'N Sync Hit With $150 Million Lawsuit
Boy band 'N Sync and its brand spanking new label, Jive Records, have been slammed with a $150 million lawsuit filed Tuesday morning by former 'N Sync guru Louis J. Pearlman, his management team Trans Continental Media, Trans Continental Records, and BMG Entertainment, owner of 'N Sync's spurned label, RCA Records.
The lawsuit (filed in federal court in Orlando, Florida) also targets Jive Records' owner Zomba Recording and cites, among many alleged legal wrongdoings, breach of contract. One of Pearlman's lawyers told MTV News on Tuesday afternoon that the suit also "seeks to obtain a court order to prevent 'N Sync from existing" unless the group honors its management contract with Trans Continental Media and its recording contract with RCA.
As we reported earlier this month, 'N Sync announced that it was jumping from RCA Records and that Jive would release the group's next album in early 2000.
A spokeswoman for Jive Records told MTV News, "We have not been served with any papers from BMG or Trans Continental Records."
Last week, the Backstreet Boys also took a swing at Jive, charging that label with breach of contract and claiming that they were no longer on the label.
'N Sync's manager, Johnny Wright, was not available for comment as of press time.
-- Kara Manning
Ok, I know you are all gasping in horror and wiping away your tears of sadness for the poor, poor little N Sync boys. Yes, I see your point as fans, you want the boys to be happy. Now I'm gonna put myself out on a friggin limb here and just stab at this from a legal/managerial point of view.
As you all may or may not know, my future career will hopefully be as a music manager ala Johnny Wright or Lou Pearlman. So, I am gonna go against the grain once more and admit that deep down I truly think that Transcon is *cough* in the right.
*Gasp*
Yeah, yeah stop choking on your Skittles for a second and hear me out before you mutter "Biatch" and click the window off, vowing to never go to this site again, AFTER writing me a viscious hatemail. Whatever. Hear me out..ok?
Now, N Sync, as naiive as they may have been when they signed the contract, knew that having a manager costs money. Lou costs a LOT of money. Hey, he's a huge guy. Lol. So, therefore, although a lot of people view Lou as a money hungry bastard that overworks them (hey I will agree with the overworking part people), have you ever stopped to see HIS point of view?
A good manager costs a lot. N Sync, no doubt, had a good manager. They hired Lou because, well he's really good at what he does, quite possibly one of the best. I mean, he had a lot of talent to work with, BUT then again he made the BSB into multiplatinum artists, so that's not saying much for talent. Anyhow on to my point.
If I were Lou, I would be doing the same exact thing. Number one, because he has every legal right to do so. They have a binding contract with Transcon and RCA, which gives Lou Pearlman every right to tie them up in so much legal action that they get dizzy. (Not a large feat when dealing with Joey, but still..)
Yes, I know that you all say Lou is in it solely for the money (hey that's his business, duh people!), but why do you think N Sync left?? Cuz they wanted more money. They obviously care SOOO much about the fans and all that. I can tell because of the way that they delayed the album release into the start of 2000. Riiiight. Virtually, N Sync and Lou are on different sides of the same coin here people whether you all see it that way or not.
So anyhow, I personally think that they could have avoided all this shit if they would have just stayed until the contract was up, and THEN left. Breach of contract isn't a pretty thing in the entertainment industry...I guess the boys found that out a little late eh?
Pissed off yet? Thrust it home.