Liam Payne suffered huge career blow days before his fatal fall from hotel balcony in Argentina

The former One Direction star's music career was faltering

Liam Payne as a solo artist faced a significant blow to his music career just days before his death, when he was reportedly dropped by his record label Universal Music. The Daily Mail reports that Liam was let go by the label in the days leading up to his fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

Liam's first solo album did not make enough money and his lack of success was a huge setback to his musical ambitions. A source told 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."

Liam began his career with One Direction in 2010 and was initially signed to Sony while the band was still active. However, after the band decided to split, the popular singer managed to secure a solo deal with rival record company Capitol Records in July 2016.

This label is a subsidiary of Universal, but during the company's recent reshuffle, he came 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 management, he released one solo album LP1 in 2019, which received mixed to negative reviews, with many critics noting that the album lacked a distinct identity. The album reached number 17 on the UK album chart but dropped out of the Top 50 the following week, reports the Mirror.

Despite the reception not being quite what Liam had hoped for, the singer stayed positive and was working hard on his second album. Unfortunately, its release was suspended before Universal made the decision to part ways with him.

Following the heartbreaking news that Liam had died after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday, his former label Universal Music Group expressed their sorrow on social media: "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."

Capitol Records echoed this sentiment by sharing the same tribute as they honoured the late artist. The sudden halt to Liam's musical journey prior to his passing was just the latest in a series of misfortunes.

This month saw his publicist step down, leaving him navigating a tumultuous time without professional PR support. Additionally, his ex-fiancée Maya Henry started legal proceedings against Liam, who she claims has been persistently contacting her.

"It is like all of Liam's music career that he had built up since he went solo eight years ago was crumbling, there was very little left for him," a source suggested. "It must have absolutely devastated him."

Following the tragic passing of Liam, fans and celebrities alike have flooded social media with heartfelt tributes, including his former One Direction bandmates. Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik released a joint statement on Thursday evening expressing their "devastation" over the loss.

They wrote: "In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say,' they said."

"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 later posted individual tributes to Liam, with Harry telling his followers in a touching post that he would "miss him always". "His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it," Styles penned.

"Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend."

Louis Tomlinson has shared a deeply moving tribute, admitting he was "really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye".

In an emotional outpouring, Tomlinson promised to be there for Payne's son Bear, saying, "I would be an uncle to Payne's son Bear if he 'ever needs me' while also vowing that he would 'tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.'"

He expressed his gratitude for their strengthened bond post-band: "I'm so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I'd have with you for life," he penned. Mourning the lost opportunities, he continued, "I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn't to be. I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you."

Tomlinson concluded his heartfelt message with, "Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X."

Zayn Malik also conveyed a poignant homage, equating Liam's passing to the loss of a sibling: "I can't explain to you what I'd give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly," he confessed.

Holding onto their shared moments, he added, "I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are."

Malik signed off with a simple yet profound, "Love you bro."