TLC

[The Diabolical Biz Markie]

I saw a VH1 "Behind the Music" episode about TLC--the female trio that sang "Don't go chasing waterfalls"--last night.

What struck me as odd is that normally, in these stories, the band makes it big, goes crazy with drugs and alcohol, spends all its money, and then ends up on skid row, attempting a comeback.

TLC seemed to have skipped the whole "getting rich" part of that equation, and declared bankruptcy nearly at the height of their popularity.

They said that after taxes, fees, agents' commission etc, each member got about $50,000 a year, the years when their album was at the top of the charts.

$50,000 per year?!?!? What a crummy business! makes being an actuary look a WHOLE LOT more attractive. of course, there are intangible perks to being in TLC, like getting to burn down Andre Rison's house.


On a similar note, I have heard unconfirmed rumors from a person who used to be in the business that the "formula bands" like menudo and back street boys have their members under a salary contract. They each make very little money, in the grand scheme of things, and are usually cut out of the profits. The exact figure I heard was that the back street boys have never made more than 200K a piece in any year.

I don't know if I believe that--it is an uncomfirmed source.



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Shekky Tree on 2002-01-24 14:50 ]</font>