Timberlake speaks out of SYNC
In exclusive interview, singer breaks band's silence on legal hassles
By KIERAN GRANT
Toronto Sun
'NSYNC singer Justin Timberlake has broken his band's
silence on legal hassles with label RCA, in an exclusive
interview with The Sun.
Timberlake, in Toronto filming the made-for-TV Disney
movie Cover Girls, sat down to chat about his first
acting job and his song-and-dance group's coming album,
tentatively titled No Strings Attached.
But the 19-year-old didn't miss a beat when asked how
'NSYNC's creative flow has been affected by outside
business controversies.
"That's not outside (controversy), that's definitely
inside," Timberlake said with a laugh, while taking a
break Wednesday night on the downtown set of Cover Girls.
"That's right smack in the middle!"
Bid to leave RCA for Jive Records
Until now, none of 'NSYNC's five members had commented
publicly on the band's legal mess.
The Orlando-based 'NSYNC and their management made
music-industry waves last month when they announced they
were leaving RCA for U.S. teen-pop bastion Jive Records,
home also to the Britney Spears and 'NSYNC's perceived
arch-rivals, the Backstreet Boys.
In a mind-bending contractual dispute outlined in the
current issue of Entertainment Weekly, RCA is trying to
prevent its popular boy band from leaving. RCA and parent
company BMG filed a US$150-million lawsuit against
'NSYNC and Jive on Oct. 12, after settlement negotiations
broke down.
Adding to the confusion, BMG not only owns RCA but
Jive's North American distribution rights, as well as
20% of Jive, and the Backstreet Boys are rumoured to
want out of their deal with Jive, which that label isn't
prepared to allow.
"I can give you my personal opinion: Love the music,
hate the business," Timberlake said. "It's a screwball
business and there are a lot of players who will
straight-up lie to you.
"As far as what's going to happen in our situation,
people talk. When something gets to the press, it's
already bigger than was speculated in the beginning. I
have faith, and as long as I'm with my four friends and
we stick together, we will always be 'NSYNC and there is
no one who can hold us back."
'We don't look at anyone as rivals'
Timberlake maintained his group's long-held stance that,
contrary to popular belief, there is no open warfare
between 'NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.
"We don't look at anyone as rivals," he said. "I don't
know if anyone looks at us as rivals. They're not really
part of my world. I've got enough problems that I don't
have to think about who doesn't like me. Our meetings
have always been friendly and professional, so I can't
say I feel like we're not appreciated."
Timberlake added, diplomatically, that it's the fans
who matter most.
"They appreciate what you do because you love to do it,"
he said, "and that makes them love it."
The aforementioned chaos aside, Timberlake said 'NSYNC
are now taking a "break" after having wrapped a seven-
month tour at the Molson Amphitheatre on Sept. 4.
For the young singer, however, that meant signing on
for Cover Girls, which also stars Kathie Lee Gifford and
newcomer Maggie Lawson, who appeared in Pleasantville
and Party Of Five. The movie will air on CBC as part of
The Wonderful World Of Disney's 1999-2000 season.
Timberlake has the romantic lead in the teen comedy, as
a male model caught in a series of mistaken identities.
Ironically, he's making his acting start in Canada,
where 'NSYNC caught on before conquering their U.S. home.
"Isn't it funny?" Timberlake said. " 'NSYNC's first
North American tour was across Canada. It's a sign."
But does it beat an actual vacation?
"I'm a workhorse," he said. "They say the business is
hurry-up-and-wait. Well, 'NSYNC is the hurry-up and this
is the wait."
The singer also just set up the Justin Timberlake
Foundation, which will support arts programs in American
public schools. Today he jets off to Washington, D.C.,
for brunch with the Clintons -- yes, those Clintons --
as well as Hollywood charity grand-daddy Paul Newman.
So who's he most excited to meet?
"I have a good way out of this one," he said, laughing.
"I've already met the president, so Paul Newman. Any man
who has his own salad dressing is incredible. My dad and
I are huge fans. My dad's coming along and he's ecstatic."
