Liam Payne reportedly faced a devastating blow to his music career just days before his death.
It’s claimed the solo artist was dropped by his record label Universal Music and the Daily Mail has reported that it was in the days leading up to his death. A source told the publication: “Liam’s advance was massive and he didn’t recoup [it]. Out of all of the One Direction boys, Liam was on the wrong path musically.”
Launching his career with One Direction in 2010, Liam was initially signed to Sony while the band were still active. However, following their split, the popular singer managed to secure a solo deal with rival record company Capitol Records in July 2016.
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This label is a subsidiary of Universal, but during the company’s recent reshuffle, he moved under the main label – a move that delighted him, as he had always been “thrilled” to work with the highly sought-after company.
Under their guidance, he released one solo album LP1 in 2019, but it failed to impress audiences, receiving mixed to negative reviews. Much of the criticism centred around the fact that Liam’s album lacked a unique identity, reports the Mirror.
The album reached number 17 on the UK album chart, but dropped out of the Top 50 the following week. Although the reception for Liam’s tunes wasn’t quite the strobe-lit success he’d hoped for, the singer kept his chin up and worked away on album number two.
It was all station go until word got out that the music bigwigs at Universal put the brakes on Liam’s upcoming beats before cutting him loose. The Universal Music Group posted a tribute online, writing: “We are devastated by the tragic passing of Liam Payne. His legacy will live on through his music and the countless fans he inspired and who adored him. We send our deepest condolences to Liam’s family and loved ones.”
Following the tragic news of Liam’s passing, both fans and celebrities have flooded social media with heartfelt tributes for the beloved star, including his former One Direction bandmates. Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, and Zayn Malik released a joint statement on Thursday evening, sharing their “devastation” and saying: “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say.”
“But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
Each of the three stars also posted individual tributes later on, with Harry Styles touching his followers’ hearts by saying he would “miss him always” in a moving message.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk