Despite anchoring one of the most lucrative music franchises in pop history, Lance Bass is setting the record straight about the reality of *NSYNC’s early earnings.
Appearing on The Zach Sang Show on Thursday, October 8, the 47-year-old singer and broadcaster reflected on the band’s ascent in the late 1990s alongside bandmates Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, and Chris Kirkpatrick. Bass revealed that despite performing in packed arenas and selling millions of physical records, the band members worked for years on minimal daily allowances.
“We had a per diem: $35 per day,” Bass recalled during the hour-long sit-down.
Bass explained that substantial financial returns did not materialize until long after the group had established itself as a global touring force. “Our first check was $10,000,” he noted, pointing out that the payday arrived only after multiple hit albums and exhaustive international runs.
Reflecting on the gap between stadium revenue and artist compensation, Bass voiced frustration over how management handled the young group’s finances during their early contract years, arguing that industry veterans frequently dismissed their concerns due to their youth. Bass stressed that despite their age at the time, the members needed sustainable income to prepare for life beyond the band.
Addressing public perceptions regarding his personal wealth, Bass clarified that the majority of his financial stability was built after the group halted regular performances and recording cycles.
“It’s so weird how people think I’m so filthy rich from *NSYNC,” Bass admitted. “No. Not at all.”
He added that while residual royalty payments from the band’s catalog continue to arrive, the recurring amounts are relatively small.
The financial strain eventually led to a high-profile 1999 legal battle with the group’s late manager, Lou Pearlman, over unfair contract terms and missing revenue. The dispute was ultimately settled out of court, freeing *NSYNC to sign a historic recording deal with Jive Records. Pearlman, who was later convicted of operating a massive Ponzi scheme, passed away in federal custody in 2016.
Reflecting on Pearlman’s legacy within the industry, Bass described his former manager as “one of the biggest scam artists of all time.”
Bass’s candid retrospective comes as he prepares for his new hosting venture, Cocktail Wars, alongside former bandmate Joey Fatone.
