Netflix’s Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam tells us the true story of a conman, Lou Pearlman, who brought several major boy bands to fame during the 2000s. Pearlman was an talent manager associated with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
He was the brain behind launching the best-selling boy bands of the time: Backstreet Boys and NSYNC.
In 2006, Lou Pearlman found himself in a tough spot after being sued for misrepresentation and fraud by artists he had managed. He was accused of orchestrating one of the longest-running Ponzi schemes in American history.
Lou had amassed over $300 million. He stole money utilizing his Ponzi scheme from his artists, friends, and private investors to keep his business running for about 20 years.
Taking a quick look into his early life, Lou Pearlman was born on June 19, 1954, in Queens, New York to parents named, Hy Pearlman and Reenie Pearlman. He was the first cousin of Art Garfunkel and was also inspired by Art to become a part of the music industry.
What was the scam on Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam?
Lou Pearlman worked in aviation, but his heart was set on the music industry. He was inspired by New Kids On The Block's success which led him to start his own company, Trans-Continental Records.
The first group to join him was the Backstreet Boys, which initially found success in the US but achieved massive popularity in Germany, eventually becoming a global phenomenon.
Lou's boy band might have looked successful from the outside, but some shady dealings were going on behind the scenes. The way he ran his label was unclear, which raised some red flags. He was using his artists' names and faces to make money, but he wasn't paying them what they deserved. This issue is detailed in Netflix's Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam, which documents the events surrounding the Backstreet Boys' first paycheck.
It seemed weird that though the boy band was making millions from their world tours, their paychecks only accounted for a meager $300,000. The band members still gave Lou the benefit of the doubt and asked him to fix the written amount, but he didn't do anything about it. Backstreet Boys and NSYNC decided to part ways with Trans Continental Records and even got lawyers to sue the company.
Later, it was discovered that Pearlman had made himself the sixth member of both bands without keeping them in the loop. He believed he was entitled to the profits the boy bands made because he funded them.
More insights on Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam
Pearlman was great at finding talent. He worked with artists like Aaron Carter, Take 5, LFO, Brooke Hogan, and many others. You can even see some of them in Netflix's Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam.
Most of the artists Pearlman worked with over his 20-year music career sued him. They claimed he took most of the profits they made and didn't pay them what they were owed. For example, Mason said Pearlman owed him millions, but when he asked for his share, Pearlman said he didn't have any money. A similar instance took place with Aaron Carter in 2004 at the age of 14.
The 'Pepsi' band to the Backstreet Boys - NSYNC
Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam says Lou created NSYNC as a 'pepsi' band to the Backstreet Boys. He felt that while the Backstreet Boys were gaining popularity, it would not be too late before somebody came along with a competition to his original band. Thus, he created the Pepsi to his Coke, which was NSYNC. The latter was developed secretly and the Backstreet Boys felt they were backstabbed by the person they trusted the most in their career.
Lou Pearlman’s downfall following the Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam
Lou claimed that funding his artists cost him a lot of money. People believed that he accumulated the costs of keeping the artists by cashing on his own insurance money and taking hefty loans from the banks, close friends, and investors, but this was never the case. He never handed the money to the artists but instead spent it on his lavish lifestyle.
Finally, in 2007, he was apprehended in Bali after his failed attempt to evade capture. He pleaded guilty to committing crimes of conspiracy, money laundering, bankruptcy, and making false statements. In 2008, the conman was sentenced to spend 25 years in prison, during which, he died in custody in 2016.
Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam gives viewers a full look into Lou Pearlman's story. It shows how an average guy climbed the ladder of success by using his knack for finding talent. He ended up bringing in some of the most beloved singers in the music world. But in the end, he faced his downfall when people found out his whole business was nothing but a cunning scheme
Fans eager to watch Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam can find it on Netflix. David Terry Fine is the director of the three-part limited documentary series.
