Thursday, January 29, 2015 10:36am ET by  
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Tom Petty responds to Sam Smith settlement: 'It was just a musical accident'

Tom Petty has broken his silence after being given a writing credit on Sam Smith's 'Stay With Me'.

As previously reported, the musician and collaborator Jeff Lynne are now official co-writers on the 2014 song after Smith's team reached a settlement.

They have been added to the credits after similarities between their 1989 song 'Won't Stand Down' and 'Stay With Me' were noted.

Speaking in a statement published online, Petty brushed off the news by stating that it was simply an "accident".

He said: "About the Sam Smith thing. Let me say I have never had any hard feelings toward Sam. 

"All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen. Most times you catch it before it gets out the studio door but in this case it got by. 

"Sam's people were very understanding of our predicament and we easily came to an agreement. The word lawsuit was never even said and was never my intention. And no more was to be said about it. 

"How it got out to the press is beyond Sam or myself. Sam did the right thing and I have thought no more about this. A musical accident no more no less."

Petty concluded: "In these times we live in this is hardly news. I wish Sam all the best for his ongoing career. Peace and love to all."

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Listen to the two songs below: