Miley Cyrus Faces Copyright Lawsuit Over "Flowers": Accused of Copying Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man"
Pop Star's Chart-Topping Hit Under Legal Scrutiny
By Blake Brittain
In a surprising turn of events, pop sensation Miley Cyrus is facing a copyright infringement lawsuit over her number-one single "Flowers," which has been accused of duplicating elements from Bruno Mars' hit "When I Was Your Man." Filed in the California federal court by music-rights owner Tempo Music Investments, the lawsuit claims that "Flowers" shares "numerous melodic, harmonic, and lyrical elements" with Mars' 2013 chart-topper.
Legal Battle: Who's Involved?
The complaint, lodged on Monday, targets Cyrus' record label Sony Music, along with major streaming services and retailers such as Apple, Amazon, Target, and Walmart for distributing the allegedly infringing song. Spokespeople for Cyrus, Sony, and the other companies involved have yet to respond to requests for comment.
Interestingly, Bruno Mars is not a party in the lawsuit. His label, Warner Music Group's Atlantic Records, has also refrained from commenting on the issue. Tempo Music Investments, which acquired its share of "When I Was Your Man" from co-writer Philip Lawrence in 2020, asserts that the similarities are undeniable.
The Songs in Question
Miley Cyrus released "Flowers" as part of her 2023 album "Endless Summer Vacation." The song has garnered over 1 billion streams on Spotify and secured the Grammy award for Song of the Year in 2024. Tempo's lawsuit points to "striking similarities" between "Flowers" and "When I Was Your Man," including melodies, bass lines, chord progressions, and lyrical elements. A Billboard article from 2023 even noted that "any listener can detect that [Mars' song] boasts a chorus that is the inverse of what Cyrus sings on 'Flowers.'"
Potential Impact and What It Means for You
Tempo Music Investments is seeking unspecified monetary damages and an injunction to halt the alleged infringement. If the court rules in favor of Tempo, it could result in significant financial repercussions for Cyrus and her record label.
Breaking Down the Lawsuit: Simple Analysis
- What Happened? Miley Cyrus is being sued for allegedly copying Bruno Mars' song "When I Was Your Man" in her hit "Flowers."
- Who Filed the Lawsuit? Tempo Music Investments, the owner of the rights to "When I Was Your Man."
- Who Else is Involved? Cyrus' label Sony Music, and distributors like Apple, Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
- Why? Tempo claims that "Flowers" has "striking similarities" to Mars' hit, including melodies and lyrics.
- What Could Happen? If Tempo wins, Cyrus and her label might have to pay a significant amount of money and possibly stop distributing "Flowers."
How Does This Affect You?
If you're a fan of Miley Cyrus or Bruno Mars, this lawsuit might change how you can access these songs on streaming platforms. For investors, the lawsuit could impact the stock prices of the companies involved, including Sony, Apple, and Amazon. Keep an eye on this story as it unfolds, as it could have broader implications for the music industry and the financial markets.
By understanding the basics of this lawsuit, you can better grasp how such legal battles can influence not just the artists involved, but also your personal finances and investment decisions.