History of One Direction in Timeline
One Direction (1D) was a globally successful English-Irish pop boy band formed in 2010, consisting of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson. Rising to prominence on the X-Factor, they achieved immense popularity and became one of the best-selling boy bands ever. Prior to their indefinite hiatus in 2016, they were considered the world's biggest boy band, leaving a significant mark on popular music and youth culture.
1967: The Monkees reach top of Billboard Charts
In 1967, The Monkees reached the top of the Billboard charts before One Direction.
2002: NSYNC goes on indefinite hiatus
In 2002, NSYNC went on an indefinite hiatus, before One Direction's breakthrough, boy bands were "off the radar".
2008: First Group to record two number-one albums
In November 2012, One Direction became the first group since 2008 to record two number-one albums in the same year
2009: The Wanted formed
In 2009, The Wanted was formed, one year before One Direction.
2009: US Band's Name Origin
In 2009, an American pop rock band began using the name One Direction.
July 2010: Formation of One Direction
On July 23, 2010, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson were put together to form the five-piece boy band One Direction on The X Factor, qualifying for the "Groups" category.
2010: "This Is It" DVD Sales Record
In 2010, Michael Jackson's "This Is It" DVD held the UK sales record before One Direction broke it in 2013.
2010: Formation on The X Factor
In 2010, One Direction was formed on the British singing competition The X Factor.
2010: One Direction Formed
In 2010, One Direction, an English-Irish pop boy band, was formed in London, consisting of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson.
2010: Leaked Song
In 2010, after finishing third on The X Factor, One Direction's song "Forever Young" was leaked onto the internet.
January 2011: Recording Debut Album
In January 2011, One Direction began recording their debut album in Los Angeles.
February 2011: Publication of Official Story
In February 2011, One Direction's official X Factor story, One Direction: Forever Young, was published, and the band participated in the X Factor Live Tour.
February 2011: Trademark Application by US Band
In February 2011, the American band One Direction filed an application to register the trademark name in the US.
April 2011: End of X Factor Live Tour
In April 2011, One Direction concluded the X Factor Live Tour.
September 2011: Release of "What Makes You Beautiful"
In September 2011, One Direction released their debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful", in the UK and Ireland, achieving commercial success.
November 2011: Signing with Columbia Records
In November 2011, One Direction signed a record deal with Columbia Records in North America and released their debut album, Up All Night, in the UK and Ireland.
December 2011: Start of Up All Night Tour
In December 2011, One Direction embarked on their first headlining UK concert tour, the Up All Night Tour.
2011: Larries' Impact on Twitter
In 2011, Larries contributed to a tweet by Louis Tomlinson to Harry Styles becoming one of the most retweeted tweets on Twitter.
2011: Performance on BBC's Children in Need charity telethon
In 2011, One Direction performed on the BBC's Children in Need charity telethon.
2011: Release of "Up All Night"
In 2011, One Direction's debut studio album, Up All Night was released.
February 2012: US Arrival and Promotion
In February 2012, One Direction arrived in the US, embarking on a radio promotion spree and opening for Big Time Rush on their North American tour. "What Makes You Beautiful" was officially released in the United States.
April 2012: iCarly Appearance
In April 2012, One Direction starred in an episode of the American sitcom iCarly.
April 2012: Trademark Infringement Lawsuit
In April 2012, the American band One Direction filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the UK band.
May 2012: Recording Take Me Home
In May 2012, One Direction began recording their album Take Me Home in Stockholm at Kinglet Studios.
May 2012: Release of Live Tour Recording
In May 2012, One Direction released "Up All Night: The Live Tour", a recording of a concert from the tour.
June 2012: Expected Business Empire
In June 2012, Nick Gatfield, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment UK, predicted that One Direction would represent a $100 million business empire by 2013.
August 2012: Up All Night Sales
By August 2012, Up All Night had sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
August 2012: Olympics Performance
In August 2012, One Direction performed "What Makes You Beautiful" at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in London.
September 2012: Release of "Live While We're Young"
In September 2012, One Direction released "Live While We're Young", which became a global success.
September 2012: Resolution of Legal Dispute
In September 2012, the UK group One Direction won the legal dispute, and the US band changed its name to Uncharted Shores.
September 2012: MTV Video Music Awards
On September 6, 2012, One Direction were the biggest winners of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, winning all three of their nominations, including Best New Artist.
November 2012: Release of Take Me Home Album
In November 2012, One Direction released their second studio album, Take Me Home, which debuted atop the Billboard 200.
December 2012: Royal Variety Performance and Madison Square Garden Show
In December 2012, One Direction performed "Little Things" at the Royal Variety Performance and headlined a sold-out show at New York City's Madison Square Garden on December 3rd.
2012: "One Direction Infection" mania
During their continued rise in the United States in 2012, the mania surrounding One Direction was dubbed "One Direction Infection".
2012: One Direction appeared on iCarly
In 2012, One Direction appeared in an episode of the American teen sitcom iCarly.
2012: Opened the Children in Need telecast with a performance
In 2012, One Direction opened the Children in Need telecast with a performance of their single "Live While We're Young".
2012: Performance at the Summer Olympics
In 2012, One Direction performed their debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful", at the Summer Olympics closing ceremony.
2012: Release of "Take Me Home"
In 2012, One Direction's second album, Take Me Home, was released.
February 2013: Release of "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" for Comic Relief
In February 2013, One Direction released "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" as the 2013 single for the UK's Comic Relief charity telethon, and raised over £1 million as a result of visits to various countries in Africa.
February 2013: Release of Comic Relief Single and Start of Take Me Home Tour
In February 2013, One Direction released "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" as the Comic Relief single and embarked on the Take Me Home Tour.
May 2013: First all-stadium tour announcement
In May 2013, One Direction announced their first all-stadium tour, the Where We Are Tour, showcasing the band's growing popularity and scale of performances.
June 2013: Earnings Between June 2013 and June 2014
Between June 2013 and June 2014, One Direction earned an estimated $75 million according to Forbes.
July 2013: Release of "Best Song Ever"
On July 22, 2013, One Direction released "Best Song Ever", the lead single from their upcoming album, Midnight Memories.
August 2013: Release of "One Direction: This Is Us"
On August 30, 2013, the 3D documentary and concert film, "One Direction: This Is Us" was released and topped box offices.
October 2013: "Story of My Life" Single Release
On October 28, 2013, One Direction released "Story of My Life", the second single from their album Midnight Memories. It achieved high chart positions, including number six in the US and number two in the UK, and topped charts in several other countries, marking another success for the band.
November 2013: "1D Day" Fan Event
On November 23, 2013, One Direction held "1D Day", a 7-hour socially interactive YouTube livestream dedicated to their fans. It featured live performances and celebrity guests like Simon Cowell, Khloe Kardashian, and others, providing a unique experience for their fanbase.
November 2013: Midnight Memories Album Release
On November 25, 2013, One Direction's album Midnight Memories was globally released. It debuted at number one in both the UK and US, making them the first group to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 with their first three albums since the Monkees in 1967, marking a significant achievement in their career.
December 2013: This Is Us DVD Sales Record
In December 2013, One Direction's "This Is Us" DVD and Blu-ray release broke the UK sales record, selling nearly 270,000 copies within three days. It surpassed the previous record set by Michael Jackson's "This Is It" in 2010, highlighting One Direction's significant popularity.
2013: Crazy About One Direction documentary
British documentary Crazy About One Direction (2013) focused on fans labelled "the craziest", such as those wishing harm on band member's partners.
2013: Projected Business Empire
By 2013, it was predicted in June of 2012 that One Direction would represent a $100 million business empire
2013: Global Recording Artist of the Year
In 2013, One Direction was named the Global Recording Artist of the Year by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
2013: Release of "Midnight Memories"
In 2013, One Direction's third album, Midnight Memories, was released.
2013: Simon Cowell's Recollection
In 2013, Simon Cowell stated that it "took [him] 10 minutes to put them together as a group".
February 2014: Release of "That Moment" fragrance
In February 2014, One Direction released their second fragrance, "That Moment". The fragrance was released with a matching shower gel and body lotion.
April 2014: Where We Are Tour Start
One Direction embarked on the Where We Are Tour on April 25, 2014. The tour kicked off and proved to be a massive success.
June 2014: Earnings Between June 2013 and June 2014
Between June 2013 and June 2014, One Direction earned an estimated $75 million according to Forbes.
June 2014: San Siro Stadium Concerts
One Direction held concerts on June 28 and 29, 2014, at San Siro Stadium, which were filmed for their concert movie.
July 2014: Announcement of Concert Film
In July 2014, One Direction announced the release of "One Direction: Where We Are - The Concert Film," documenting their concerts at San Siro Stadium on June 28 and 29, 2014.
August 2014: Collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer
In August 2014, One Direction collaborated with Stand Up To Cancer by offering fans the opportunity to meet them following a £5 donation towards the cause.
September 2014: Fourth Album Announcement
On September 8, 2014, One Direction announced their fourth studio album, titled "Four", and released the song "Fireproof" for free download for 24 hours. On September 29, 2014, they released "Steal My Girl", the lead single from the album, receiving critical acclaim.
October 2014: Cinema Release of Concert Film
In October 2014, "One Direction: Where We Are - The Concert Film" had a limited international cinema release, showcasing their performances to a wider audience.
October 2014: Where We Are Tour Conclusion
On October 5, 2014, One Direction concluded the Where We Are Tour, which grossed over $290 million and was attended by 3.4 million people, becoming the highest-grossing concert tour of 2014.
November 2014: "Night Changes" single release and "Four" Album Release
On November 14, 2014, One Direction released their single "Night Changes". Three days later, on November 17, 2014, they released their album "Four" which topped the Billboard 200 and UK Album Chart.
2014: Royal Variety Performance
In 2014 One Direction performed at the Royal Variety Performance in front of Prince William and Catherine at the London Palladium.
2014: Artist of the Year
In 2014, Billboard named One Direction the Artist of the Year.
2014: Harry Styles claims One Direction was bigger than The Beatles
In 2014, Harry Styles claimed One Direction was bigger than The Beatles in terms of fame, although saying One Direction could not compete musically.
2014: Appearance on Sesame Street
In 2014, One Direction appeared on season 45 of Sesame Street, singing about the letter U in a parody of their song "What Makes You Beautiful".
2014: First Band to Have First Four Albums Debut Atop the Chart
In 2014, One Direction became the first band in history to have their first four albums debut atop the chart. The band's "Where We Are Tour" also became the highest-grossing concert tour of the year, grossing $290 million in ticket sales.
2014: Where We Are Tour Success
In 2014, One Direction's Where We Are Tour, supporting Midnight Memories, became the highest-grossing concert tour of the year, grossing $290 million.
2014: Release of "Four"
In 2014, One Direction's fourth album, Four, was released.
2014: The Wanted went on indefinite hiatus
In 2014, The Wanted went on indefinite hiatus, and they cited One Direction's global success as part of the reason.
2014: Initial Hiatus Discussion
In late 2014, Harry Styles initiated discussions about a potential hiatus, expressing concerns about exhausting their fanbase, which eventually led to the band's decision.
February 2015: On the Road Again Tour Kickoff
In February 2015, One Direction embarked on their fourth world tour, the On the Road Again Tour, which was also their second all-stadium tour. This marked another significant phase in their touring history.
March 2015: Zayn Malik Leaves One Direction
In March 2015, Zayn Malik left One Direction, leading to viral fan reactions on social media, including candlelit vigils in his memory.
March 2015: Zayn Malik's Departure Announcement
On March 25, 2015, One Direction officially announced Zayn Malik's departure from the band. This marked a significant change in the group's dynamic and future.
June 2015: Release of 'Between Us' fragrance
In June 2015, One Direction revealed their fourth fragrance 'Between Us', with the accompanying advertisement paying homage to the music video for "Kiss You".
July 2015: "Drag Me Down" Single Release
On July 31, 2015, One Direction released "Drag Me Down", their first single after Zayn Malik's departure. The release was unexpected and it quickly topped charts in multiple countries.
August 2015: Announcement of Hiatus
In August 2015, One Direction announced their plans to go on hiatus in 2016 to allow members to pursue individual projects, marking a significant turning point in the band's trajectory.
October 2015: On the Road Again Tour Conclusion
On October 31, 2015, One Direction concluded the On the Road Again Tour, after playing eighty shows across multiple continents. The tour sold over 2.3 million tickets and grossed $208 million.
October 2015: End of On the Road Again Tour
The On the Road Again Tour ended in October 2015, which was the last tour before the start of One Direction's hiatus.
November 2015: Made in the A.M. Album Release
On November 13, 2015, One Direction released their album Made in the A.M., which topped charts in the UK and other countries and reached number two in the US. The album received positive reviews.
December 2015: Final Televised Performances
In December 2015, One Direction made their final televised performances as a group. On December 13, 2015, they performed on The X Factor final, and on December 31, 2015, they performed on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, marking the end of an era.
2015: Fourth Highest-Earning Celebrities
In 2015, Forbes ranked One Direction as the fourth highest-earning celebrities in the world.
2015: Fourth Highest-Earning Celebrities in the World
In 2015, Forbes ranked One Direction as the fourth highest-earning celebrities in the world.
2015: Fifth Top 10 Debut on Billboard Hot 100
In 2015, One Direction beat The Beatles' record as they achieved their fifth Top 10 debut on the Billboard Hot 100. Also, the band earned the highest first-week streams for a single in the United Kingdom with "Drag Me Down".
2015: Launched the 'Action 1D' campaign
In 2015, One Direction launched the "Action 1D" campaign in partnership with Action/2015 to raise awareness of global issues, including poverty, inequality, and climate change.
2015: One Direction was Tumblr's second most reblogged band
In 2015, One Direction was the site's Tumblr's second most reblogged band, and "Larry Stylinson", the name referring to a theory that Styles and Tomlinson were in a romantic relationship, was the most reblogged ship.
2015: Zayn Malik's Departure
In 2015, Zayn Malik departed from the band One Direction.
2015: Band Fatigue
In 2015, Zayn Malik mentioned the band got "sick" of each other, contributing to the split.
2015: J. K. Rowling's novel Career of Evil mentioned One Direction
In 2015, writer Anna Todd published After, originally a One Direction fan fiction on Wattpad. In J. K. Rowling's 2015 crime novel Career of Evil, featuring a murdered girl who was obsessed with the group and claimed Niall Horan was her boyfriend.
January 2016: Indefinite Hiatus Announcement
In January 2016, One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus, allowing members to pursue solo projects.
January 2016: Rumors of a Permanent Split
In January 2016, Us Weekly reported that One Direction's hiatus would become a permanent split. This was denied by the group's representatives, who stated that hiatus plans remained unchanged.
June 2016: "What Makes You Beautiful" Sales
By June 2016, "What Makes You Beautiful" had sold 4.8 million copies in the US and over 7 million copies worldwide.
2016: One Direction featured on Family Guy
In 2016 episode "Run, Chris, Run" on Family Guy, with Tomlinson and Payne providing voices for themselves.
2016: Second Highest-Earning Celebrities in the World
In 2016, Forbes ranked One Direction as the second highest-earning celebrities in the world.
2016: Hiatus
In 2016, One Direction began their hiatus to allow members to pursue individual projects.
2016: Highest Paid European Celebrities
In 2016, One Direction were the highest paid European celebrities, despite having been on hiatus for a year.
2016: Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
In August 2012, the band performed in the Summer Olympics closing ceremony in London, which represented the handover to Rio de Janeiro as the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
May 2017: All Members Release Solo Singles
By May 2017, all members of One Direction had released solo singles. Since then, all band members have pursued other projects and released at least one solo album.
October 2017: Companies House Registry Application
In October 2017, One Direction applied for removal within the Companies House registry, leading to the folding of their touring company in February 2018.
2017: ABC premiered the Boy Band television series
In 2017, ABC premiered the television series Boy Band which aims to find male vocalists to become a member of a new five-piece boy band.
2017: One Direction Ties with The Beatles
In 2017, One Direction tied with The Beatles with three members from each group having achieved number-one solo albums.
2017: Styles suggests hiatus
In a 2017 interview, Harry Styles mentioned that he first brought up the idea of a hiatus in late 2014, feeling they shouldn't "exhaust" their fanbase, and that the other members later agreed.
February 2018: Touring Company Folded
In February 2018, it was reported that One Direction had folded its touring company after applying for removal within the Companies House registry in October 2017.
2019: One Direction fan fictions featured in American teen drama Euphoria
In 2019, American teen drama Euphoria featured a character writing One Direction fan fictions online, and had an animated sex scene between Styles and Tomlinson.
July 2020: One Direction 10-Year Anniversary
On 22nd July 2020, One Direction announced their tenth anniversary with posts on social media. The anniversary was celebrated on 23rd July 2020, with a new website launch, social media posts from the band members, and a retrospective video. Remastered music videos and concert recordings were also released between 23rd and 28th July.
2020: 70 Million Records Sold Worldwide
As of 2020, One Direction had sold a total of 70 million records worldwide.
2020: One Direction described as "the world's biggest boy band"
As recently as 2020, four years since their hiatus, One Direction was described as "the world's biggest boy band".
2020: Billboard Article on One Direction's 10-Year Anniversary
In 2020, Billboard wrote an article for One Direction's 10-year anniversary and talked about the band's "groundbreaking success" due to their dedicated global fan base.
2020: One Direction was Tumblr's fifth most popular band
In 2020, One Direction was Tumblr's fifth most popular band.
2020: Tomlinson's Reflection on the Split
In a 2020 interview, Louis Tomlinson said he was "fuming" and not ready when the idea of the hiatus was brought up, but respected everyone's decision, also remarking that the split felt like "another loss".
2020: TMRW Magazine wrote about One Direction's impact
TMRW Magazine wrote in a 2020 story that the group "helped defy traits typically associated with toxic masculinity" and that "their friendship set them apart, made them more real".
2022: Articles and Books on One Direction's Cultural Impact
In 2022, One Direction was credited by Fast Company for shaping social media interactions between fandoms, and Kaitlyn Tiffany released a book focusing on the cultural impact and online community created by Directioners.
2022: Release of Unseen Footage
In 2022, The X Factor released previously unseen footage showing that Nicole Scherzinger played a significant role in forming One Direction.
2023: Malik's Statement on Band's Fatigue
In 2023, Zayn Malik stated that the band had gotten "sick" of each other by 2015, contributing to their split. Malik also stated that the band was a great experience, but had run its course.
October 2024: Tribute after Payne's death
In October 2024, following Payne's death, Malik, Styles, Tomlinson, and Horan released a joint statement paying tribute to him and One Direction's music saw a surge on charts.
2024: Simon Cowell announced open casting calls for the "next One Direction"
In 2024, Simon Cowell announced open casting calls for the "next One Direction", stating that he did not believe a boyband had reached the success of the group since the band's conception.
