Songwriter Guy Chambers is calling on the music industry to stop putting minors in boybands following the death of Liam Payne earlier this week.
The solo artist and former One Direction member died at age 31 on Wednesday (October 16), following a fatal fall from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Since his death, figures from across the music industry have spoken out about the impact fame has on young stars. 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.
Robbie Williams was among those paying tribute, saying Payne’s “trials and tribulations were very similar to mine” as a former boyband member. The ex-Take That frontman has previously opened up about his history of self-harm and depression and encouraged people to be more “careful” about the comments they make towards those in the public eye.
Now, Chambers, who worked closely with Williams on hits like ‘Angels’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You’ has reflected on Payne’s immense fame at a young age. “I do think putting a 16-year-old in an adult world like that is potentially really damaging. Robbie [Williams] experienced that, certainly,” he told the Observer.
He continued: “I have four children, so I think about this a lot. I know in Robbie’s case, with Take That, there wasn’t any proper protection set up to look after what were teenage boys. That was a long time ago, but I don’t see much sign of change. There is not much more real care taken, that I have observed, from people involved in the big television talent shows.”
Chambers went on to say that the industry should consider introducing new regulations: “I would suggest that people should not be in a boyband until they are 18, and the industry should stick to that, too.”
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”
Osbourne’s tribute to Payne follows comments from Katie Waissel, who competed alongside One Direction on the talent show, calling for more “care and support for young artists”. Similarly, Rebecca Ferguson, who finished in second place on the same season of the show, paid tribute to Payne while also speaking out against the “exploitation and profiteering of young stars.”
Bruce Springsteen 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.”
One Direction’s surviving members Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles shared a joint statement on Payne’s death earlier this week, where they expressed their devastation, and said they would need time “to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”
Fan vigils for Payne have also cropped up across the world, including in Liverpool and Argentina, where he died. Earlier this week, Payne’s father Geoff joined the crowds outside the Casa Sur Hotel and thanked fans who had gathered in memory of his son.
Across the music industry, others have paid respects to Payne, including Shawn Mendes, Maggie Rogers, Rita Ora and Liam Gallagher.
Cheryl, Payne’s ex-partner and mother to his 7-year-old son Bear, has spoken out about the “indescribably painful” loss and urged people to “give Liam the little dignity he has left”.
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