Career Killers

Oftentimes, legal battles in the music industry are strictly business and not personal.

For Irene Cara, however, it certainly felt pretty personal.

How a mysterious lawsuit exposed long-running fault lines between Hall & Oates.

Badfinger were supposed to be the next Beatles. Instead, they paid a tragic price for having bad, unscrupulous management.

How a 2007 Wendy’s ad and subsequent lawsuit broke up Violent Femmes.

Lou Pearlman was one of the most influential music moguls of his time. And one of the biggest fraudsters.

R. Kelly seemed untouchable. But then Surviving R. Kelly hit the airwaves.

How the Mann Act took down the “Father of Rock & Roll.”

George Michael was on the verge of being the biggest pop star in the world — until his lawsuit against Sony.

Michelle Branch has always had a strong following. Too bad contract law has always been stronger.

Biz Markie’s career never recovered after a copyright lawsuit over sampling.