American Idol Sued by Musicians' Union
American Idol honchos 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. -
J.R. Whalen
