TiGER
VO NARRATOR The landscape of American popular music has been constantly shifting since the introduction of broadcast media. Jazz, swing, big band, disco. Each genre taking over the airwaves, before fizzling out of popularity with little more than a whimper. No style seemed to last beyond its decade - except Pop.
TALKING HEAD: MUSIC HISTORIAN You have to understand just how much TV changed music. Before, people only had so many options. They listened to whatever was on their little local station If they got tired of a song, or a band, or a whole genre - the trends moved on. Brought in something new But with TV National broadcasting Now, the industry could set the trends. They could decide for the people what was huge, what was “popular” just by saying so
TALKING HEAD: LEX
It didn’t just matter anymore if you could sing, if you could write If you could play Your whole personality, and presence - that’s what decided if you could be a hitmaker
VO NARRATOR Enter George “Money” Montagne The most infamous industry man of the 21st century Money cut his teeth as the Assistant to famed A&R execs at both Warner and RCA
TALKING HEAD - GINA. Money got to see it all. He was in the room when the original Chicago lineup was signed.
TALKING HEAD - SONNY. He saw success first hand So, of course he knew - or, thought he knewhow to manufacture “success”
TALKING HEAD: GINA. That’s how he got the name. ‘Cuz he used to say/
MONEY. I’ll make ya so rich, the Feds’ll have to print more money!
TALKING HEAD - SONNY. And while Money was in the “room where it happens”... Gina was on the coffee runs. At least at first.
SCENE 4
NARRATOR R*M*R*S grew in popularity at break-neck speed. Going from pop–up performances in basement venues, to opening at concert halls in just a few months. By May of that same year, R*M*R*S was booked as musical guest on “Late Night with Jimmy Miller”. And, their performance there sparked a riot of new fan girls at the film studio.
MUSIC HISTORIAN. Security had to shut down the back lot because fans were storming the stage doors to see R*M*R*S It was perfect timing Because, Money already put the boys on tour with the biggest pop duo of last centurySpunk ‘n’ Spice.
But, people forget - it was R*M*R*S who opened for Spunk ‘n’ Spice Not the other way around. It was their “Too Hot to Drink” tour. It was only 4 cities into the tour, and R*M*R*S was the bigger name. Practically the headliner.
…SPUNK & SPICE’s SCENE…
SPUNK. Are you freakin’ kidding me?
SPICE. He’s so gross.
SPUNK. I can’t believe these people eat it up, too. [Pretending to eat out of her palm]
Mmmm nom nom. “We loooove you, Mark!”
SPICE. So fake! Especially Mark.
SPUNK. Yeah. No kidding. I wish the fans could see it.
SPICE. Pffft. So fake.
SPUNK. [Getting an idea.] They are. So fake.
MONEY. Hey, girls! Tick Tock, Tick Tock. Time is money. Let’s go!
SPUNK. You got it, Money.
SPICE. Yup, don’t worry, Money. We’re going…
MUSIC HISTORIAN. Spunk ‘n’ Spice may have been there at the start of R*M*R*S fame. But, they’d also - ultimately - knock over the first domino in R*M*R*S downfall.
NARRATOR. R*M*R*S was now dealing with rumors of their own. Whispers that the band was steering off-course without a captain at the helm. Even at the pinnacle of their popularity, they faced a publicity problem.
MUSIC HISTORIAN. Venues were hesitant to book R*M*R*S after they canned Money. They’d become unreliable, for one. Always fighting amongst themselves - over the littlest things. Their riders became nonsense.
STAGEHAND. I remember they had a coke clause in their rider for shows in Vancouver. I mean like Coca-Cola. They demanded exactly 4 and a half Mexican Cokes in their green room. Nobody knew what Mexican Coke was, back then.
MUSIC HISTORIAN No one was importing Coca-Cola from Mexico all the way up to Canada. Some poor intern had to funnel cans into unlabeled glass bottles just to meet their demands.
STAGEHAND. And sometimes the guys just wouldn’t show up. To shows.
MUSIC HISTORIAN. Gina LaRohn was still president of A&R. She didn’t take over as CEO right away. So there was no one keeping track of their bookings at that point They were in charge of their own calendar Which was a fiasco.
STAGEHAND. Oh, and they couldn’t afford to pay us, their crew, anymore. For a long while, “assets were frozen” because of the whole court case against Money. Guess he’d legally adopted the boys or something? I don’t know how that stuff works.
MUSIC HISTORIAN. Conservateurship Made famous by Britney Perfected by Money Mongtagne. He had all 5 - yes 5 - boys’ financial lives in his hands. Well - in his offshore accounts.
STAGEHAND So yeah. They couldn’t get into any venues or hire any union guys anymore. BLACKOUT
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