Editing Lance Bass (section)

===Music===
====NSYNC====
{{Main|NSYNC}}
In 1995, during his junior year of high school, Bass received a call from [[Justin Timberlake]] and his mother, Lynn Harless, who asked Bass if he would be interested in auditioning for the pop group [[NSYNC]] after the group's original bass singer, Jason Galasso, had quit.<ref name="Bolz">{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/driven/59733/episode_about.jhtml|title=VH1's Driven's 'N Sync Episode Summary|publisher=VH1|access-date=January 4, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222065526/https://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/driven/59733/episode_about.jhtml|archive-date=December 22, 2008}}</ref> Timberlake's vocal coach (who had worked with Bass during his time as a Mississippi Show Stopper) recommended Bass as a replacement.<ref name="Sports Hollywood"/><ref name="Larry King"/><ref name="Westbrook">{{cite magazine| author=Schruers, Fred| url=https://ew.com/article/2000/05/19/n-sync-sets-new-sales-records/| title='N The Drivers Seat| magazine=Entertainment Weekly| access-date=December 5, 2007| date=May 19, 2000| archive-date=December 21, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221194247/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,276157,00.html| url-status=live}}</ref> Bass was accepted into the group after auditioning in front of the other bandmembers, and soon left school to move to [[Orlando, Florida]] and rehearse full-time.<ref name=Autobio28-43>{{cite book|last = Bass|first = Lance|title = Out of Sync|pages = 28–30, 35–43}}</ref> Bass has said that he did not know how to dance before he joined NSYNC, and therefore found much of the group's choreography difficult to learn.<ref name="Larry King" />

According to an episode of [[VH1]]'s ''Driven'', Jan Bolz, president of [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]]'s German division, offered NSYNC a recording contract under the condition that they replace Bass, whose dancing, he felt, "wasn't at the same level as all the others."<ref name="Bolz" /> However, Chris Kirkpatrick (who formed the band) refused to accept the contract without Bass. The group's manager, [[Johnny Wright (music manager)|Johnny Wright]], convinced Bolz that Bass's dancing would quickly improve.<ref name="Bolz" />{{additional citation needed|date=March 2023|reason=Existing source makes no mention of a Bass-inclusion condition}} Bolz conceded, and the group soon moved to [[Munich]], Germany to record their first album with BMG.<ref name="Autobio28-43" /> NSYNC began extensive touring in Europe, and Bass's mother quit her job to tour with the group as a [[Chaperone (social)|chaperone]], as Bass was still a [[minor (law)|minor]].<ref name="Autobio28-43" />
[[File:Lancebass2001.jpg|upright|right|thumb|Bass in 2001]]
After gaining significant notability in Europe, NSYNC was signed to the American record label [[RCA]] in 1997.<ref name="Autobio28-43" /> The group's first single, "[[I Want You Back (NSYNC song)|I Want You Back]]" began receiving major radio play in the United States, and NSYNC soon found themselves becoming an "overnight sensation", a period which Bass describes in his autobiography as "the death of my own innocence".<ref name="Autobio28-43" /> Along with increasing fame and recognition in the United States, the band also experienced a highly publicized legal battle with [[Lou Pearlman]], who originally put the band together, due to what the group believed were illicit business practices on his part.<ref name="Pearlman1">{{cite web |author=Manning, Kara |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1432531/n-sync-scores-small-victory-as-legal-battle-begins/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213175931/http://www.mtv.com/news/1432531/n-sync-scores-small-victory-as-legal-battle-begins/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 13, 2015|title='N Sync Scores Small Victory As Legal Battle Begins |publisher=MTV News | date=November 24, 1999|access-date=May 13, 2022}}</ref>

NSYNC sued Pearlman and his record company, Trans Continental, for [[defrauding]] the group of more than 50% of their earnings, rather than his original promise of receiving only one-sixth of the profits.<ref name="Pearlman1" /> The group threatened to leave and sign with [[Jive Records]], which prompted Pearlman and RCA to countersue NSYNC for $150&nbsp;million US, citing [[breach of contract]].<ref name="Countersuit">{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/article/1999/10/13/n-sync-are-sued-150-million/|title='N Sync are sued for $150 million|date=October 13, 1999|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|author=Wolk, Josh|access-date=May 13, 2022}}</ref> The injunction was thrown out of court<ref name="Pearlman1" /> and, after winning back their earnings, NSYNC signed with Jive.<ref name="Jive">{{cite web| url =http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Zomba-Records-Ltd-Company-History.html| title =Zomba Records, LTD: Company History| publisher =Funding Universe| access-date =December 4, 2007}}</ref>

In March 2000, NSYNC released ''[[No Strings Attached (NSYNC album)|No Strings Attached]]'', which became the fastest-selling record of all time,<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |title='N Sync ''Celebrity'' Review | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/d3n8/ | publisher=BBC | access-date=July 11, 2007}}</ref> selling 1.1&nbsp;million copies in its first day of release.<ref name="Westbrook" /> In 2001, the group followed up with their ''[[Celebrity (album)|Celebrity]]'' album,<ref name="recordsales">{{cite magazine | author=Billboard |title='N Sync Artist Biography | url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=261075&cr=artist&or=ASCENDING&sf=length&kw=NSYNC| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929132147/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=261075&cr=artist&or=ASCENDING&sf=length&kw=NSYNC| url-status=dead| archive-date=September 29, 2007|magazine=Billboard| access-date=August 20, 2006}}</ref> which scored the second highest first-week album sales ever, trumped only by the group's previous album.<ref name="Celebrity Sales Record">{{cite web|date=September 28, 2007 |url=http://50.lycos.com/080201.html |title=The Lycos Daily Report |publisher=Lycos |access-date=July 26, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060528133405/http://50.lycos.com/080201.html |archive-date=May 28, 2006 }}</ref> NSYNC went on to sell over 56 million records worldwide.<ref name="Record Sales">{{cite web|author=Gutierrez, Pedro Ruz. |date=January 28, 2007 |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2007-01-28-mpearlman28-story.html |title=Pearlman's Money Woes Follow Him Downtown |work=The Orlando Sentinel |access-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708133725/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2007-01-28-mpearlman28-story.html |archive-date=July 8, 2021}}</ref> In 2002, the group announced that they would be taking a "hiatus", during which Timberlake began to record solo material.<ref name="Hiatus Feelings">{{cite web |author=Westhoff, Ben |url=http://www.westword.com/2007-11-15/music/out-of-sync/ |title=Out of Sync |date=November 15, 2007 |access-date=December 7, 2007 |publisher=The Denver Westword |archive-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813121435/http://www.westword.com/2007-11-15/music/out-of-sync/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> NSYNC has not recorded new material since, and Bass has stated that he feels the group has officially disbanded.<ref name="BrokenUp">{{cite web|author=Abbott, Jim |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2007-10-23-bass23-story.html |title=Lance Bass Book Comes Out |access-date=May 13, 2022 |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=October 23, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418030351/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2007-10-23-bass23-story.html |archive-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>

In 2007, Bass said he had faith Timberlake would return after six months off to record another album with NSYNC, and that he felt betrayed by Timberlake's 2004 decision to pursue his solo career instead.<ref name="Hiatus Feelings" /> Bass has also said he has little hope for a reunion since Timberlake has "made it clear that he wouldn't be interested in discussing another album any time soon."<ref name="BrokenUp" /> Despite these statements, Bass has denied that he harbors any ill feelings towards Timberlake, saying: "At that time{{nbsp}}... it did feel like betrayal. I felt heartbroken. All these emotions went through me. Today, I'm really happy, and Justin and I are really great friends. I don't hate him at all. And I understand what he was going through, and it was as hard for him as it was for any of us."<ref name="FishelRelationship" />

In September 2023, a new NSYNC song, "Better Place" was announced following a reunion of the band at the [[MTV Video Music Awards]]. The song, part of the soundtrack to the film ''[[Trolls Band Together]]'', was released September 29.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/nsync-reunite-new-song-better-place-trolls-band-together-trailer-1235723178/ |title=Watch NSYNC Reunite In Studio For the First New Song in 23 Years, 'Better Place' |date=September 13, 2023 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 14, 2023 }}</ref>

====Free Lance Entertainment====
In 2000, Bass formed a [[music management]] company named Free Lance Entertainment, which was a joint venture with [[Mercury Nashville]], a division of [[Mercury Records]].<ref name="FreeLance" /> Vowing to keep the company "a strictly family-run operation", Bass employed his parents and sister as talent scouts, and he recruited childhood friend and aspiring country singer [[Meredith Edwards (country music singer)|Meredith Edwards]] for the company's first release.<ref name="Meredith Edwards">{{cite web |author=Zhito, Lisa | title=Lance Bass Protégé Meredith Edwards in Sync With Country |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1441732/lance-bass-protg-meredith-edwards-in-sync-with-country/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213174426/http://www.mtv.com/news/1441732/lance-bass-protg-meredith-edwards-in-sync-with-country/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 13, 2015 | date=March 16, 2001 |access-date=May 13, 2022| publisher=MTV News}}</ref> Edwards began touring with NSYNC as an opening act in the fall of 2000,<ref name="Meredith Edwards" /> and Bass teamed up with MTV to hold a nationwide talent search for more artists later that year.<ref name="Timbaland">{{cite magazine |author=Hiatt, Brian. |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17324001/artist_to_watch_onerepublic| date=May 27, 2000|title=Artist to Watch: OneRepublic |access-date=November 22, 2007 |magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071127070418/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17324001/artist_to_watch_onerepublic |archive-date = November 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, Free Lance soon folded after disappointing sales of Edwards's debut album, ''[[Reach (Meredith Edwards album)|Reach]]''.<ref name="Timbaland" /><ref name="Defunct">{{cite web |author=Smith, Mary |title=Lance Bass Biography |publisher=ARS Compendium |url=http://www.arscompendium.com/2006/08/04/lance-bass-biography/ |access-date=October 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412132953/http://www.arscompendium.com/2006/08/04/lance-bass-biography/ |archive-date=April 12, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>