Amanda Lear has clarified her accusation that Miley Cyrus copied elements of her 1978 song 'The Sphinx' in 'REDLIGHTS'. The track appears on Cyrus' new album, 'Bass Persuades', released on 18 September 2026. Lear told AFP that she had not threatened Cyrus with a lawsuit. She said her label and the song's publishers wanted acknowledgement of what they regard as plagiarism.
Lear first raised the allegation on Instagram after listeners drew her attention to the two songs. 'Thank you, Miley, for copying my song The Sphinx! I'm flattered!' she wrote. She also used the hashtags 'ripoff' and 'copycat'. Cyrus had not publicly responded to the allegation in the latest reporting checked on 22 September.
Published credits for 'REDLIGHTS' list Miley Cyrus and Michael Pollack as the song's writers. Cyrus, Kid Harpoon and Maxx Morando are credited as producers. Lear and Anthony Monn, who composed 'The Sphinx', do not appear in the published 'REDLIGHTS' writing credits.
Lear Says She Did Not Threaten Legal Action
Lear's later comments are significant because earlier reporting suggested the disagreement could eventually reach court. In an interview with Le Parisien, she discussed an agreement or legal proceedings as possible outcomes. She also said her producer and record company regarded the similarities as 'total plagiarism'.
Speaking to AFP a day later, Lear clarified the legal position. She said she had 'never threatened a lawsuit or retaliation' and described herself as someone who was not normally litigious. She said Universal and the publishers of 'The Sphinx' wanted acknowledgement of the alleged plagiarism.
No court has found that 'REDLIGHTS' infringes 'The Sphinx'. No lawsuit concerning the songs had been publicly announced as of 22 September.
UK government guidance states that copyright can be infringed by using an entire protected work or a substantial part without permission. A substantial part can be important because of its quality rather than simply its length. Whether any specific musical similarities constitute infringement would ultimately require a legal assessment.
Lear's accusation has nevertheless prompted listeners to compare the recordings online. One X user defended Lear after other users questioned her relevance to younger audiences. The debate broadened from the two tracks to Lear's place in European disco history.
Another comment quoted in early coverage suggested a song must be widely known before it can be plagiarised. That is misleading as a statement about copyright law. UK copyright protection arises automatically for qualifying original musical works and does not depend on widespread recognition.
'Bass Persuades' Marks Miley's New Era
'REDLIGHTS' is the sixth track on 'Bass Persuades', Cyrus' 10th studio album. Her official store describes the record as an album by 'Miley', reflecting her professional use of a mononym for the release.
Other platforms, including Apple Music, continue to identify the artist as Miley Cyrus. The change should therefore be described as professional branding rather than a confirmed legal name change.
Billy Ray Cyrus publicly supported the rebrand before the album's release. He said he felt good about his daughter using only her first name. He compared the move with performers including Cher and Prince.
The album also arrived weeks after the death of Cyrus' godmother, Dolly Parton. Parton's official website announced that she died peacefully in Nashville on 25 August 2026 at the age of 80.
Cyrus subsequently paid tribute to Parton and recalled one of their final conversations. She said they had discussed 'music and metamorphosis' and reflected on Parton's influence on her life and work.
Lear, meanwhile, has worked across modelling, music, television, acting and painting. She became closely associated with Salvador Dalí before establishing herself as a prominent European disco performer.
'The Sphinx' was released as a single in 1978. It later appeared on Lear's 1979 album 'Never Trust a Pretty Face'. Lear is credited as lyricist and vocalist, while Monn composed and produced the song.
For now, the central dispute remains unresolved. Lear says 'REDLIGHTS' copied elements of 'The Sphinx', while Cyrus has not publicly answered the accusation. Until an agreement or legal finding emerges, that allegation should remain clearly attributed to Lear.
