US rapper Jay-Z has agreed to pay half the royalties of one of his songs to a Swiss jazz musician Bruno Spoerri after using his music without consent . The rapper had denied copying instrumental 'Lilith — on the way ' in his 2013 song 'Versus ' . But he has now agreed to pay 50 per cent of the royalties to the Swiss pianist and saxophonist , following an 18-month legal wrangle . Scroll down for video . Settled : US rapper Jay-Z , pictured here with wife Beyoncé , has agreed to pay Swiss musician half of royalties from a song in which he lifted an instrumental . Royalties : Swiss jazz musician Bruno Spoerri has been awarded 50 per cent of royalties from Jay-Zs song 'Versus ' after rapper admitted using music without permission . It comes just days after Marvin Gaye 's family were awarded $ 7.4 million after a jury decided that the Robin Thicke song 'Blurred Lines ' ripped off Gaye 's 1977 hit 'Got to Give It Up ' . The song made a staggering $ 16million for producer Pharrell Williams , Thicke and rapper T.I . with the family being awarded $ 4million in damages and $ 3.4 million in profits from the song . An attorney for Thicke and Pharrell has said a decision in favour of Gaye 's heirs could have a chilling effect on musicians who try to emulate an era or another artist 's sound . In this case , the lifted melody came from a song composed by Spoerri in 1978 , with the musician rejecting an initial offer as 'too low ' . Out of pocket : Musician Jay-Z , pictured here at the opening of a club , has agreed to pay Swiss musician half of royalties from one of his songs . The American musician and record producer only admitted using the music without attribution a few months ago , according to reports . Speaking last year , the veteran jazz musician said legal proceedings could have been avoided with a phone call . 'In a way I 'm flattered that a relatively young rapper takes a sample from an old man , a sample that is about 35 years old , ' he told swissinfo.ch . 'On the other hand I 'm furious because it would have been so simple to clear the sample . All it would have needed was a call or an email to the company and I think it would have been relatively cheap . ' Mr Spoerri , 79 , has worked with the likes of Lee Konitz , Hans Kennel and George Gruntz in a career spanning nearly 50 years . In an illustrious career , he has directed the Zurich jazz festival and music schools in Zurich and Lucerne .
Rapper initially denied copying melody from SpoerriBruno Spoerri 's 's 1978 tune . But has now agreed to give veteran musician half of royalties . Bruno Spoerri 's has directed the Zurich jazz festival and prestigious music schools . It follows Blurred Lines ruling awarding Marvin Gaye 's family $ 7.4m .