For all you true crime fans, add Netflix's documentary Dirty Pop: The Boyband Scam to your watch lists.
It chronicles the lies and crimes of boyband boss Lou Pearlman, who formed some of the biggest bands of the nineties and noughties – but he was soon discovered to be committing crimes with the finances that the boybands earned.
We're hoping it's going to be a useful and indicting demonstration of what happens when powerful men in the entertainment and music industry abuse said power.
Here's everything we know so far about new Netflix documentary Dirty Pop: The Boyband Scam.
The film – originally named Pussy Island – stars her partner, Channing Tatum, and Naomi Ackie.
What is Dirty Pop: The Boyband Scam about?
According to the synopsis for the documentary, it will be: “A chronicle of the rise and fall of music mogul Lou Pearlman, who created and allegedly exploited some of the top boy bands of the 1990s.”
It will cover Lou's involvement with huge 1990s and Noughties pop boybands such as the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC and O-Town.
A description accompanying the documentary's trailer (see below) expands on the story. “Lou Pearlman changed music culture forever,” it reads. "The architect of an extraordinary era of pop, he launched the careers of The Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Britney Spears, O-Town and so many more.
“But he also carried a dark secret. With never-before-seen archive and unique access highlighting the artists’ epic rise to global stardom, this series uncovers Pearlman's web of lies, revealing the harsh realities of fame, power, exploitation and greed.”
Who was Lou Pearlman?
He was an American talent manager, most active in the 1990s and Noughties. After forming the Backstreet Boys and their success, he went on to form *NSYNC.
Lou was also linked to Britney Spears, as she was selected to join a female pop group he was forming named Innosense. However, she was eventually offered a solo record deal and did not proceed with the group.
As the documentary covers, Lou was later found to be a con artist, having defrauded the bands he represented out of millions.
Is Dirty Pop: The Boyband Scam based on a true story?
It is indeed – it was discovered that Lou had been using the names of the boybands he looked after to lure others into a Ponzi scheme that scammed investors out of millions.
He was jailed in 2008 for 25 years for fraud, after it was discovered he was operating a Ponzi scheme worth £153 million. Lou died in prison in 2016.
In an interview with The Guardian, *NSYNC member Lance Bass described gradually realising that something was off with Lou's handling of the band's finances. Lance explained that the group were paid $35 a day and after three years (in 1998) they were invited to receive a larger piece of the money earned. Over dinner, the group were assigned $10,000 each for years of work.
"That is when I knew we were being taken advantage of, there was something wrong. We immediately started calling lawyers," he said.
Dirty Pop: The Boyband Scam release date
It will drop on Netflix on Wednesday 24 July.
Dirty Pop: The Boyband Scam trailer
Watch a taster of the true crime scandal below:
