Even in the off-season, American Idol Manages to Stir Up Controversy
Musicians' Union Files a Lawsuit against the show, claiming the musicians in the American Idol band were underpaid. The American Federation of Musicians says the hit Fox show violated a collective bargaining agreement by failing to pay musicians royalties for rebroadcasts of episodes.
In 2007, the show started using musicians to re-record new music for season highlights, a move that the union was also not informed of. A rep from American Idol has not commented on the suit yet.
American Idol are in major trouble with Ricky Minor and the band. The American Federation of Musicians has hauled the show's producers into court over underpayment because they re-recorded live music for reruns and highlight shows.
The union's suit alleges American Idol Productions Inc. and subsidiary Tick Tock Productions violated the collective bargaining agreement in 2007 when they began replacing the show's live soundtrack with music from other musicians for use on clip shows and American Idol Rewind. The union claims producers did so without its knowledge or approval.
The suit seeks unspecified damages but the show's contract with the union requires that producers pay 75 percent of scale to musicians who appear on the show and rehearsals, with a decreasing percentage for each rebroadcast.
Musicians' Union Files a Lawsuit against the show, claiming the musicians in the American Idol band were underpaid. The American Federation of Musicians says the hit Fox show violated a collective bargaining agreement by failing to pay musicians royalties for rebroadcasts of episodes.
In 2007, the show started using musicians to re-record new music for season highlights, a move that the union was also not informed of. A rep from American Idol has not commented on the suit yet.
American Idol are in major trouble with Ricky Minor and the band. The American Federation of Musicians has hauled the show's producers into court over underpayment because they re-recorded live music for reruns and highlight shows.
The union's suit alleges American Idol Productions Inc. and subsidiary Tick Tock Productions violated the collective bargaining agreement in 2007 when they began replacing the show's live soundtrack with music from other musicians for use on clip shows and American Idol Rewind. The union claims producers did so without its knowledge or approval.
The suit seeks unspecified damages but the show's contract with the union requires that producers pay 75 percent of scale to musicians who appear on the show and rehearsals, with a decreasing percentage for each rebroadcast.
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