Miley Cyrus Faces Copyright Lawsuit Over Alleged Similarities in "Flowers" and Bruno Mars' Song

Miley Cyrus faces a copyright infringement lawsuit regarding her 2023 hit song "Flowers." The lawsuit, filed by Tempo Music Investments, claims that Cyrus' track mimics elements from Bruno Mars' 2013 hit "When I Was Your Man," raising significant questions about originality in contemporary music.

Tempo Music's Accusations Against Cyrus

Tempo Music Investments has accused Miley Cyrus of deliberately incorporating similarities from Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man" into her song "Flowers." The organization cites significant resemblances in melody and harmony, particularly in both the verses and the chorus of the tracks. The lawsuit claims that the chord progressions found in "Flowers," co-written by Cyrus, Aldae and Michael Pollack, bear a similarity to those in Mars' earlier song, which was penned by Mars alongside Philip Lawrence, Ari Levin, and Andrew Wyatt.

Claims of Lyric Similarities and Hit Status

In its complaint, Tempo Music states that the lyrical content of "Flowers" also echoes elements from "When I Was Your Man." The firm argues that the level of similarity between the two compositions is substantial enough to assert that Cyrus' song would not exist in its current form without the influence of Mars' prior work. Both songs have achieved significant success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 charts, with "When I Was Your Man" even earning a Grammy nomination in 2014 for Best Pop Solo Performance.

Request for Damages and Potential Consequences

Tempo Music seeks unspecified damages from Cyrus, her producers Kid Harpoon and Tyler Harper, as well as her record label, claiming they all had access to Mars' song, which remains widely available. Additionally, the firm is pushing for a more drastic measure to prevent Cyrus and her label from further distributing "Flowers." This could lead to its removal from digital platforms and impact future physical releases of her album "Endless Summer Vacation." Furthermore, they are requesting that Cyrus be prohibited from performing the song in the future.

Background on Mars' Copyright and Tempo Music

While Bruno Mars is not the party filing the lawsuit, Tempo Music's action follows its reported acquisition of a portion of the copyright for "When I Was Your Man." Mars, who previously sold part of his songwriting catalog to Warner Music Group in 2021, retains the majority ownership. Tempo Music Investments was established as a way for firms to invest in artists' catalogs, reflecting a growing trend where artists sell their rights to investment companies in exchange for immediate payouts while the firms seek profit from the subsequent royalties. Such transactions are more common amongst legacy artists rather than those at the start of their careers.

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