A lawsuit has been filed against country star Jake Owen. Alexander Cardinale and Morgan Reid filed the documents in Nashville claiming that the singer’s recent hit, “Made For You,” was written using lyrics and the melody from a song of the same name that they wrote and released in 2014.
TMZ obtained documents that detail the claims agains Owen, saying that the “notes, structure, harmony, vocal style and rhythm are clear indicators” that Owen’s song was a duplicate of their own track.
Cardinale and Reid released their version of “Made For You” on Cardinale’s album and it became a hit for the pair as it was used for a Coca-Cola commercial and the title was printed on more than 250 million Coke bottles for their “Share a Coke and a Song” campaign in 2016.
Jake Owen released his version 4 years later with credits to songwriters Joey Hyde Neil Medley and Benjy Davis. Owen told Billboard in 2020 that professional song plugger, Courtney Crist, sent him the tune and he chose to record it. Owen’s first performance of the song was at the wedding of Michael Ray and Carly Pearce. He later performed his version live on The Bachelorette the night before the song was released to radio. Owen followed the song release with a video that starred his girlfriend, Erica Hartlein, and two daughters.
The lawsuit names Owens, the credited songwriters, Big Love Records, and the song publishers that were involved as defendants. Cardinale and Reid are asking for a jury trial. Owen has yet to make a statement regarding the lawsuit.
See Jake Owen’s music video for “Made For You” below.