Trans Continental Media head Louis J. Pearlman may be named as a plaintiff
in a $150 million lawsuit against 'N Sync, but the boy band guru told MTV
News that he is "caught in the middle" of legal wrangling between the
chart-toppers and their old label, RCA Records.
As we reported earlier this month, Pearlman, Trans Continental Media, Trans
Continental Records, and BMG Entertainment are named as plaintiffs in the
suit, which targets 'N Sync and Zomba Recording (which owns Jive, the label
that 'N Sync jumped to in September). Among the claims made in the suit,
Pearlman and his fellow plaintiffs charge the group with breach of contract
(see "'N Sync Hit With $150 Million Lawsuit").
Pearlman told MTV News this week that he remains good friends with the
members of 'N Sync, whom he helped to mold into a multiplatinum boy band in
the same Florida compound that produced the Backstreet Boys. That friendship
didn't come across in the days following the suit, when 'N Sync released a
statement that read in part, "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 a long time" (see "'N Sync, Trans
Continental Clash Over Lawsuit").
"That was a response to a statement that was made by some attorneys about
some of the advisors for 'N Sync," Pearlman explained, "and I think that it's
being blown out of proportion. When there was a legal action brought, if we
didn't side with BMG, who they originally signed with, then we would be sued
too."
"So it's not us wanting to sue the boys," he continued, "and that's the last
thing that we would ever want to do, is sue them. I think it blew out of
proportion, because the paperwork looks like we are, but we're still as
friendly as can be, and it's a tight family, and we'll stay that way. I think
that the response was based upon some response that the attorneys had been
talking about and blew out of proportion." [RealVideo]
On Wednesday, 'N Sync's legal team countered Pearlman's claims, telling MTV
News, "While we cannot discuss the specifics involved in this case, for Lou
Pearlman to assert that he is a mere sidenote in BMG's legal case is
ludicrous. Pearlman and his two Trans Continental companies are listed as the
case's main plaintiffs. We look forward to having our day in court where all
the real facts will come out."
