Unless you live in a box, you've heard the big story, N Sync's signing on the pop wagon to JIVE records. Heh-heh-heh, Backstreet Boys just can't get away from them! How d'ya like that BSB? Everywhere you go, 'N Sync will be there!::SLAP::SLAP::
Anywho, this means big doo-doo for our boys. Legal crap, Lou Pearlman's ugly face, and a postponement of the No Strings Attached(how apropos!) album. PATIENCE!
Okey-day. RCA's pissed (and rightfully so) and they are taking action: "'NSync is signed to Transcontinental, which has a license arrangement with BMG," says Dennis Petroskey, VP of communications for BMG. "We take that contract seriously and we will enforce it vigorously."
What can RCA do? Well, N Sync broke contract. RCA can sue their pants off. However, RCA is not the big problem here. The big problem (that's all he is) is Mr. Louis Pearlman. Ya'll read 'bout what happens when you sign a contract with him. He is not a happy camper, no-siree. Obviously *N Sync's lawyers rock (Cochran anyone?) 'cause they wouldn't go through with this if they thought they would lose. The anticipation is killing me. "Rolling Stone" better have a good article.
Well, considering they're talking about the new album, I'm assuming they're with Jive, and all is well. HOWEVER, and this sent me to the floor in hysterics. Backstreet Boys are now leaving Jive to once again get away from N Sync. (sigh)nerds. To the BSB: DEAL WITH IT!
Boy was I wrong. N Sync did go to Jive Records, but now "Lucifer" Pearlman is sueing them for $150 million. Can you believe that? $150 million! How ridiculous! I hate Lou Pearlman, that guy is such a jerk. This is probably making LFO think twice about their contract, huh?
Anyways, Transcon has been quoted saying this: "[we] seek to obtain a court order to prevent 'N Sync form existing".
'N Sync:"Trans Continental's conduct with regard to 'N Sync is the most glaring, overt and callous example of artist exploitation that the music industry has seen in al ong time. We look forward to the opportunity to air the full facts and will do so in the weeks to come." Looks like I be buying some tapes soon...
Lou Pearlman sucks.
The food fight disguised as a lawsuit between 'N Sync and its former label Trans Continental just got nastier. In written responses filed in federal court late Tuesday afternoon, group members insist they have been deceived by Trans Continental boss Lou Pearlman, "an unscrupulous, greedy and sophisticated businessman who posed as an unselfish, loving father figure and took advantage of our trust." The name-calling stems from the ugly breakup between multi-platinum `N Sync and Trans Continental, which has been playing out in public in recent months. During the summer, the boys, crying foul over their original Trans Continental contract, bolted to Jive Records. Trans Continental, joined by its U.S. partner RCA Records, went to court to prevent the move as well as to collect $150 million in damages. With `N Sync responses now on file, the two parties are expected to meet in a Florida court sometime this month. Don't look for any warm greetings, though.
According to the affidavit filed by `N Sync member Joshua Scott Chasez (a k a JC), Pearlman (who also hatched the Backstreet Boys) was not the force behind `N Sync's success, as he has claimed. Chasez testified Pearlman did not come up with the `N Sync name, was not responsible for grooming the boys' act, rarely attended rehearsals, was not present in the recording studio when the group recorded their first album.
In addition, according to Chasez, Pearlman refused to pass along a fair amount of album sales and merchandising earnings to the members, and urged them not to hire outside lawyers. Chasez testified that Pearlman, by naming himself the group's sixth member as well as business manager, took one-sixth of the earnings. Pearlman was also acting as the `N Sync manager (finding them work), and their business manager (taking care of the money).
Responding to the plea from Trans Continental that a judge put an injunction on `N Sync's scheduled album release with Jive, set for early 2000, Chasez testifies, "We are painfully aware that our careers may be brief...We are overdue for a new record and if we don't have one another group may capture the attention of our audience. An injunction may be the end of `NSYNC. However, we cannot work with people who have lied to us and taken advantage
of us."
In response, Trans Continental and RCA parent BMG issued a joint statement which insisted, "The false and inflammatory rhetoric contained in the court
papers filed [Tuesday] have no place in a court of law, where we are confident that the group's exclusive obligations to Trans Continental and BMG
will be upheld."
'N Sync Scores Small Victory As Legal Battle Begins
It seems that round one of 'N Sync's legal fight with estranged manager Louis J. Pearlman goes to the boy band.
'N Sync and Pearlman were present (and dutifully ignored each other) in an Orlando courtroom on Wednesday as things got rolling in the $150 million lawsuit that BMG Entertainment and Pearlman's Trans Continental Media filed against 'N Sync and its new record label, Jive Records, last month. The boy band scored an early legal victory as Judge Ann Conway denied Pearlman's request for an injunction against 'N Sync for now and said she will be inclined to deny the injunction. According to an attorney for the group, the judge is studying the facts further, but 'N Sync for now is free to continue their recording career with Jive Records.
However, Pearlman and BMG's lawsuit against 'N Sync hasn't been thrown out, and following the hearing, both parties met with a magistrate to discuss a possible settlement.
In one strange turn of events, Pearlman's lawyer admitted that he did not know how much the ex-manager had actually made off the group, but that the figure was at least $7 million. Since 'N Sync has made only $7 million collectively, that would mean Pearlman's portion of the cut is at least 50 percent and not the one-sixth he had originally claimed.
I guess they settled out of court on unknown terms, and they are now officially on Jive. Check the JIVE website out for yourself. They're there. The album is out in march and "Bye Bye Bye" in Janvier. (that's french for "january". I didn't mean to type it like that.)
Find out how all this came about here.
11/4: They are digging themselves a hole--and it's about to become their graves. So, now they are suing Lucifer Pearlman for 25 million dollars. Yeah, in case you don't know, that's a lot of money. I hope they win, and I hope they win soon. JC had a lot to say about it, and he said it really well. Watch MTV news 1515, they have more on what's new. I just can't keep up any more. In the beginning I was like "Yes, no more Lou Pearlman!". Now I just want it to be over. It's like I'm actually involved or something. My patience is running out.
It's done. It's gone. It's over. Thank goodness.
