Netflix’s new documentary, “Dirty Pop,” unveils the shocking rise of boy bands like NSync and the dark schemes of their manager, Lou Pearlman, revealing the devastating impact of his financial fraud.
For various reasons, Netflix’s new boy band documentary Dirty Pop, featuring NSync, is intriguing. The pop bands led by Justin Timberlake and the Backstreet Boys may have achieved global success, but the damage caused by their manager’s massive fraud and exploitation deeply affected many lives. This is an astonishing story.
The Rise and Fall of Lou Pearlman
Known as Big Poppa by his artists, Lou Pearlman, the deceased boy band tycoon featured in this documentary was also a notorious swindler found guilty of orchestrating a significant Ponzi scheme that resulted in a 25-year imprisonment. He passed away while serving his sentence after being incarcerated for eight years. The Netflix docuseries Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam chronicles his rise to fame through the launch of Backstreet Boys and ‘NSync while simultaneously committing massive financial fraud and money laundering. The combination of these two stories creates a surreal and fascinating display.
Pearlman’s Unconventional Path to the Music Industry
In the 1980s, according to one of the interviewees, Pearlman operated a company that rented blimps, with assistance from acquaintances who had connections to “Wall Street” and were linked to organized crime and conspiracy. This blimp salesman also leased aircraft to famous musicians and celebrities through his Trans Continental Airlines. Upon seeing New Kids on the Block on TV, Pearlman was shocked to discover that the boy group he claims he had never heard of made millions of dollars annually. This inspired him to transition from the skies to the radio and become a star maker in pop music.
Pearlman’s Strategies for Boy Band Success
With his ample riches, Pearlman was able to kickstart the careers of the Backstreet Boys and ‘NSync, treating them like established superstars. He spared no expense, flying them on private jets and touring US high schools in luxurious buses. This strategy of “faking it till you make it” proved successful. Though it took longer for the US to catch on, Germany quickly fell in love with the Backstreet Boys and catapulted them to stardom, with other countries soon following suit.
Interviews with Boy Band Members
This article features interviews with two members of the Backstreet Boys, Howie Dorough and AJ McLean, and NSync founder Chris Kirkpatrick. Past interviews showcase the remaining members’ youth when they became famous in the Y2K era. (Presumably, Justin Timberlake could not participate due to a busy tour schedule. Which tour? The worldwide tour.)
Pearlman’s Competitive Mindset
A revealing detail about Pearlman’s mindset is revealed when we learn that he viewed the Backstreet Boys as a dominant brand, similar to Coke, leading him to believe that a competitor in the form of Pepsi would soon emerge. With ‘NSync, he aimed to create his own version of Pepsi and stay ahead of the game, fueling a rivalry. He went on to manage other boy bands like Take 5, Natural, O-Town, LFO, Innosense, and B4-4 under his Trans Continental corporation.
The Downfall of Pearlman’s Music Industry Empire
The music industry management business was initially built on unstable foundations by this talent manager, eventually leading to its downfall. The financial wrongdoings resemble those depicted in the movie “Wolf of Wall Street,” which is used as an example in this boy band movie. The extent of the misrepresentation and misconduct is immense. This film sheds light on the experiences of one of the victims of Pearlman’s investor scam: the mother of Frankie Vasquez Jr., who was involved in Pearlman’s business and even convinced her own mother to invest in it. The consequences were devastating.
Conflicting Perceptions of Pearlman
Was Pearlman a monstrous figure? A villain? A savvy marketer who rightfully earned his share in the boy band industry? Or did he exploit young artists unaware of the entertainment industry’s workings through unfair artist contracts? The documentary includes interviews with Pearlman’s former colleagues, childhood friends, his defense attorney, and those who took legal action against him in the FBI investigation and settlement. Surprisingly, many of them remain unsure about their feelings towards Pearlman.
The Questionable Editorial Choices
The story is captivating and provides a fascinating look at pop culture. However, there is an odd and unnecessary editorial decision that undermines the entire series. In the first episode, there is a scene of Pearlman sitting at his desk. A caption on the screen states, “This is authentic footage of Lou Pearlman.” It doesn’t appear to be animated, so let it be clear. Then comes another caption, “This footage has been digitally altered to match his voice and lip movements.” Wait, what? Why? The producers have taken quotes from Pearlman’s book Bands, Brands, and Billions and modified the footage to make it appear that he is speaking directly to the camera.
The Implications of Manipulated Footage
The decision is unusual as it adds nothing significant to the narrative that couldn’t be achieved by having an actor read the words. However, it does create doubts for the audience about the authenticity of what they are witnessing, even though it is openly acknowledged. It is essentially a fabricated break, where a man is manipulated to appear as if he is speaking words he never uttered.
Chechnya persecution of the LGBTQ+ community
In 2020, the documentary Welcome to Chechnya, which exposes the persecution of the LGBTQ+ community in the region, utilized digital editing to conceal the identities of the participants. This was done carefully and was incorporated as a key element of the film. In this instance, it seems to be purely for aesthetic purposes. The same technique is used in other episodes, but not frequently enough to suggest it is crucial to the storytelling, making it even more perplexing. With the rise of post-truth and deepfakes, incorporating artificial intelligence into a popular documentary seems like a dangerous path to follow, particularly in a show about scams.
Source:
Rebecca Nicholson (July 24, 2024). Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam review – the shocking, surreal swindle behind ‘NSync. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/jul/24/dirty-pop-the-boy-band-scam-review-netflix-nsync-backstreet-boys-manager-fraud. Accessed July 25, 2024
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