⚠️JOEL ⚠️

Toni Braxton says she had sold over 20 million albums. Her royalty check: $1,972. Months later, she filed for bankruptcy. "I promise you, less than $2,000." The check came while she was on tour for "Un-Break My Heart." She says a gag order kept her quiet for 10 years, while everyone said she had spent her money. Late 1997, she sued LaFace and its parent, Arista, to get out of her contract. In January 1998, she filed for bankruptcy. The label countersued. They settled in 1999, and she went back to making records. Her own words: "I can't sit here and say they didn't give me any money. That would be a lie." The case for Toni: her voice made the label millions, and her check didn't come close to the sales. The case for LaFace: she signed the deal, and every dress and limo came out of her share, as the contract said. In the video below, she explains where the money went, down to the limo rides. If a label takes the risk on an unknown singer, is it fair that she pays back every expense before she sees a dime?