00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at the most shocking music scandals that stayed
00:09under wraps for years.
00:14Payola Talent may go far, but money will always
00:19go farther.
00:24For years, people had no reason to question the songs that were played on the radio.
00:29They believed that the tracks being played were also the most popular.
00:34That changed permanently after they learned of another deciding factor, Payola.
00:39The now-illegal tactic was utilized by labels who paid stations to push certain tunes to
00:44the forefront.
00:47It went uncriticized for decades, but investigations held in the late 50s brought it to the public's
00:53attention.
00:54The call-out was severe, with multiple beloved disc jockeys being called out.
00:59It was one of the first huge industry scandals, and it's been satirized by musicians ever
01:05since.
01:10Lou Pearlman's Ponzi scheme.
01:12He was the man behind several popular groups, and their financial woes.
01:25While he presented himself as the brain behind the boy bands, behind the scenes he was running
01:30an insidious scheme.
01:32Several of his ensembles suing him was only the tip of the iceberg.
01:45In 2006, it was discovered that he'd swindled several investors out of upwards of a billion
01:50dollars.
01:51He created fake companies to sell the scam, and used his bands to further his own financial
01:56interests.
02:11He was arrested in 2007, and met with swift consequences, including a hefty sentence and
02:17bankruptcy.
02:18His legitimacy within the pop scene had already been shattered, and this revelation caused
02:22people to rethink their favorite act's beginnings.
02:30Pearlman died in prison in 2016.
02:34Britney Spears' conservatorship.
02:36Fame is often associated with unlimited freedom, especially for those on the A-list.
02:45Yet despite having countless hits, Britney Spears hardly got to enjoy the fruits of her
02:50labor.
02:51After a health crisis, it was decided in 2008 she'd be placed in a temporary conservatorship.
03:04Fans soon forgot about this, not knowing that the control over her had been made permanent,
03:09and that her father was the one pulling the strings.
03:12She had control over every aspect of her life, including her finances.
03:23It went mostly undetected until the 2020s, when public outrage finally led to it being
03:29dissolved, giving the singer her first taste of genuine freedom in 13 years.
03:43The true nature of Elvis Presley's substance use.
03:46He was known for plenty throughout his life, from an unmatched discography to a lavish
03:52lifestyle.
03:56Elvis's impact is undeniable, but he still had plenty of secrets.
04:02His vices were known, but the true extent wouldn't be revealed until after his sudden
04:07death in 1977.
04:13Multiple reports were made, with one claiming he had over a dozen substances in his system
04:18during his overdose.
04:19A trial in the early 1980s put his doctor in the hot seat, where it was confirmed he'd
04:24supplied Presley with thousands of pills.
04:40Many were unaware the star had his demons, but learning just how dark they were forced
04:45them to put his whole life into a new context.
04:49Labels exploiting R&B artists.
04:52It can be easy to think that getting a contract is a one-way ticket to a luxurious life, yet
04:58shady business practices have always prevailed, especially within entertainment.
05:07For years, R&B artists were being swindled out of their hard-earned money by the very
05:12same corporations that claimed to be uplifting them.
05:16People didn't see any royalties, while the corporations raked in profits.
05:27It wasn't until legendary singer Ruth Brown came forward that people realized how many
05:31musicians were being taken advantage of financially.
05:35She unveiled their predatory practices, including keeping those previously contracted in their
05:40debt and charging them for general costs.
05:44Her efforts led to more performers advocating for themselves, and revealed the bleak side
05:48of a seemingly glamorous lifestyle.
05:57Phil Spector's Violent Behavior For years, Phil Spector was revered for his
06:03innovative production and his collaborations with respected entertainers.
06:14But there was more lurking beneath the surface.
06:18Accusations of his violence had been circulating since 1990, with past girlfriends and his
06:24own children coming forward.
06:26Despite those, his reputation survived.
06:29That all changed in 2003, when he took the life of actress Lana Clarkson.
06:41He was convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 19 years to life behind bars.
06:54Given his proximity to other huge names, the public was astounded to learn how long his
07:00conduct had been excused and accepted.
07:03Jimmy Savile's Misconduct He may not have released any music himself,
07:08but he was still a core figure in music.
07:14Savile was known throughout the United Kingdom for hosting Top of the Pops, a show that gave
07:18countless stars and songs a platform to grow.
07:22There had been rumors about Savile during his tenure, but they paled in comparison to
07:26his actual crimes.
07:28After he died in 2011, investigations were launched into his past actions.
07:33The results were sickening, revealing allegations of abuse from hundreds of people across a
07:3950-year span.
07:54The country was sent reeling, and his name was quickly stripped from several establishments.
07:59His legacy was permanently discoloured, as practically everything good he'd done was
08:04null the moment his proclivities came to light.
08:12Diddy's Abuse Allegations His influence is undeniable, besides his own
08:17artistic contributions.
08:19Sean Diddy Combs also helped discover several beloved entertainers.
08:28However, beneath his shiny veneer lies something much darker.
08:34In 2023 and 2024, he was repeatedly accused of various crimes that occurred several decades
08:41previously.
08:50Some of the victims coming forward were teenagers at the time, making the situation even more
08:56severe.
08:57The allegations resulted in his homes being raided and several companies cutting ties
09:01with him.
09:10Although as of this writing, the claims have yet to be tried in court, the damage has been
09:16done.
09:17Diddy was even revisiting his legal troubles from the 1990s, leading them to realise that
09:21his behaviour, and worse, has been occurring even longer than they originally thought.
09:36Gary Glitter's Abuse It's hard to believe that at one point, he
09:40was considered one of the figureheads of the glam rock scene.
09:51He dominated the airwaves throughout the 70s and into the 80s, and he managed to keep the
09:55public eating out of the palm of his hand the entire time.
10:06It wasn't until the late 1990s that people learned of his depravity.
10:17He was found with obscene material on his laptop, and from there, the crimes grew more
10:22sickening.
10:23Some had taken place during his peak, leading people to realise he'd been using his seemingly
10:28positive influence as a way of finding potential victims.
10:32As of 2023, he's been committing the exact same offences, causing him to end up back
10:38in jail.
10:55R. Kelly's Misconduct Few people have had such a dramatic fall from
10:59grace.
11:01Kelly was beloved for his work within the R&B genre, with several hits becoming instant
11:07classics.
11:15His inappropriate relationships with minors had been open knowledge since the 90s, most
11:21notably his controversial marriage to Aaliyah.
11:31Still, he and his career went untouched.
11:34He lived life as normal until 2018, when people realised the magnitude of his misdeeds.
11:41Several offences were brought to light, ranging from racketeering to the abuse of minors,
11:46which couldn't be ignored anymore.
11:54The industry's biggest open secret was officially out, causing him to finally be prosecuted,
12:00convicted, and sentenced for the heinous acts he carried out for so long.
12:16Which long-varied industry secrets shocked you the most?
12:20Let us know in the comments below!
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