P Diddy, now in his early 50s, revealed that he began paying Sting for the use of Every Breath You Take in the 1997 hit I’ll Be Missing You. The arrangement ended up including regular daily payments that, over time, accumulated to a daily sum of five thousand dollars. The disclosure follows Sting’s own account of the collaboration and the financial terms that accompanied the iconic track.
The musician who wrote the song was made aware of the plan to license the hit after its release, a point Sting has spoken about in various interviews. He noted that he and P Diddy established a friendly working relationship, and the project turned into a respectful tribute to a fallen rapper. Sting described the experience as a meaningful version of the classic song and emphasized the goodwill that grew between the artists over the years.
Every Breath You Take, originally released in 1983, became the backdrop for a widely publicized homage to The Notorious B I G, who passed away in 1997 at the age of 24. Faith Evans joined P Diddy on the track alongside the group 112, creating a collaboration that charted highly on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned accolades at major music awards ceremonies in the late 1990s.
The ongoing discussion around licensing rights and financial arrangements for the hit underscores how a single song can intersect with the careers of multiple artists and shape the reception of a tribute record. In reflecting on the process, Sting has expressed appreciation for the final product and for the professional bond that developed with P Diddy through the project. The conversation about payments and permissions highlights the practical side of turning a beloved studio recording into a public, chart-topping tribute while honoring the original creator’s rights and contributions.
Industry observers note that the enduring popularity of I’ll Be Missing You illustrates how a collaborative tribute can capture public imagination while also revealing the complexities of licensing and compensation in the music business. The track remains a touchstone in pop and rap culture, remembered for its emotional resonance and its role in honoring a late icon. The stories surrounding its creation continue to be discussed in interviews and retrospectives, illustrating the lasting impact of this cross-genre collaboration.
As the dialogue around the song continues, fans and professionals alike recognize the balance between creative expression and financial fairness. The relationship between Sting and P Diddy, described by both artists in public remarks, serves as a reminder that even highly publicized artistic efforts can be grounded in mutual respect and a shared sense of purpose. The legacy of the song endures through new generations of listeners, who discover its melody and message across streaming platforms and radio playlists, keeping alive the memory of The Notorious B I G and the era it helped to define.