U.S rocker Tom Petty and ELO's Jeff Lynne have been added as writers of Sam Smith's mega-hit Stay With Me after an out-of-court settlement last October. Both songwriters now hold 12.5 per cent credits each after similarities were discovered between Smith's chart-topping ballad and Petty's chugging rock track I Won't Back Down, co-written with Lynne.

Sam SmithSam Smith is now listed as a co-writer of Stay With Me, with Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne - who penned I Won't Back Down

"Recently the publishers for the song "I Won't Back Down," written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, contacted the publishers for "Stay With Me," written by Sam Smith, James Napier and William Phillips, about similarities heard in the melodies of the choruses of the two compositions," a representative for Smith told The Independent.

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"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."

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As of December 2014, Stay With Me - about the protagonist pleading that his one-night stand does not leave - has sold six million copies worldwide to become one of the best-selling singles in recent memory. It has already been covered by artists including Ed Sheeran, Florence and the Machine and Kelly Clarkson.

Smith is nominated for numerous Grammy Awards this year - including Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance - and is fancied to win. He also leads the BRIT Award nominations with five nods.

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