It took years or even decades for these music scandals to see the light of day. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the most shocking music scandals that stayed under wraps for years.
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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
00:18go 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.
02:10He 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.
03:55Elvis'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.
05:26It 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.
05:43Her efforts led to more performers advocating for themselves, and revealed the bleak side
05:48of a seemingly glamorous lifestyle.
05:57Phil Spector's Violent Behaviour 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
06:23own 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.
07:21There had been rumours 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.
08:33In 2023 and 2024, he was repeatedly accused of various crimes that occurred several decades
08:40previously.
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 albums 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
09:15done.
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.
11:32Still 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-buried industry secrets shocked you the most?
12:20Let us know in the comments below!