Liam Payne’s record label reportedly dropped the star shortly before his untimely death amid concerns that his new music wouldn’t resonate with One Direction fans.
The singer tragically died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last week at the age of 31.
Before his passing, Universal Music is said to have “quietly dropped” Liam after putting his second album on ice. His debut album had reached number 17 on the UK album chart but quickly fell out of the Top 50 the following week.
While this performance might seem disappointing, Liam was undeterred and aimed for greater success with his next album. However, it appears there were creative differences with his label over the music he was passionate about creating.
A source disclosed to DailyMail: “Liam wanted to make the sort of music he enjoyed but his label believed it wouldn’t win over 1D fans so there were disagreements about the way his brand should have been marketed.”
The insider also noted that budget cuts contributed to his departure. It was suggested that the decision to cut ties was influenced by “all the memes and jokes people made about him online”. “His team saw that as a sign to jump ship,” they added.
The source further mentioned that although Liam wasn’t financially dependent on a successful new album, the pressure to match the achievements of former bandmates like Harry Styles would have weighed on him. The Mirror has sought a response from Universal regarding these claims, reports the Mirror.
Liam had been in awe of former 1D star Niall Horan’s performance in Argentina just weeks before his untimely passing. In the wake of the tragedy, Niall broke his silence, paying homage to Liam as an “amazing friend” in a poignant tribute.
Taking to Instagram with heartfelt words, Niall shared: “I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real. Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.
“All the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness. We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever.”
He also reflected on their last encounter, lamenting the fact that it would be their final one. Niall added: “The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime. I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking. My love and condolences go out to Geoff, Karen, Ruth, Nicola and of course his son Bear. Thank you for everything, Payno. Love you brother. Nialler.”
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