The music industry is full of legendary stories, but few are as surprising — and financially unbelievable — as the one behind Sean “Diddy” Combs’ global hit “I’ll Be Missing You.”
This emotional 1997 tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. became one of the biggest songs in hip-hop history… but it also came with a price Diddy never expected to pay.
A massive one.
The Sample That Started It All
“I’ll Be Missing You” heavily sampled the 1983 classic “Every Breath You Take” by The Police — written by Sting.
But here’s the twist: the sample wasn’t cleared before the song’s release.
The tribute was already exploding worldwide when Sting’s team discovered that their iconic track had been used without permission. What followed was a legal battle that forced Diddy into a corner… and created one of the most expensive royalty agreements in pop culture history.
The Court’s Ruling: Block the Song or Pay for Life
During negotiations and legal review, Sting and his team were given two options regarding Diddy’s song:
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Completely block “I’ll Be Missing You” from being released, or
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Receive lifetime royalties from it — every single day.
Sting chose royalty — the smarter move.
And that decision turned into a financial river that never stops flowing.
$2,000 Every Day — Forever
In an interview that shocked fans, Sting revealed:
“Diddy pays me $2,000 every day, for the rest of his life.”
That’s over $720,000 per year — and more than $20 million since the late ‘90s.
All from a single sample.
All from a tribute song that Diddy thought would simply honor his friend.
Today, “I’ll Be Missing You” remains a global classic, but behind its emotional lyrics lies one of the most expensive lessons in music publishing history:
Always clear your samples.
A Historic Music Lesson
The agreement has become legendary — taught in music law courses, debated on social media, and often cited as the ultimate example of how powerful songwriting rights truly are.
Diddy created a global anthem.
Sting created a financial legacy that will outlive them both.