Sam Smith Must Pay Royalties to Tom Petty for ‘Stay With Me’ [VIDEO]

Sam Smith now has to dig into his pockets and make royality payments to rocker Tom Petty for his hit song 'Stay With Me.' Smith also has to add Petty as his collaborator.Jeff Lynne from ELO fame will also be given credit as a co-writer. Smith had to  reach a settlement after it was revealed that 'Stay With Me' sounded similar to 'I Won't Back Down.'

Representatives for Sam Smith told Billboard…

“Not previously familiar with the 1989 Petty/Lynne song, the writers of ‘Stay With Me’ listened to ‘I Won’t Back Down’ and acknowledged the similarity. Although the likeness was a complete coincidence, all involved came to an immediate and amicable agreement in which Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne are now credited as co-writers of ‘Stay With Me’ along with Sam Smith, James Napier and William Phillips.”

Do you think they sound alike?