Career Timeline of Zayn Malik: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Zayn Malik, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Zayn Malik is an English singer who rose to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction, formed on The X Factor in 2010. One Direction became one of the best-selling boy bands. Malik departed from the group in March 2015 to pursue a solo career, subsequently signing with RCA Records.
2008: First group to record two number-one albums in the same year since 2008.
In November 2012, One Direction's album reached number one on the Billboard 200. The group became the first boy band in US chart history to record two number-one albums in the same calendar year and the first group since 2008 to record two number-one albums in the same year.
2010: The X Factor Audition and Formation of One Direction
In 2010, Zayn Malik auditioned for The X Factor, and despite being eliminated, he was grouped with other contestants to form One Direction. They were later signed by Syco Records.
2010: Auditioned for The X Factor
In 2010, Zayn Malik auditioned for the British television series The X Factor as a solo contestant.
February 2011: Release of One Direction: Forever Young
In February 2011, One Direction's licensed book, One Direction: Forever Young (Our Official X Factor Story), was released and topped The Sunday Times' Best Seller list. The band also performed for 500,000 people throughout the UK as part of the X Factor Live Tour.
November 2011: Release of Up All Night
In November 2011, One Direction's debut studio album Up All Night was released in the UK and Ireland.
March 2012: International Release of Up All Night
In March 2012, One Direction's album, Up All Night, was released internationally, reaching number one in the United States.
May 2012: Release of Up All Night: The Live Tour and Dare to Dream: Life as One Direction
In May 2012, One Direction released 'Up All Night: The Live Tour', a video album documenting their tour, and published their first American-licensed book, 'Dare to Dream: Life as One Direction', which topped The New York Times Best Seller list.
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.
November 2012: Release of Take Me Home Album
In November 2012, One Direction released their second studio album, Take Me Home, which reached number one in 35 countries.
February 2013: Take Me Home Tour
In February 2013, One Direction began their second concert tour, the Take Me Home Tour.
August 2013: Release of One Direction: This Is Us
In August 2013, One Direction released the 3D documentary concert film One Direction: This Is Us and their third book, One Direction: Where We Are: Our Band, Our Story: 100% Official.
November 2013: Release of Midnight Memories
In November 2013, One Direction released their third studio album, Midnight Memories, which became the best-selling album worldwide in 2013.
April 2014: Guitar Donation to Kean's Children Fund
In April 2014, Zayn Malik donated his guitar to the Kean's Children Fund in Dundee, Scotland, to raise money for iPads for children at Ninewells Hospital.
September 2014: Release of One Direction: Who We Are: Our Official Autobiography
In September 2014, One Direction's fourth book, One Direction: Who We Are: Our Official Autobiography, was released.
October 2014: Release of One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film
In October 2014, One Direction's second concert film, One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film, was released.
November 2014: Release of Four Album
In November 2014, One Direction released their fourth album, Four.
March 2015: Zayn's Absence and Departure Announcement
In March 2015, Zayn Malik became overwhelmed with stress and was absent for the remaining shows of the Asian leg of the On The Road Again Tour. Later that month, his departure from One Direction was announced.
March 2015: Departure from One Direction
In March 2015, Zayn Malik left the boy band One Direction.
March 2015: Recording Studio and Potential Solo Career
In March 2015, Zayn Malik was seen at a London recording studio with producer Naughty Boy, alluding to a potential solo career. Naughty Boy released an early demo of Malik's song "I Won't Mind" on SoundCloud.
March 2015: Departure Announcement
On March 25, 2015, One Direction announced Zayn Malik's departure from the band, citing his desire to live a normal life.
June 2015: Leak of "No Type"
In June 2015, UK rapper Mic Righteous leaked Zayn Malik's "No Type", featuring Mic Righteous and produced by Naughty Boy, a cover version of Rae Sremmurd's hip hop song.
July 2015: Signing with RCA Records
In July 2015, Zayn Malik announced that he had signed a recording deal with RCA Records.
December 2015: Malik's Interview with The Fader
In December 2015, in an interview with The Fader, Zayn Malik expressed dissatisfaction with One Direction's musical direction and his lack of creative freedom.
January 2016: Release of "Pillowtalk"
In January 2016, Zayn Malik released "Pillowtalk" as the lead single from his upcoming album, which debuted at number one in the UK and US.
February 2016: Release of "Pillowtalk" Remix and Guest Vocals on "Back to Sleep" Remix
At the end of February 2016, Zayn Malik released a remix of "Pillowtalk" featuring American rapper Lil Wayne and contributed guest vocals to the remix of Chris Brown's R&B song "Back to Sleep", which also featured Usher.
March 2016: Release of Mind of Mine
In March 2016, Zayn Malik released his album Mind of Mine, which features a blend of R&B and alternative R&B genres.
July 2016: Release of "Cruel"
In July 2016, "Cruel", featuring Zayn Malik, was released by British production team Snakehips.
2016: Release of Mind of Mine
In 2016, Zayn Malik adopted a more alternative R&B music style on his first solo studio album, Mind of Mine and its lead single, "Pillowtalk".
2016: Debut on BoF500 Index
In 2016, Zayn Malik made his debut on The Business of Fashion's annual BoF500 index, which profiles the most influential people in fashion.
2016: Sponsors Box at Bradford City
In 2016, Zayn Malik sponsored a box at Bradford City for underprivileged children to watch football.
2016: Solo Album Planned
In March 2015, after departure from One Direction, Malik alluded to the potential of a solo career, with the release of his first solo studio album to be released under the Syco label in 2016.
January 2017: Release of Giuseppe for Zayn shoe line
In January 2017, Zayn Malik released a shoe line with Italian footwear designer Giuseppe Zanotti. The Giuseppe for Zayn capsule collection featured four shoe styles.
February 2017: Versus (Versace) Campaign and Fashion Fund Co-hosting
In February 2017, the Versus (Versace) Spring Summer 2017 campaign featuring Zayn Malik was released, and he co-hosted the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund's Americans in Paris annual cocktail.
March 2017: Release of "Still Got Time"
On March 24, 2017, Zayn Malik released the single "Still Got Time", featuring PartyNextDoor.
May 2017: Release of Zayn x Versus Collection
In May 2017, Donatella Versace appointed Zayn Malik as the creative director for a men's and women's capsule collection called Zayn x Versus, which was made available to the public.
September 2017: Release of "Dusk Till Dawn"
On September 7, 2017, Zayn Malik released the single "Dusk Till Dawn", featuring Sia, with an accompanying music video directed by Marc Webb.
2017: Release of "I Don't Wanna Live Forever"
By the end of 2016, Taylor Swift and Zayn Malik released a single together called "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" for the soundtrack of the film Fifty Shades Darker in 2017.
April 2018: Release of "Let Me"
On 12 April 2018, Zayn Malik released "Let Me", the lead single from his upcoming album.
September 2018: Designs Backpack Line for The Kooples
In September 2018, Zayn Malik designed a backpack line for The Kooples.
2018: Release of Icarus Falls
In 2018, Zayn Malik released his second studio album, Icarus Falls.
2019: Collaborations and Soundtrack Work in 2019
In 2019, Zayn Malik covered "A Whole New World" with Zhavia Ward for the Aladdin film soundtrack and released a bilingual version with Becky G. He also collaborated with Shaed on a remix of "Trampoline" and with R3hab and Jungleboi on "Flames".
2019: Penshoppe Campaign
In 2019, Zayn Malik modeled for Penshoppe's Spring campaign.
January 2020: Donation to Medical Treatment
In January 2020, Zayn Malik donated £10,000 to a five-year-old girl's medical treatment through a GoFundMe page.
June 2020: Support for Black Lives Matter
In June 2020, Zayn Malik expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement by sharing links to petitions and donating to the George Floyd memorial fund.
August 2020: Re-release of Icarus Falls
On 28 August 2020, Zayn Malik re-released his album Icarus Falls, including the tracks "Still Got Time" and "Dusk Till Dawn".
September 2020: Release of "Better"
On 25 September 2020, Zayn Malik released "Better" as the lead single from his third studio album, Nobody Is Listening, marking his first solo release in nearly two years.
January 2021: Release of "Vibez" and Nobody Is Listening album
In January 2021, Zayn Malik released the song "Vibez" alongside the album pre-order on January 8, followed by the full album, Nobody Is Listening, on January 15.
September 2021: Release of Yellow Tape
On 13 September 2021, Zayn Malik released Yellow Tape, a collection of three songs—"Grimez", "Believe Me", and "47 11"—via Dropbox, signaling a shift towards an old-school hip-hop sound.
October 2021: RCA Drops Malik
In October 2021, RCA dropped Zayn Malik from their record label.
2021: Release of Nobody Is Listening
In 2021, Zayn Malik released his third album, Nobody Is Listening.
November 2022: Letter to Rishi Sunak on Free School Meals
In November 2022, Zayn Malik wrote a public letter to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urging him to widen the access to free school meals during the cost of living crisis, in support of an initiative by The Food Foundation.
January 2023: Signs with United Talent Agency
On 26 January 2023, it was reported that Zayn Malik signed a new management contract with United Talent Agency for representation across music, film, and television.
July 2023: Signs with Mercury Records and Releases "Love Like This"
In July 2023, Zayn Malik signed a new recording contract with Mercury Records and released "Love Like This" on 21 July 2023, transitioning to an R&B sound.
December 2023: Ambassador for Hopefield Animal Sanctuary
In December 2023, Zayn Malik became an official ambassador of the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, an organization providing shelter to injured or unwanted animals.
February 2024: Dave Cobb Discusses Working with Zayn
On 28 February 2024, Dave Cobb revealed that he was extensively working with Zayn on his upcoming album. Cobb praised Zayn's voice and the honesty of the new record.
March 2024: Album Announcement and Pre-Order
On 13 March 2024, Zayn announced his upcoming album, released a teaser video on 6 March 2024, and made the album available for pre-order.
May 2024: Album Release, Solo Show, and Chart Debut
In May 2024, Zayn Malik released his album Room Under the Stairs on May 17 and announced his first-ever solo live show at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on May 17. The album debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart and number fifteen on the US Billboard 200.
September 2025: Announcement of Las Vegas Residency
In September 2025, Zayn Malik's seven-date residency at Dolby Live in Paradise, Nevada, from 20 January to 31 January 2026, was announced.
January 2026: Las Vegas Residency
From January 20, 2026 to January 31, 2026, Zayn Malik will have a seven-date residency at Dolby Live in Paradise, Nevada. It will be a career-spanning event.
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