A new documentary exposes an uncomfortable reality from the height of 1990s pop stardom: record labels went to unusual lengths to protect boy bands from legal trouble while on the road.
In the upcoming Investigation Discovery special "Boy Band Confidential," 98 Degrees frontman Nick Lachey recalls receiving a handbook during the group's first tour that listed age-of-consent laws across all 50 states. The document traveled with the band on their tour bus.
"This is going to sound super shady, but I remember our first tour, someone at the label gave us a book, and it was the age of consent in every state in the country," Lachey explains in the program, which premieres Monday at 9 p.m. ET.
The revelation underscores the calculated risk management that record companies employed as young, famous musicians toured the country. Rather than relying on the band members' judgment or legal awareness, the label took a more direct approach to insulating itself from potential liability.
The disclosure arrives as conversations about industry accountability and artist protection have intensified in recent years. Though Lachey presents the memory with a measure of self-awareness about its disturbing implications, the anecdote reflects institutional priorities that prioritized legal protection over ethical guidance.
"Boy Band Confidential" features interviews and behind-the-scenes accounts from the era when boy bands dominated pop culture. The documentary airs Monday evening on Investigation Discovery.
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