Despite the massive success of CrazySexyCool, which sold over 10 million copies and became the first album by a girl group to reach diamond status in the US, each member of TLC—Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, and Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas—reportedly earned only $50,000 from the album’s sales. This shockingly low payout highlights the harsh realities of the music industry, especially for artists who are not fully aware of the financial implications of their contracts.
The financial troubles faced by TLC were primarily due to a combination of factors, including a high-cost recording process, extensive promotional expenses, and, most importantly, an unfavorable contract with their record label, Arista Records. The trio’s contract heavily favored the label, taking a large share of the profits while leaving the artists with only a small fraction of the earnings. Despite the album generating around $75 million for their record company, TLC was left with very little, prompting them to file for bankruptcy shortly after the album’s release. Filing for bankruptcy was a strategic move that allowed them to restructure their finances and renegotiate their contracts.
Frustrated by their financial situation and the conflicting information they received about their payments, TLC decided to take matters into their own hands. In a bold and dramatic move, they marched into Arista Records and held the label’s president, Clive Davis, hostage in his office. They even enlisted the help of some intimidating friends to stand guard outside and inside his office, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. The situation became so tense that the New York Police Department had to intervene to bring the standoff to an end. While their actions were extreme, they were driven by a sense of injustice and desperation to get answers about their missing money.
