Liam Payne was reportedly let go by record label Universal Music just days before his tragic death.
A source revealed to Daily Mail that the record label decided to part ways with the former One Direction member due to his lackluster solo performance.
“Liam’s advance was huge and he didn’t get it back [it]”, according to the source. “Out of all the One Direction guys, Liam was headed in the wrong direction musically.”
Payne signed a deal with Capitol Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music, in 2016, a year after 1D announced a hiatus.
Additionally, Payne’s public relations team resigned in October, as reported by the Daily Mail.
According to the source, “It seems like Liam’s entire music career that he’s built since going solo eight years ago has collapsed, with very little left for him.”
“It must have completely devastated him,” they added
Another insider told The UK Sun that Payne is still recovering from his split from his manager, Roger.
In a report dated October 8, 2024, label insiders revealed: “His former manager Roger stepped back earlier this year. He has been a steadfast supporter of Liam and he She seems to be having difficulty without his guidance.”
“Things are starting to look a bit erratic, with plans being made before they are canceled at the last minute,” they continued.
Payne released his first solo album, “LP1,” under the Republic label in 2019.
In March 2024, the singer, who rose to fame after winning 3rd place on “The X Factor” alongside Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik, announced his latest song “Teardrops”. , a vibrant pop tune with a catchy beat and a powerful chorus that showcases his impressive falsetto range.
“Teardrops” is Payne’s first release following his 2021 song “Sunshine,” which was featured on the soundtrack to the film “Ron’s Gone Wrong.”
In the press release at the time of the song’s release, Payne expressed his excitement and mentioned that the song was “the beginning of a new beginning”. The British singer also revealed a series of upcoming music products expected in 2024.
As reported by Luminate, “Teardrops” has accumulated more than 3 million streams in the United States. Despite this success, the song did not chart on the Hot 100.
Aside from an acoustic rendition of “Teardrops,” there’s no other new music from Payne in 2024 as fans eagerly await news of a follow-up to “LP1.”
According to The Sun’s sources, Payne was making significant progress on his second album, named after his release song, “Teardrops”, before abruptly stopping the project.
Amid his death, there were uncertainties surrounding the album’s release, and even before the tragedy, this outlet’s sources had expressed uncertainty about the possibility of a future album release. hybrid.
In addition to the second album, label insiders also mentioned that a documentary focusing on Payne’s struggles with fame from a young age has also been postponed.
Tags Liam Payne, One Direction