Royalties For 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' Finally In The Hands Of Richard Ashcroft

Happy Ending

THE VERVE's RICHARD ASHCROFT says he'll receive royalties for "Bitter Sweet Symphony" after a copyright dispute with MICK JAGGER and KEITH RICHARDS was resolved.

"It gives me great pleasure to announce as of last month MICK JAGGER and KEITH RICHARDS agreed to give me their share of the song 'Bitter Sweet Symphony,'" tweeted ASHCROFT. "This remarkable and life affirming turn of events was made possible by a kind and magnanimous gesture from MICK and KEITH, who have also agreed that they are happy for the writing credit to exclude their names and all their royalties derived from the song will now pass to me."

The hit from THE VERVE was released in 1997, and sampled a segment of an orchestral recording from THE STONES' 1965 song "The Last Time." CNN reports, "THE VERVE had a license to use the sample, but lawyers for THE STONES successfully argued that more was used than allowed -- and THE VERVE had to give up all royalties for the hit."

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