Liam Payne suffered a devastating blow just days before his tragic death—he was dropped by Universal Music. Originally signed to Sony as part of the world-renowned boy band One Direction, Liam transitioned to Capitol Records, a label owned by Universal, in July 2016 when he launched his solo career at just 22 years old.

Sources reveal that Liam was initially "thrilled" with the lucrative deal he signed, but recent developments indicate that he faced significant challenges. One insider stated, "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." This reflects the struggles he encountered in establishing his identity as a solo artist.

Adding to the turmoil, the release of his second album was reportedly put on hold before Universal ultimately decided to sever ties with him. This setback comes in the wake of Liam's public battles and challenges in the music industry.

Furthermore, it's been disclosed that Liam's public relations representative resigned earlier this month, leaving him without any publicity representation at a crucial time in his career.

Universal Music Group have paid their respects to the late music artist in a post on X (Twitter).

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