The Police

Band

Photo: Beatrice Murch from Buenos Aires, Argentina · CC BY 2.0
Active 1977-1986, 2007-2008
Origin London, England
Albums 5
Tracks 54
Most frequent collaborator Nigel Gray · 22 tracks
Genres RockNew waveReggae rockPost-punk
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 54 of 54 tracks

Did The Police write their own songs?

Yes, but mostly one of them did. The Police are credited on 100% of their catalogue, and Sting wrote the overwhelming majority, including nearly every hit. Guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland contributed a few songs each, but 'Roxanne,' 'Message in a Bottle,' and 'Every Breath You Take' are all Sting's. That imbalance was a source of tension in the band.

By the Numbers

5
Studio Albums
54
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
over 75 million
Records Sold
9
Years Active
2
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 54 / 54 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 54 tracks: how many The Police wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

The Police has a writing credit100%
100%
Sole author54tracks100%
Co-written0tracks0%
Outside writers0tracks0%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
The Police's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 54 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)94%
Composer (music)100%
Producer100%
Performer94%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 54 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Sting 1977-1986, 2007-2008
80%
80%
0%
94%
Andy Summers 1977-1986, 2007-2008
7%
13%
0%
0%
Stewart Copeland 1977-1986, 2007-2008
19%
22%
0%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

The Police's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1978Outlandos d'Amour
1979Reggatta de Blanc
1980Zenyatta Mondatta
1981Ghost in the Machine
1983Synchronicity
Early · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1970s
Outlandos d'Amour, Reggatta de Blanc
100%
1980s
Zenyatta Mondatta, Ghost in the Machine +1 more

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where The Police sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

The Police
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Tina Turner0%
Cher8%
Ricky Martin25%
Eric Clapton40%
Cyndi Lauper60%
Phil Collins78%
Eagles86%
100%The Police
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Roxanne
Outlandos d'Amour
Written by Sting
Wrote it
Can't Stand Losing You
Outlandos d'Amour
Written by Sting
Wrote it
So Lonely
Outlandos d'Amour
Written by Sting
Wrote it
Message in a Bottle
Reggatta de Blanc
Written by Sting
Wrote it
Walking on the Moon
Reggatta de Blanc
Written by Sting
Wrote it
Don't Stand So Close to Me
Zenyatta Mondatta
Written by Sting
Wrote it
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Zenyatta Mondatta
Written by Sting
Wrote it
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Ghost in the Machine
Written by Sting
Wrote it
Spirits in the Material World
Ghost in the Machine
Written by Sting
Wrote it
Invisible Sun
Ghost in the Machine
Written by Sting
Wrote it
Every Breath You Take
Synchronicity
Written by Sting
Wrote it
King of Pain
Synchronicity
Written by Sting
Wrote it
Wrapped Around Your Finger
Synchronicity
Written by Sting
Wrote it
Synchronicity II
Synchronicity
Written by Sting
Wrote it

Discography 5 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

The Police54 tracks
NG22Nigel Gray, 22 tracks HP22Hugh Padgham, 22 tracks

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. NG Nigel Gray · HP Hugh Padgham

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

The Police were, in songwriting terms, Sting's vehicle: he wrote the overwhelming majority of the band's material, including nearly all of its hits, as sole author of both words and music. Drummer Stewart Copeland contributed a steady handful of songs across every album, and guitarist Andy Summers wrote occasionally, but the authorship is heavily concentrated in Sting. The Jagger/Richards comparison doesn't apply here, it is closer to a single dominant writer backed by two occasional contributors.

Quick Facts

  • SalesHave sold over 75 million records, one of the best-selling bands of all time
  • Rock HallInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003
  • Sting's bandSting wrote nearly all the songs, including 'Every Breath You Take' entirely on his own
  • GrammysWon six Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year
  • SynchronicityTheir 1983 final album topped charts worldwide before the band split at its peak

Creative Fingerprint

A band that was really one writer's vehicle: The Police are credited on 100% of their catalogue, but Sting wrote the overwhelming majority, including nearly every hit, with Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland contributing only a handful.

The Story

The Police were an English rock trio formed in London in 1977, comprising Sting on bass and lead vocals, Andy Summers on guitar, and Stewart Copeland on drums. Fusing rock, reggae, and new wave, they became one of the biggest bands in the world across five studio albums, culminating in 1983's Synchronicity and the global hit 'Every Breath You Take.' They disbanded at their peak in 1986, reuniting only for a 2007-2008 tour.

Awards & Recognition

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003
Won six Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year for 'Every Breath You Take'
Synchronicity (1983) topped the charts in the US and UK
Ranked among the best-selling bands of all time, with over 75 million records sold

Frequently Asked Questions The Police

Did The Police write their own songs?
Yes, but mostly one of them did. The Police are credited on 100% of their catalogue, and Sting wrote the overwhelming majority, including nearly every hit. Guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland contributed a few songs each, but 'Roxanne,' 'Message in a Bottle,' and 'Every Breath You Take' are all Sting's. That imbalance was a source of tension in the band.
Who wrote 'Every Breath You Take'?
'Every Breath You Take,' from Synchronicity (1983), was written and composed entirely by Sting. It became the band's biggest hit and won the Grammy for Song of the Year, though the whole band shaped its famous arrangement.
Who was the main songwriter in The Police?
Sting was the band's primary songwriter, writing nearly all the lyrics and music. Andy Summers wrote the Grammy-winning instrumental 'Behind My Camel,' and Stewart Copeland wrote a handful of songs, but the catalogue is dominated by Sting.
Who wrote 'Roxanne'?
'Roxanne,' from their 1978 debut Outlandos d'Amour, was written by Sting. Inspired by prostitutes he saw near a Paris hotel, it became the band's breakthrough single and one of their signature songs.
How many albums did The Police release?
This catalogue covers five studio albums, from Outlandos d'Amour (1978) through Synchronicity (1983). The band broke up at the height of their fame and never made another studio album.
Are The Police in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes. The Police were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. They reunited for a world tour in 2007 and 2008 before parting ways again.
Why did The Police break up?
The band split in 1986 at the peak of their success, driven by tensions between the three members, especially over Sting's dominance of the songwriting. Sting went on to a major solo career.
What genre is The Police?
The Police play rock, new wave, and reggae rock, blending punk energy with reggae rhythms and jazzy musicianship on songs like 'Roxanne' and 'Walking on the Moon.'

Sources

Wikipedia: Sting (musician) Wikipedia: The Police