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, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. They achieved global fame and sold over 70 million records, establishing themselves as one of the best-selling boy bands ever. The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016.
2002: NSYNC went on indefinite hiatus
In 2002, NSYNC went on indefinite hiatus. Maria Sherman noticed that before One Direction's breakthrough, boy bands were "off the radar" since NSYNC went on an indefinite hiatus in 2002.
2008: Last Group to Record Two Number-One Albums in a Year Before One Direction
In November 2012, upon reaching number one on the Billboard 200 with the album 'Take Me Home', One Direction became the first group since 2008 to record two number-one albums in the same year.
2009: US Band Formed
In 2009, an American pop rock band was formed that shared the same name with One Direction.
July 2010: Formation of One Direction on The X Factor
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 after auditioning as solo candidates.
2010: Third Place Finish on The X Factor
In 2010, One Direction finished in third place on The X Factor.
2010: One Direction Formed on The X Factor
In 2010, One Direction was formed on the British singing competition The X Factor, launching the group to global success through social media.
2010: One Direction Formed
In 2010, One Direction, an English-Irish pop boy band, was formed in London. The group originally consisted of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.
January 2011: Recording of Debut Album Begins
In January 2011, One Direction began recording their debut album in Los Angeles, working with record producer RedOne.
February 2011: Publication of One Direction: Forever Young
In February 2011, One Direction's licensed book, One Direction: Forever Young (Our Official X Factor Story), was published by HarperCollins.
February 2011: US Band Filed Trademark Application
In February 2011, the American band, sharing the same name with One Direction, filed an application to register the trademark name in the US.
April 2011: Conclusion of X Factor Live Tour
In April 2011, One Direction concluded the X Factor Live Tour, during which they performed for 500,000 people throughout the UK.
September 2011: Release of "What Makes You Beautiful"
In September 2011, One Direction's debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful", was released in the UK and Ireland, achieving commercial and international success.
November 2011: Signing with Columbia Records and Release of Up All Night
In November 2011, One Direction signed a record deal with Columbia Records in North America and released their debut studio 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, with tickets selling out in 12 minutes.
2011: Tomlinson's Tweet
In 2011, Louis Tomlinson's tweet to Harry Styles became one of the most retweeted tweets on Twitter, peaking as the second-most retweeted tweet of all time.
2011: One Direction Becomes the Face of Pokémon
In 2011, One Direction became the face of Pokémon Black and White, starring in a series of television adverts. The band 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
In 2011, One Direction performed on the BBC's Children in Need charity telethon.
2011: Debut Studio Album Release: Up All Night
In 2011, One Direction released their debut studio album, Up All Night, which is predominantly a pop music record containing elements of teen pop, dance-pop, pop rock, with electropop and rock influences. The album received positive reviews for its originality in sound.
February 2012: Arrival in the US and First US Television Appearance
In February 2012, One Direction arrived in the US, embarking on a radio promotion spree, and made their first US television appearance on The Today Show.
April 2012: Guest Appearance on iCarly
In April 2012, One Direction starred in an episode of the American sitcom iCarly.
April 2012: Trademark Infringement Lawsuit Filed
In April 2012, an American pop rock band filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against One Direction, claiming prior use of the band name since 2009.
May 2012: Recording of Take Me Home Begins
In May 2012, One Direction began recording their album Take Me Home in Stockholm at Kinglet Studios.
May 2012: Publication of Dare to Dream: Life as One Direction
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.
May 2012: Release of Up All Night: The Live Tour DVD
In May 2012, a recording of a concert from the Up All Night Tour, titled Up All Night: The Live Tour, was released.
June 2012: Prediction of $100 Million Business Empire
In June 2012, Nick Gatfield, the 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: Sales of Up All Night: The Live Tour DVD
By August 2012, the Up All Night: The Live Tour DVD topped the charts in 25 countries, selling more than 1 million copies.
August 2012: Exceeding 8 Million Singles, 3 Million Albums and 1 Million DVDs Sold
In August 2012, One Direction's record sales exceeded 8 million singles, 3 million albums, and 1 million DVDs.
September 2012: Release of "Live While We're Young"
In September 2012, One Direction released "Live While We're Young", the lead single from their second album, achieving global success.
September 2012: Resolution of Trademark Dispute
In September 2012, One Direction won the legal dispute over the right to use their band name, with the US band changing its name to Uncharted Shores.
September 2012: MTV Video Music Awards Wins
On September 6, 2012, One Direction won the most awards at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, receiving all three awards for which they were nominated, including Best New Artist.
November 2012: Release of Take Me Home
In November 2012, One Direction released their second studio album, Take Me Home, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and topped the charts in more than 34 other countries.
December 2012: Performance 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: One Direction Appear on iCarly
In 2012, One Direction appeared in an episode of the American teen sitcom iCarly.
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 for their "Live for Now" campaign alongside NFL player Drew Brees, and Hasbro launched mini figures based on the band members for their US fans. In October, they endorsed Filipino clothing brand Penshoppe.
2012: Opening Performance and Niall Horan's Birthday Event
In 2012, One Direction opened the Children in Need telecast with a performance of "Live While We're Young". Also that year, Niall Horan organized a birthday event to raise money for Irish Autism Action and Temporary Emergency Accommodation Mullingar.
2012: Release of "Take Me Home"
In 2012, One Direction released their second album, Take Me Home, characterized by rock-inherited pop, prominent electric guitar riffs, bright synthesisers, and Auto-Tune. The album's lyricism speaks of falling in love, unrequited love and commitment.
2012: Performance at the 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 Charity Single and Start of Take Me Home Tour
In February 2013, One Direction released "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" as the 2013 Comic Relief single and embarked on their second concert tour, the Take Me Home Tour.
February 2013: Release of Comic Relief Single
In February 2013, One Direction released "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" as the 2013 single for Comic Relief, raising over £2 million. The group travelled to Africa and created short films to encourage donations.
May 2013: Announcement of Where We Are Tour
On May 16, 2013, One Direction announced their first all-stadium tour, the Where We Are Tour.
June 2013: Partnership with Office Depot
In June 2013, One Direction announced a partnership with Office Depot on a limited-edition capsule collection of back to school supplies. A portion of the proceeds was donated toward an anti-bullying educational programme.
July 2013: Release of "Best Song Ever"
In July 2013, One Direction released "Best Song Ever", the lead single from their upcoming third studio album, Midnight Memories. The song reached number two in the US and broke the 24-Hour Vevo Record with 10.9 million views on YouTube.
August 2013: Release of "One Direction: This Is Us" and "One Direction: Where We Are: Our Band, Our Story: 100% Official"
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. They also released their third book, One Direction: Where We Are: Our Band, Our Story: 100% Official.
October 2013: Release of "Story of My Life" and "1D Day"
In October 2013, One Direction released "Story of My Life", the second single from Midnight Memories. The band also participated in "1D Day", a 7-hour interactive YouTube live-stream.
November 2013: Global Release of Midnight Memories
On November 25, 2013, Midnight Memories was released globally, debuting at number one in the UK and US. It was the best-selling album worldwide in 2013, selling 4 million copies.
December 2013: Record-Breaking Release of "This Is Us" DVD and Blu-ray
In December 2013, One Direction broke a UK sales record with the DVD and Blu-ray release of This Is Us. Nearly 270,000 copies were sold within three days. The group was also named among the Top Global artists of 2013 by the IFPI.
2013: Madame Tussauds made wax sculptures of the band
In 2013, Madame Tussauds in London made wax sculptures of the band.
2013: Release of Midnight Memories
In 2013, One Direction released their album, Midnight Memories, achieving their first four albums debuting at number one.
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: Simon Cowell's Comment on Forming the Band
In 2013, Simon Cowell stated that it took him 10 minutes to put One Direction together as a group.
2013: Rainbow Direction Started
In 2013, members of the One Direction fandom started the organization Rainbow Direction. Rainbow Direction aimed at promoting inclusivity for LGBTQ+ fans at the band's concerts.
2013: Crazy About One Direction Documentary
In 2013, the British documentary Crazy About One Direction focused on fans, which received backlash from the fandom who thought the portrayal was inaccurate.
2013: Prediction of a $100 Million Business Empire by 2013
In June 2012, it was predicted that One Direction would represent a $100 million business empire by 2013
February 2014: Release of Second Scent "That Moment"
In February 2014, One Direction released their second scent, "That Moment". The fragrance was released with a matching shower gel and body lotion.
April 2014: Start of the Where We Are Tour
On April 25, 2014, One Direction embarked on the Where We Are Tour.
June 2014: Filming of One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film
The concerts of June 28 and 29, 2014, at San Siro Stadium during the Where We Are Tour were filmed for the movie One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film.
July 2014: Announcement of One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film and "Who We Are" Autobiography
In July 2014, One Direction announced One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film and their autobiography titled Who We Are.
September 2014: Announcement of Fourth Studio Album "Four" and release of "Steal My Girl" and "Fireproof"
On September 8, 2014, One Direction announced their fourth studio album, Four, set to be released on November 17, 2014. As part of the announcement, "Fireproof" was released for free download, and on September 29, 2014, "Steal My Girl", the album's lead single was released.
October 2014: Limited Cinema Release of One Direction: Where We Are
In October 2014, One Direction released One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film, in cinemas internationally for a limited run of 10-11 October.
October 2014: End of the Where We Are Tour
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: Release of "Night Changes" and "Four"
In November 2014, One Direction released the single, "Night Changes", three days before the release of their album, Four. The album Four was then released on November 17, 2014, topping the Billboard 200 and the UK Album Chart.
November 2014: Participation in Band Aid 30
On 15 November 2014, One Direction joined Band Aid 30, recording the latest version of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in Western Africa. Niall Horan also hosted a charity football match with other members of One Direction and various celebrities.
2014: Artist of the Year
In 2014, Billboard named One Direction the Artist of the Year.
2014: Harry Styles Claims One Direction is 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. Paul McCartney disagreed with Styles.
2014: Appearance on Sesame Street 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". The same year, Anna Todd published After, originally a One Direction fan fiction on Wattpad.
2014: First band in history 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" became the highest-grossing concert tour of the year, grossing $290 million in ticket sales in 2014.
2014: Release of Four
In 2014, One Direction released their album, Four, achieving their first four albums debuting at number one.
2014: Where We Are Tour Success
In 2014, One Direction's Where We Are Tour, in support of Midnight Memories, became the highest-grossing concert tour of that year, and the highest-grossing tour by a vocal group in history, grossing $290 million.
2014: The Wanted Went on Indefinite Hiatus
In 2014, The Wanted went on indefinite hiatus, citing One Direction's global success as part of the reason, saying, "One Direction are a phenomenon that no one else can compete with".
2014: Styles' Initial Hiatus Suggestion
In late 2014, Harry Styles initially suggested the idea of a hiatus to avoid exhausting their fanbase.
February 2015: Embarking on the On the Road Again Tour
In February 2015, One Direction embarked on their fourth world tour, the On the Road Again Tour.
March 2015: Zayn Malik Leaves One Direction
In March 2015, Zayn Malik left One Direction, leading to viral fan reactions on social media. Candlelight vigils were held in memory of Malik and Madame Tussauds hired "tissue attendants" to comfort guests.
March 2015: Zayn Malik's Departure Announcement
On March 25, 2015, Zayn Malik's departure from One Direction was announced, with an official statement citing his desire to be a normal 22-year-old. The remaining members confirmed they would continue as a four-piece.
June 2015: Release of Fourth Fragrance 'Between Us'
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., after Zayn Malik's departure. The single topped charts in multiple countries.
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, planning to work together in the future.
October 2015: Conclusion of the On the Road Again Tour
One Direction's On the Road Again tour concluded on October 31, 2015, after playing 80 shows and grossing $208 million.
November 2015: Release of "Made in the A.M."
On November 13, 2015, One Direction released Made in the A.M., which topped the charts in the UK and other countries, while reaching number two in the US. The album received positive reviews.
December 2015: Final Performances as a Group
In December 2015, One Direction performed on The X Factor final on December 13. Their final televised performance as a group took place on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on December 31.
2015: Parody on Red Nose Day
Comic Relief parodied One Direction for Red Nose Day 2015, featuring comedians as "No Direction".
2015: Forbes ranked One Direction
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: Forbes Ranking
In 2015, Forbes ranked One Direction as the fourth highest-earning celebrities in the world.
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 act was supported by then Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
2015: Release of Made in the A.M.
In 2015, One Direction released their fifth and final album prior to their hiatus, Made in the A.M.
2015: Mention in J. K. Rowling's Career of Evil
In 2015, One Direction was mentioned in J. K. Rowling's crime novel Career of Evil, featuring a murdered girl who was obsessed with the group and claimed Niall Horan was her boyfriend.
2015: One Direction on Tumblr
In 2015, One Direction was the second most reblogged band on Tumblr. Also in 2015, the term "Larry Stylinson" was the most reblogged ship on Tumblr.
2015: Zayn Malik's Departure
In 2015, Zayn Malik departed from One Direction.
2015: Malik Reflects on Band Split
In 2015, Zayn Malik stated that the band had gotten "sick" of each other, contributing to their split.
January 2016: Hiatus Announcement
In January 2016, One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus, allowing all members to pursue solo projects.
January 2016: Reports of Potential Permanent Split
In January 2016, Us Weekly reported that One Direction's hiatus would become a permanent split, however, representatives for the group denied the report.
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: Appearance on Family Guy
In 2016, One Direction was featured in the Family Guy episode "Run, Chris, Run", with Tomlinson and Payne providing voices for themselves.
2016: Highest paid European celebrities
In 2016, One Direction was named the highest paid European celebrities, despite having been on hiatus for a year.
2016: One Direction's Hiatus
In 2016, One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus.
2016: Study on One Direction fan fiction
In 2016, a study found that a quarter of Wattpad's 150 most popular authors wrote One Direction fan fiction, highlighting the band's significant presence on the platform.
May 2017: All Members Release Solo Singles
By May 2017, all members of One Direction had released solo singles.
October 2017: Application for Removal
In October 2017, One Direction applied for removal of their touring company within the Companies House registry.
2017: ABC premiered the television series Boy Band
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. Many media outlets suspected the show's premise and inspiration was to find "the next One Direction".
2017: Styles Discusses Hiatus Idea
In 2017, Harry Styles stated that he was the first member of One Direction to bring up the idea of the hiatus in late 2014, saying he "didn't want to exhaust" their fanbase.
2017: Tied with the Beatles
In 2017, One Direction tied with the Beatles with three members from each group having achieved number-one solo albums.
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: Mention in Euphoria
In 2019, the American teen drama Euphoria featured a character writing One Direction fan fictions online, and had an animated sex scene between Styles and Tomlinson, which Tomlinson did not approve 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: Billboard Story on One Direction's 10-Year Anniversary
In 2020, Billboard wrote a story in honour of One Direction's 10-year anniversary. The story credited the group's "groundbreaking success" to their dedicated global fanbase.
2020: One Direction's Popularity on Tumblr
In 2020, One Direction was Tumblr's fifth most popular band, demonstrating their continued relevance within online fan communities.
2020: Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS
In 2020, One Direction was featured in Maria Sherman's book, Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS.
2020: One Direction Dubbed the World's Biggest Boy Band
In 2020, four years after their hiatus, One Direction was described as "the world's biggest boy band".
2022: Everything I Need I Get from You: How Fangirls Created the Internet as We Know It
In 2022, Kaitlyn Tiffany released a book titled 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: Madame Tussauds Retires One Direction Wax Sculptures
In 2022, Madame Tussauds in London retired the One Direction wax sculptures, six years after the band's indefinite hiatus.
2022: Release of Previously Unseen Footage
In 2022, The X Factor released previously unseen footage showing Nicole Scherzinger's significant role in forming One Direction.
2022: Article on One Direction Fangirls
In 2022, an article by Fast Company wrote that "One Direction fangirls made the internet a better place". The article credited the group for shaping modern social media interactions between fandoms.
2023: Tomlinson Remarks on the Split
In 2023, Louis Tomlinson remarked that the split felt like "another loss".
October 2024: Liam Payne's Death and One Direction Music Surge
On October 16, 2024, Liam Payne died after an accidental fall. Following his death, One Direction's music surged on charts worldwide, with all five albums charting on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200.
2024: Simon Cowell Announced Open Casting Calls
In 2024, Simon Cowell announced open casting calls for the "next One Direction", stating that he did not believe a boy band had reached the success of the group since the band's conception.
2025: Tomlinson on Independent Thinking in the Band
In a 2025 interview, Louis Tomlinson discussed a shift in the band's dynamics, saying that someone thinking more independently made the "room feel cold". He also spoke of a potential reunion, noting its impact on Liam Payne.
2026: Upcoming Documentary Series Featuring Malik and Tomlinson
In 2026, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson will reunite for a Netflix documentary series that follows their careers since the hiatus and Liam Payne's death. Niall Horan and Harry Styles are not expected to appear.
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