Lou Pearlman

Lou Pearlman was an American music manager and businessman best known for forming and managing successful pop acts including the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC.

Lou Pearlman was an American music manager and businessman best known for forming and managing the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. He later gained notoriety for operating one of the largest Ponzi schemes in United States history, resulting in a 25-year federal prison sentence. Pearlman died in federal custody in 2016 at age 62.

Early life and career

Lou Pearlman was born Louis Jay Pearlman in 1954 and later became a music manager and businessman in the United States. He gained prominence in the 1990s by building a music operation around boy bands.

Boy-band management

Pearlman is best known for creating and promoting groups such as the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and O-Town. His work helped shape mainstream pop music in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Fraud case and conviction

Pearlman was accused in 2006 of running a major Ponzi scheme that left more than $300 million in debts. He was convicted in 2008 and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.

Death and legacy

Pearlman died in federal custody in 2016. He is remembered both for his role in launching successful pop acts and for one of the most notorious fraud cases in the U.S. music business.