What We Actually Know
1. “Teardrops” is a single, not an album
“Teardrops” was released on March 1, 2024, via Capitol and Hampton Records as the lead single intended for Payne’s then-planned second studio . It marked his first new music since 2021 and was co-written with JC Chasez (*NSYNC) and
2. Streaming numbers are in the tens of millions, not billions
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Spotify shows “Teardrops” with around 20–23 million streams as of mid‑2025
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Fan accounts reported around 21 million by March 2025 .
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A verified Spotify profile notes that Payne’s overall career streams exceed 2 billion, but that’s across all his music—not just one song .
3. No Apple Music nomination information
A comprehensive search returned no indication that Apple Music has made any nomination or curated must‑listen album of the year list featuring “Teardrops” or any Tears Drop album.
🧭 Possible Origins of the Claim
Several factors could have led to confusion:
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A music fan blog or social media post might have speculated about a nomination without basis.
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Payne’s tragic passing on October 16, 2024 and subsequent streaming surges might have spurred unverified accolades or rumors.
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Fans may have exaggerated statistics—misstating 20 million as “billions.”
✍️ If You’d Like a Real Article…
Here are some angles we can write authoritatively about, based on verified facts:
1. 🎤 The real impact of “Teardrops”
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Explore the song’s late‑’90s R&B style, its critical reception, and its posthumous UK chart rise (Top 5 entry after his death)
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Detail its Spotify trajectory (20–23 million streams) and chart performance.
2. 🕊️ Payne’s legacy and resurgence
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Cover posthumous boost in streaming and awards tributes (e.g., 2025 Grammy In Memoriam)
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Discuss fan reactions, including on Reddit, highlighting genuine testimonials:
“Let’s all download teardrops and give Liam Payne the most listen to song in 2025”
3. 🧩 The story behind the unreleased second album
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Delve into Payne’s halted second-album project, including what “Teardrops” hinted at.
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Investigate how his untimely death affected the album’s release and legacy.
✅ Suggested Next Steps
To craft a truthful and compelling article, I’d need to know:
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Are you open to a fact-based deep dive into Teardrops and Payne’s career—focusing on real streaming data, chart info, and fan response?
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Would you prefer a clearly labeled speculative/opinion piece, discussing hypothetical awards or album concepts?
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Or is there a source or reference you can point me toward about that Apple Music nomination rumor?
Summary
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No official album called Tears Drop exists.
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No Apple Music nomination has been confirmed.
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“Teardrops” the single has about 20 million Spotify streams, not billions.
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We can produce a rich, fact-based 700–800+ word article using verified data—if you’d like that direction.
Terkuma Anagh