Tom Petty gets co-writing credit on Sam Smith's 'Stay With Me'

The Grammys might have to amend its nominations for Song of the Year, because they now have to recognize Tom Petty. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is now a co-writer on Sam Smith’s international smash hit “Stay With Me.”

It turns out that back in October, Smith and Petty reached a settlement out of court over the song’s writing credit. However, details didn’t come out until a report from The Sun this weekend.

The settlement gives Petty and Jeff Lynne co-writing credit to “Stay With Me,” since the song has a melody similar to Petty’s own smash single “I Won’t Back Down” from 1989. Indeed, Consequence of Sound notes that the song’s American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) credit has already been amended.

Now, “Stay With Me”’s full credit list Petty, Lynne, Smith and Smith’s collaborators, Jimmy Napes and William Phillips.

“When Sam’s track was originally released, it was clear to a lot of musicians that there were notable similarities between the tracks,” a source told the Sun. “After it was pointed out to Sam’s camp, they didn’t try to fight it and amicably dished out royalties. It wasn’t a deliberate thing, musicians are just inspired by other artists and Sam and his team were quick to hold up their hand when it was officially flagged.”

Smith scored one of the biggest hits of 2014 with the song and his debut album, In The Lonely Hour. The song was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. He is also set to perform at the Grammys.

Here’s “Stay With Me”:

And “I Won’t Back Down”:

image courtesy of INFphoto.com