Plans to release Liam Payne‘s first posthumous single have been cancelled, only two days after they were announced.
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The solo artist and former One Direction member died on October 16 following a fatal fall from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Argentine prosecutor’s office has revealed that the 31-year-old’s cause of death was due to multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding.
Last week, Grammy award-winning producer Sam Pounds, who worked with Payne shortly before his death, shared that he would be releasing a new song by the late singer on November 1. The song, titled ‘Do No Wrong’, was set to be released in three forms: the original, a live mix and an a cappella version.
Though some fans were excited to hear the track, the announcement was met with backlash from many who felt it was too soon after Payne’s death to share it.
Now, however, Pounds has cancelled his plans to release the song, saying it’s “not the time yet”.
Writing on Instagram, Pounds said: “Today I’m deciding to hold “Do No Wrong” and leave those liberties up to all family members. I want all proceeds go to a charity of their choosing (or however they desire). Even though we all love the song it’s not the time yet. We are all still mourning the passing of Liam and I want the family to morn in peace and in prayer. We will all wait. With love Sam Pounds.”
Fans have since responded with one commenting: “Thank you for listening to our concerns and deciding against the release. Of course we all want to hear it, but in the most respectful way possible to him and his family.” Another added: “Thanks for doing this honestly. We need to grieve and respect Liam’s family right now.”
Alongside his statement, Pounds shared voicenotes of Payne singing the song and offering production advice. He also previously revealed that Payne had wanted Chris Brown to feature on the track with them.
Last week, it was revealed that Payne reportedly had pink cocaine and several other substances in his system at the time of his fatal balcony fall. Sources told ABC News that results of a partial autopsy showed he had “pink cocaine” – a drug typically made up of a mix of substances including methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA and others – as well as cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack in his system. It has also been reported that the Buenos Aires police department have raided the CasaSur hotel in search of further evidence.
Payne’s death has triggered conversations about putting more protections in place for young artists, with songwriter Guy Chambers calling on the music industry to stop putting minors in boybands following his passing. Payne was 14 when he first auditioned for the X Factor, and 16 when he became a member of One Direction during the show’s 10th season.
Elsewhere, Sharon Osbourne also accused the music industry of “letting down” Payne, writing in an Instagram post: “Liam, my heart aches. We all let you down. Where was this industry when you needed them? You were just a kid when you entered one of the toughest industries in the world. Who was in your corner? Rest in peace my friend.”
Bruce Springsteen has also said that the music industry puts “enormous pressures on young people” in the wake of Payne’s death, while Victoria Canal shared that, as an artist who feels “desperate” to achieve the success that Payne once had, feels duped by “the promise of what ‘success’ in this industry is.”
A new petition has since been launched, calling for a new law to safeguard the mental well-being of artists in the music industry. The petition has surpassed over 100,000 signatures.
