Ronan Keating slams music industry in wake of Liam Payne’s death: ‘They only care about making it work financially’

Former boy band pop star Ronan Keating has heavily criticized the music industry following the death of Liam Payne.

The 47-year-old Irishman was a friend of the One Direction star, who died aged 31 after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires earlier this month.

During a conversation on the Kyle and Jackie O-Show On Friday, the Boyzone artist called out the industry for putting teenagers in the spotlight without properly preparing them for the challenges of showbiz.

Describing Payne as the ‘nicest guy’, Keating said he last saw the much-loved star in Dubai over a year ago before sharing his own experiences entering the pop world as a 16-year-old.

“These boys were brought together at such a young age,” he said sadly.

Like Keating, Payne was just 16 when he joined One Direction in 2010.

He continued: “The industry is a very tough and difficult place. There is no one who can arrange that for all of us children… and guide us through it.

‘Nobody gives you any kind of media training. No one will help you deal with what’s going to happen.”

Keating added that when he appeared on TV shows such as The X Factor and The Voice, producers provided a psychologist to help performers.

The No Matter What hitmaker said he never experienced any mental health counseling in the recording industry.

During his conversation, the Boyzone artist slammed the music industry for putting teenagers in the spotlight without properly preparing them for the challenges of showbiz. Pictured: Liam Payne on the red carpet in 2023

“There was none of that… when a record company or a management company starts a band, there’s none of that stuff,” he said.

“They just want to make it work financially,” co-host Kyle Sandilands added.

“Absolutely,” agreed Keating, who added that Payne’s untimely and tragic death could lead to positive changes in the music industry.

Keating made the comments ahead of his performance at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The popular singer will make an exclusive visit to Flemington Racecourse on November 7 to perform as part of the Crown Oaks Day festivities.

He will also perform a smaller performance for lucky guests at the VRC Crown Oaks Club Lunch on November 6, prior to his main set the following day.

Keating rose to fame alongside Shane Lynch, Keith Duffy, Michael ‘Mikey’ Graham and Stephen Gately in the ’90s boy band Boyzone, formed by pop manager Louis Walsh.

The group achieved international fame and six UK number ones – including Words, No Matter What, All That Matters To Me and You Needed Me.

The band officially split in 2000, but often reunites for landmark tours – including the Back Again… No Matter What tour in 2009 – the last time they performed as a five-piece before Stephen’s death.

The band also reunited in 2013 to celebrate their 20th anniversary with a tour and new releases.

Describing Payne as the ‘nicest guy’, Keating said he last saw the much-loved star in Dubai over a year ago before sharing his own experiences entering the pop world as a 16-year-old.

In 2018, Boyzone confirmed their plans to split for good after releasing a final album dedicated to their late bandmate Stephen.

Stephen tragically died suddenly in 2009 at the age of 33 from a congenital heart defect.

It comes after Payne fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16.

Local police said they initially responded to a 911 call “of an aggressive male who was possibly under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”

Officials heard a loud noise in the courtyard before discovering his body just after 5 p.m., the BBC reported.

According to TMZ, Liam had “behaved erratically in the hotel lobby and destroyed his laptop” before having to be “carried back to his room.”