Lance Bass says he only made $35 a day on *NSYNC Prime

Lance Bass has detailed how little he made during the rise of *NSYNC, claiming he was paid $35 a day while the group was one of the biggest acts in the world.

But I am saying zack song showThe 47-year-old singer said that the money does not match the band’s success. “We had per diem wages: $35 a day,” Bass said. “Our first check after a No. 1 album for years, sellout tours, was a check for $10,000. I don’t know how many millions I made from merchandise, because the merchandise was unbelievable.” He recalled being told he was grateful for the $10,000: “You should be grateful for this. You’ve been working for free for two, three years.”

Bass – who rose to fame with Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone – pushed back at the notion that the group has made him rich. “People think I’m dirtier than *NSYNC, but no,” he said. “Absolutely not. I don’t make money from *NSYNC, like, hardly ever.” He said he still gets residuals, but “it’s not a lot,” and he earned far more after the band folded in 2002.

He alleged that the label and the group’s late manager, Lou Pearlman, had diverted large amounts of money elsewhere, claiming he “made a ton of money”. Pearlman, the impresario behind *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, was convicted of money laundering, conspiracy and bankruptcy fraud in connection with a long-running Ponzi scheme in 2008; He died in prison in 2016.

Asked if he still held grudges, Bass said, “Not anymore”, although he added that they had been expunged. “No one prepared us for life after that,” he said.

These claims are in stark contrast to *NSYNC’s commercial records. The group remains one of the best-selling acts in Billboard history: their 2000 album no strings attached It sold a then-record 2.4 million copies in its first week – a mark that stood for 15 years – and spent eight weeks at number 1 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single “Bye Bye Bye” became a signature hit, and the follow-up “It’s Gonna Be Me” gave the group their only Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 that summer. their 2001 album famous person Also debuted at number 1, while no strings attached The tour grossed over $70 million. *NSYNC briefly reunited for a new single, “Better Place”, in 2023.

This is not the first time Bass has spoken out about the band’s financial situation. “We were famous, but we weren’t rich,” he said during a 2023 appearance on SiriusXM jess cagle show.