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Ronan Keating has predicted major changes for the music industry following the shocking death of Liam Payne.
On October 16, fans of the One Direction star were left stunned and devastated when it was announced he had died after falling from a third-floor balcony at his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was just 31.
Payne rose to stardom as a teenager when he appeared on The X Factor, having first auditioned in 2008 before returning two years later when he was put into what would become the world’s biggest boyband.
In recent years, he spoke openly about his mental health struggles, with unprecedented fame at a tender age contributing to his agoraphobia and addiction battles.
Following the tragic loss of the Strip That Down hitmaker, friend Ronan, a fellow boybander who also found fame as a child, has slammed the entertainment business for prioritising profits over artists’ mental well-being.
‘That is still shocking,’ he said of Payne’s death during an interview with the Kyle and Jackie O Show.
‘I saw Liam in Dubai a while ago,’ he recalled, describing Payne as a ‘lovely fella’.
Reflecting on his own career, Ronan, 47, reminisced on joining Boyzone in 1993 alongside Keith Duffy, Michael Graham, Shane Lynch, and Stephen Gately.
‘I joined a boyband at 16. These lads (One Direction) were put together at such a young age; the industry is a really difficult, tough place.
‘There’s nobody there really to manage that for all of us kids, when we were kids, to guide us through it.’
‘Nobody gives you any sort of media training; nobody helps you deal with what’s about to happen,’ he added.
Having since appeared as a judge on other talent shows, he said of his experiences: ‘We did X Factor and The Voice, there’s always a psychologist on hand to deal with the artists.
‘None of that was there when we were… when a record company or a management company start a band, there’s none of that kind of stuff.’
As the host suggested: ‘They only care about making it work financially’, Ronan replied: ‘Absolutely.’
On how the landscape will shift going forward, he concluded: ‘I think the situation from what happened with Liam, I think things will change in the industry; I think we’ll see a change.’
Following their formation, Boyzone achieved international success and topped the UK charts six times.
They officially split in 2000 but have reunited on several occasions since for landmark tours, including their Back Again… No Matter What shows in 2009.
This was the last time the star shared the stage as a five-piece before Gately’s death at the age of 33 due to a congenital heart defect.
Ronan has also forged a successful solo career for himself, which began in 1999 and led to him releasing 11 albums of his own.
Meanwhile, ahead of Payne’s funeral and as his family arranges for his body to be returned home, discussions are being had among fans and fellow artists about mental health support in the industry.
One 1D fan has even set up a petition, vowing not to stop campaigning until Liam’s Law is implemented and record labels are held accountable for breaching their duty of care.
In just two weeks, over 130,000 signatures have been collected and a Wolverhampton MP, the hometown of Payne’s parents, has given it his backing.
Payne is survived by seven-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with ex-partner Cheryl. He also had a girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, plus two older sisters, Nicola and Ruth.
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