are kept—until now. In a revelation that has stunned both fans and industry insiders, iconic English musician Sting has confirmed what many only whispered about in backrooms and boardrooms: Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs pays him a jaw-dropping $2,000 every single day. Not for a year. Not for a decade. For life.
Why? The answer is a tale of creativity, conflict, and courtroom drama that stretches from the shadowy streets of 1990s New York to the hallowed halls of British rock royalty. It’s the story behind the smash hit “I’ll Be Missing You,” the tribute to Notorious B.I.G. that topped charts and touched millions—but also triggered one of the most lucrative royalty deals in music history.
**A Smash Hit—and a Stolen Melody**
The year was 1997. The world was still reeling from the murder of Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. In the wake of the tragedy, his friend and label boss Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs—now known as Diddy—poured his grief into a song. The result: “I’ll Be Missing You,” a heartfelt tribute that became an instant classic, dominating airwaves and winning a Grammy.
But behind the emotional lyrics and star-studded performances lurked a musical secret. The song’s haunting melody, the very backbone of its power, was not original. It was lifted—almost note for note—from “Every Breath You Take,” the 1983 mega-hit by Sting’s former band, The Police.
And here’s the kicker: Diddy never asked permission.
**The Lawsuit That Rocked the Industry**
As “I’ll Be Missing You” soared to the top of the charts, earning millions and cementing Diddy’s place in hip-hop history, Sting and his team took notice. The sample wasn’t just inspired by “Every Breath You Take”—it was a direct lift. In the world of music publishing, that’s a cardinal sin.
Sting’s reaction was swift and decisive. “My team and I took legal action against him,” the veteran artist recently revealed. The case was clear-cut. Diddy had failed to clear the sample, and the courts sided with Sting.
