History of One Direction in Timeline
One Direction (1D) was a highly successful English-Irish pop boy band formed in London in 2010. Comprising Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson, they rose to global fame after appearing on the X-Factor. They sold over 70 million records worldwide, establishing themselves as one of the best-selling boy bands ever. The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016, after releasing five commercially successful albums and embarking on several world tours.
2008: First group since 2008 to record two number-one albums
In 2012, upon reaching number one on the Billboard 200, One Direction became the first group since 2008 to record two number-one albums in the same year.
2009: American band formed
In 2009, an American pop rock band was formed using the name One Direction.
July 2010: One Direction formed on The X Factor
On July 23, 2010, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson were put together to form a five-piece boy band on The X Factor, qualifying for the "Groups" category.
2010: One Direction finished third on The X Factor
In 2010, One Direction finished in third place on The X Factor competition.
2010: Formation of One Direction
In 2010, One Direction, an English pop boy band, was formed in London. The group consisted of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson.
January 2011: Recording of debut album began
In January 2011, recording for One Direction's debut album began in Los Angeles, with the band working with record producer RedOne.
February 2011: One Direction book published
In February 2011, a book licensed by One Direction, One Direction: Forever Young (Our Official X Factor Story), was published by HarperCollins.
February 2011: US band filed for trademark name
In February 2011, the US band filed an application to register the trademark name in the US.
April 2011: The X Factor Live Tour concluded
In April 2011, the X Factor Live Tour, featuring One Direction, concluded after performing for 500,000 people throughout the UK.
September 2011: "What Makes You Beautiful" released
In September 2011, One Direction's debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful", was released in the UK and Ireland, becoming a commercial success and topping the UK Singles Chart.
November 2011: Record Deal with Columbia Records
In November 2011, One Direction signed a record deal with Columbia Records in North America. Additionally, they released Up All Night, their debut studio album, in the UK and Ireland.
December 2011: Up All Night Tour began
In December 2011, One Direction embarked on their first headlining UK concert tour, the Up All Night Tour, with tickets selling out quickly.
2011: Partnership with Pokémon
In 2011, One Direction became the face of Pokémon Black and White, starring in a series of television adverts. They also launched Nokia C3 and Nokia C2-02 phones.
2011: Up All Night tops Billboard 200
In 2011, One Direction became the first British act to have their debut album, Up All Night, top the charts on the Billboard 200.
2011: Performance on BBC's Children in Need 2011
In 2011, One Direction performed on the BBC's Children in Need 2011 charity telethon.
2011: Tomlinson's Tweet to Styles
In 2011, a tweet by Louis Tomlinson to Harry Styles became one of the most-retweeted tweets on Twitter, highlighting the strong following of the "Larry Stylinson" theory.
February 2012: Arrival in the US
In February 2012, One Direction arrived in the US and embarked on a radio promotion spree, as well as their first North American concert tour as an opening act for Big Time Rush.
April 2012: Starred in iCarly episode
In April 2012, One Direction starred in an episode of the American sitcom iCarly.
April 2012: Trademark Infringement Lawsuit
In April 2012, an American pop rock band filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against One Direction over the use of the band name.
May 2012: Began recording Take Me Home
In May 2012, One Direction began recording their album Take Me Home in Stockholm at Kinglet Studios.
May 2012: Up All Night: The Live Tour DVD released
In May 2012, One Direction released Up All Night: The Live Tour, a recording of a concert from their tour.
May 2012: Dare to Dream: Life as One Direction was published
In May 2012, One Direction's first book to be licensed in America, Dare to Dream: Life as One Direction, was published in the US and topped The New York Times Best Seller list.
June 2012: Expected business empire
In June 2012, Nick Gatfield, the chairman and chief executive officer of Sony Music Entertainment UK, said that he expected One Direction to represent a $100 million business empire by 2013.
August 2012: Up All Night sales
By August 2012, One Direction's Up All Night had sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
August 2012: Up All Night: The Live Tour DVD sales
By August 2012, One Direction's Up All Night: The Live Tour DVD had sold over 1 million copies and topped the charts in 25 countries.
September 2012: "Live While We're Young" was released
In September 2012, "Live While We're Young", the lead single from One Direction's second album, was released and was a global success.
September 2012: UK group won legal dispute
In September 2012, the BBC reported that One Direction won the legal dispute over the right to keep using their band name, and the US band changed its name to Uncharted Shores.
September 2012: Won MTV Video Music Awards
On September 6, 2012, One Direction won all three awards they were nominated for at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, including Best New Artist.
November 2012: Take Me Home was released
In November 2012, One Direction released their second studio album, Take Me Home. The album debuted atop the Billboard 200 and topped the charts in more than 34 other countries.
December 2012: Performed at the Royal Variety Performance and Madison Square Garden
In December 2012, One Direction performed "Little Things" at the Royal Variety Performance in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II, and headlined a sold-out show at New York City's Madison Square Garden.
2012: Appearance on iCarly
In 2012, One Direction appeared in an episode of the American teen sitcom iCarly. They also inspired an animated cartoon version of themselves as superheroes titled The Adventurous Adventures of One Direction.
2012: Collaborations with Colgate and Pepsi
In 2012, One Direction collaborated with Colgate to launch a One Direction themed toothpaste and toothbrush line. The band also partnered with Pepsi and NFL player Drew Brees for Pepsi's "Live for Now" campaign. Additionally, mini figures based on the band members were launched for US fans by Hasbro, and they endorsed Filipino clothing brand Penshoppe in October.
2012: Opening BBC's Children in Need 2012 Telecast
In 2012, One Direction opened the Children in Need telecast with a performance of their single "Live While We're Young". Niall Horan also organized a birthday event to raise money for Irish Autism Action and Temporary Emergency Accommodation Mullingar.
2012: Performance at 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony
One Direction performed their debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful", at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.
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 Comic Relief. The group also traveled to Africa and created short films for the charity, raising over £2 million.
February 2013: "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" released
In February 2013, One Direction released "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)", a cover version of "One Way or Another" and "Teenage Kicks", as the 2013 Comic Relief single.
May 2013: Announcement of Where We Are Tour and participation in "1D Day"
In May 2013, One Direction announced their first all-stadium tour, the Where We Are Tour. To support Midnight Memories, the band participated in "1D Day", a 7-hour interactive YouTube live-stream featuring performances and celebrity guests.
June 2013: Partnership with Office Depot on back to school supplies
In June 2013, One Direction announced a partnership with Office Depot on a limited-edition capsule collection of back to school supplies, with a portion of the proceeds going toward an anti-bullying educational programme. Additionally, band members Liam Payne and Harry Styles became ambassadors of Trekstock, a cancer charity.
July 2013: Release of "Best Song Ever"
In July 2013, One Direction released "Best Song Ever", the lead single from their third studio album, Midnight Memories. The song reached number two in the US charts and broke the 24-Hour Vevo Record with 10.9 million views on YouTube.
August 2013: Release of One Direction: This Is Us and third book
In August 2013, One Direction released their 3D documentary and concert film, One Direction: This Is Us, which topped the UK and US box offices and grossed over $60 million worldwide. Also in August, they released their third book, One Direction: Where We Are: Our Band, Our Story: 100% Official.
October 2013: Release of "Story of My Life"
On October 28, 2013, One Direction released "Story of My Life", the second single from their album Midnight Memories. The song charted at number six in the US and number two in the UK, while reaching number one in several other countries.
November 2013: Global Release of Midnight Memories
On November 25, 2013, Midnight Memories was released globally. It debuted at number one in the UK and in the US, making One Direction the first group to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 with its first three albums. The album went on to become the best-selling album worldwide in 2013.
December 2013: Record-breaking DVD and Blu-ray release of This Is Us
In December 2013, One Direction broke another UK sales record with the DVD and Blu-ray release of This Is Us, selling nearly 270,000 copies within three days. The group was also named among the Top Global artists of 2013 by the IFPI.
2013: Wax Sculptures at Madame Tussauds
In 2013, Madame Tussauds in London made wax sculptures of One Direction.
2013: Midnight Memories released
In 2013, One Direction continued their streak of number-one albums with the release of Midnight Memories.
2013: Expected $100 million business empire
In 2013, One Direction was expected to represent a $100 million business empire.
2013: One Direction named 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: Global Recording Artists of 2013
In 2013, One Direction were named the Global Recording Artists of the year by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry for having the most music downloads, CD sales, and streams of that year.
2013: Rainbow Direction Organisation
In 2013, Rainbow Direction, an organisation, was started by members of the One Direction fandom aimed at promoting inclusivity for LGBTQ+ fans at the band's concerts.
2013: Simon Cowell recalls the formation of One Direction
In 2013, Simon Cowell stated that it took him 10 minutes to put One Direction together as a group.
2013: Crazy About One Direction Documentary
In 2013, the British documentary Crazy About One Direction focused on fans labelled "the craziest" and received intense backlash from the fandom who felt the portrayal was inaccurate.
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: Start of Where We Are Tour
On April 25, 2014, One Direction embarked on the Where We Are Tour, which consisted of 69 shows and grossed over $290 million.
June 2014: Concerts at San Siro Stadium
On June 28 and 29, 2014, One Direction performed concerts at San Siro Stadium, which were documented in the concert film, One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film, announced in July 2014.
July 2014: Announcement of One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film
In July 2014, One Direction announced One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film, documenting the concerts from June 28 and 29, 2014. The band also announced the film's limited international cinema release in October and the release of their autobiography titled Who We Are.
September 2014: Announcement of Fourth album Four
On September 8, 2014, One Direction announced their fourth studio album titled Four, set to be released in November. As part of the announcement, the song "Fireproof" was released for free download for 24 hours. "Steal My Girl", the album's lead single, was released on September 29, 2014.
October 2014: Limited Cinema Release of Concert Film
In October 2014, One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film had a limited international cinema release, as announced in July 2014.
October 2014: Conclusion of Where We Are Tour
The Where We Are Tour concluded on October 5, 2014, after 69 shows, grossing over $290 million and becoming the highest-grossing concert tour of 2014.
November 2014: Band Aid 30 and Charity Football Match
In November 2014, One Direction joined Band Aid 30, recording "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis. Niall Horan also hosted a charity football match with members Payne, Styles, and Tomlinson, along with other celebrities.
November 2014: Release of "Night Changes" and Four
On November 14, 2014, One Direction released "Night Changes", the second single from the album Four. Four was then released on November 17, 2014, topping the Billboard 200 and the UK Album Chart.
2014: Billboard Artist of the Year
In 2014, Billboard named One Direction the Artist of the Year, acknowledging their significant impact and success in the music industry.
2014: Billboard names One Direction Artist of the Year
In 2014, Billboard named One Direction the Artist of the Year.
2014: Comparison to The Beatles
In 2014, Harry Styles claimed One Direction was bigger than the Beatles in terms of fame, although not musically. Paul McCartney disagreed with Styles.
2014: Sesame Street Appearance and Publication of 'After'
In 2014, One Direction appeared on Sesame Street, singing about the letter U in a parody of their song "What Makes You Beautiful". Also in 2014, writer Anna Todd published After, a One Direction fan fiction.
2014: First Band in History
In 2014, One Direction became the first band in history to have their first four albums debut atop the chart, a significant achievement in their career.
2014: Four released
In 2014, One Direction released their album Four, marking their fourth consecutive album to debut at number one.
2014: Release of Fourth Album "Four"
In 2014, One Direction released their fourth album, "Four", which Liam Payne described as "edgier". The album featured songs largely written by the group, with Niall Horan suggesting the album's name to commemorate their fourth year. Billboard noted the first single, "Steal My Girl", while Rolling Stone described the album as having "retro vibes".
2014: Where We Are Tour was the highest-grossing concert tour
In 2014, One Direction's Where We Are Tour, supporting Midnight Memories, became the highest-grossing concert tour of the year, earning $290 million.
2014: The Wanted's Hiatus due to One Direction's Success
In 2014, The Wanted went on indefinite hiatus, citing One Direction's global success as a major reason, stating that "One Direction are a phenomenon that no one else can compete with".
2014: Styles first suggest to hiatus
In late 2014, Harry Styles suggested that the band should take a hiatus to avoid exhausting their fanbase. All members later eventually agreed.
February 2015: Start of the On the Road Again Tour
In February 2015, One Direction embarked on their fourth world tour and second all-stadium tour, the On the Road Again Tour.
March 2015: Fan Reactions to Malik's Departure
In March 2015, fan reactions to Zayn Malik leaving One Direction went viral on social media, including candlelight vigils held in his memory. Madame Tussauds in London hired "tissue attendants" to comfort guests visiting wax sculptures of the band.
March 2015: Zayn Malik's departure announcement
On March 25, 2015, during the Asia leg of their tour, One Direction announced Zayn Malik's departure from the band with an official statement. The remaining members affirmed their commitment to continue as a four-piece.
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: Release of "Drag Me Down"
On July 31, 2015, One Direction released "Drag Me Down", the first single from their fifth studio album, Made in the A.M., and the first song released after Zayn Malik's departure. The single topped the charts in multiple countries and broke the record of highest first-week streams in the UK.
August 2015: Announcement of Hiatus in 2016
In August 2015, One Direction announced that they would go on hiatus in 2016 to work on individual projects, but would remain in the band and plan to work together in the future.
October 2015: Conclusion of On the Road Again tour
The On the Road Again tour concluded on October 31, 2015 after playing 80 shows in stadiums across multiple continents. The tour sold more than 2.3 million tickets and grossed $208 million, making it the second highest-grossing tour of 2015.
November 2015: Release of Made in the A.M.
One Direction released Made in the A.M. on November 13, 2015, topping the charts in the UK and other countries while reaching number two in the US. The album received positive reviews and was praised for its reflective and mature tone.
December 2015: Final televised performance on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
On December 31, 2015, One Direction gave their final televised performance as a group on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Earlier in December, on the 13th, the band performed on The X Factor final.
2015: Comic Relief Parody: No Direction
In 2015, Comic Relief parodied One Direction for Red Nose Day with comedians as "No Direction".
2015: Highest-Earning Celebrities
In 2015, Forbes ranked One Direction as the fourth highest-earning celebrities in the world, and the highest-earning celebrities under the age of 30.
2015: Beatles Record
In 2015, One Direction beat the Beatles' record as they achieved their fifth Top 10 debut on the Billboard Hot 100. Also in 2015, the band earned the highest first-week streams for a single in the United Kingdom with "Drag Me Down".
2015: Launch of "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. The campaign was supported by Hillary Clinton. The group also supported LGBTQ+ rights.
2015: One Direction on Tumblr
In 2015, One Direction was the second most reblogged band on Tumblr, and the "Larry Stylinson" ship was the most reblogged ship on the platform, highlighting the band's strong presence and the fans engagement.
2015: Mention in J. K. Rowling's 'Career of Evil'
In 2015, One Direction were mentioned in J. K. Rowling's crime novel Career of Evil, featuring a murdered girl obsessed with the group.
2015: Zayn Malik's departure
In 2015, Zayn Malik departed from the group One Direction.
2015: Zayn Malik states the band had gotten sick of each other
In 2015, Zayn Malik said that the band had gotten "sick" of each other contributing to their split. Malik also said that the band was a great experience, but had run its course.
January 2016: Band goes on indefinite hiatus
In January 2016, One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus, allowing all members to pursue solo projects.
January 2016: Report of potential permanent split
In January 2016, Us Weekly reported that One Direction's hiatus would become a permanent split, citing unnamed sources. However, representatives for the group denied the report, stating that hiatus plans had not changed.
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 goes on hiatus
In 2016, One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus.
2016: Family Guy Appearance
In 2016, One Direction were featured in the Family Guy episode "Run, Chris, Run", with Tomlinson and Payne providing voices for themselves.
2016: Highest Paid Celebrities
In 2016, One Direction were the highest paid European celebrities, despite having been on hiatus for a year, highlighting their continued financial success.
2016: Fan Fiction Study
In 2016, a study found that a quarter of Wattpad's 150 most popular authors wrote One Direction fan fiction, showcasing the band's significant influence on the platform.
May 2017: All members release solo singles
By May 2017, all members of One Direction had released solo singles, marking the beginning of their individual projects.
October 2017: Touring company folded
In October 2017, the group had applied for removal within the Companies House registry, leading to reports that the group had folded its touring company in February 2018.
2017: Premiere of "Boy Band" TV series
In 2017, ABC premiered the television series "Boy Band", aiming to find male vocalists to form a new boy band, leading many to believe it was inspired by One Direction.
2017: Solo Album Records
In 2017, One Direction tied with the Beatles with three members from each group having achieved number-one solo albums.
2017: Styles says he initiated the Hiatus discussion
In a 2017 interview, Harry Styles stated that he was the first member of One Direction to suggest a hiatus in late 2014 to avoid exhausting their fanbase, a sentiment the other members eventually agreed with.
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: Euphoria Features One Direction Fan Fiction
In 2019, the American teen drama Euphoria featured a character writing One Direction fan fictions online, including an animated sex scene between Styles and Tomlinson, which Tomlinson disapproved of.
2020: Record Sales
As of 2020, One Direction had sold a total of 70 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.
2020: 10-Year Anniversary
In 2020, Billboard wrote that One Direction's "groundbreaking success" was due to the group's dedicated global fanbase, and accelerated by the rise of social media and online music streaming, rivalling any other boy band fandom in history on the occasion of their 10-year anniversary.
2020: One Direction on Tumblr
In 2020, One Direction was the fifth most popular band on Tumblr, showcasing the band's continued popularity even after their hiatus.
2020: Larger Than Life Book
In 2020, One Direction were prominently featured in Maria Sherman's book Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS.
2022: Everything I Need I Get from You Book
In 2022, Kaitlyn Tiffany released the book Everything I Need I Get from You: How Fangirls Created the Internet as We Know It, focusing on the cultural impact and online community created by Directioners.
2022: Retirement of Wax Sculptures at Madame Tussauds
In 2022, Madame Tussauds retired the wax sculptures of One Direction that were originally made in 2013.
2022: Unseen footage of One Direction's formation released
In 2022, The X Factor released previously unseen footage showing Nicole Scherzinger's significant role in forming One Direction, revealing the order in which the members were chosen.
2022: Positive View on One Direction Fangirls
In 2022, an article by Fast Company credited One Direction fangirls for shaping modern social media interactions between fandoms and making the internet a better place.
2023: Tomlinson says split felt like a loss
In 2023, Tomlinson remarked that the split felt like "another loss".
October 2024: Death of Liam Payne and surge in One Direction's music charts
Following Liam Payne's death on October 16, 2024, the surviving members of One Direction released a joint statement paying tribute. One Direction's music saw a significant surge on charts around the world, with all five albums returning to the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart and charting on the US Billboard 200.
2024: Simon Cowell Announces Open Casting Calls for a New Boy Band
In 2024, Simon Cowell announced open casting calls for the "next One Direction", stating that no boy band had reached their level of success since their formation.
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