One Direction facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
One Direction
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One Direction performing in Sydney on their Up All Night Tour, 2012. From left to right: Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | 1D |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2010–2016 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | The X Factor finalists 2010 |
| Members | |
| Past members | |
One Direction, often called 1D, was a super popular English-Irish pop boy band. They formed in London in 2010. The group had five members: Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. Zayn left the band in 2015.
One Direction became one of the best-selling boy groups ever. They took a break in 2016. This break was called an "indefinite hiatus."
The band became famous after appearing on the TV show The X Factor in 2010. They finished third in the competition. After the show, they signed with Simon Cowell's record label, Syco Records.
Social media helped One Direction become a global success. Their five albums topped music charts in many countries. These albums were Up All Night (2011), Take Me Home (2012), Midnight Memories (2013), Four (2014), and Made in the A.M. (2015).
They had many hit songs. Some of their most famous hits include "What Makes You Beautiful", "Live While We're Young", "Best Song Ever", "Story of My Life" and "Drag Me Down".
One Direction made history with their first four albums. They were the first band to have their first four albums debut at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. Their third album, Midnight Memories, was the best-selling album worldwide in 2013.
One Direction was known for causing a lot of excitement among their fans. They went on four world tours. Two of these tours were so big they played only in stadiums. Their "Where We Are Tour" in 2014 was the highest-earning concert tour of that year. It was also the highest-earning tour ever by a vocal group. The tour made over $290 million!
By 2020, One Direction had sold 70 million records around the world. This makes them one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. They won almost 200 awards. These include seven Brit Awards and seven American Music Awards. In 2013, Forbes magazine said they earned about $75 million. This made them the second highest-earning celebrity under 30.
Contents
- How One Direction Started
- One Direction's Music Style
- Other Things They Did
- Band's Image and Impact
- One Direction's Legacy
- Awards and Honours
- Band Members
- Discography
- Filmography
- Tours
- Publications
- Images for kids
How One Direction Started
Becoming a Band on The X Factor (2010-2011)
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The five members of One Direction first tried out for The X Factor in 2010. They all auditioned as solo singers. But they didn't make it to the next stage as individuals.
Instead, a guest judge, Nicole Scherzinger, and judge Simon Cowell had an idea. They decided to put the five boys together to form a new boy band. This meant they could compete in the "Groups" category.
The band spent two weeks getting to know each other and practicing. Harry Styles came up with the name "One Direction". For their first song as a group, they sang an acoustic version of "Torn". Simon Cowell was very impressed. He said they were "confident, fun, like a gang of friends, and kind of fearless."
One Direction quickly became very popular in the UK. They made it all the way to the final of The X Factor. They finished in third place.
Right after the show, Simon Cowell signed them to a record deal. They started recording their first album in January 2011. They worked with famous producers in Los Angeles, Stockholm, and London.
In February 2011, One Direction released a book called One Direction: Forever Young. It became a best-seller. The band also went on The X Factor Live Tour. They performed for 500,000 people across the UK.
First Album Success: Up All Night (2011-2012)
One Direction's first single, "What Makes You Beautiful", came out in September 2011. It was a huge hit in the UK and around the world. It went straight to number one on the UK Singles Chart. It was the most pre-ordered Sony Music Entertainment single ever.
Their next singles, "Gotta Be You" and "One Thing", also reached the top ten in the UK. In November 2011, they signed a deal with Columbia Records in North America.
Their first album, Up All Night, was released in the UK and Ireland in November 2011. It was praised by critics and became the fastest-selling debut album of 2011 in the UK. In December 2011, they started their first concert tour in the UK.
In February 2012, One Direction visited the US. They appeared on The Today Show in New York City. About 15,000 fans came to see them. "What Makes You Beautiful" was released in the US that month. It became the highest debut for a British act in over ten years on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached number four on that chart.
When Up All Night was released internationally in March, it topped the charts in sixteen countries. One Direction became the first UK group to have their first album reach number one in the US. They even earned a spot in the Guinness World Records for this. By August 2012, the album had sold over 3 million copies worldwide. It was the third best-selling album globally in 2012.
The "Up All Night Tour" was very successful. Tickets sold out in minutes. A recording of the concert, Up All Night: The Live Tour, was released in May 2012. It topped the charts in twenty-five countries.
In August 2012, the group's total sales reached over 8 million singles and 3 million albums. They performed "What Makes You Beautiful" at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in London. They won three awards at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, including Best New Artist.
There was a legal issue in 2012 with an American band also named One Direction. The US band claimed they used the name first. But in September 2012, the UK group won the dispute. The US band changed their name to Uncharted Shores.
Take Me Home and More Tours (2012-2013)
In September 2012, One Direction released "Live While We're Young". It was the first single from their second album. The song was a global hit. It reached the top ten in almost every country. It also had the highest first-week sales for a non-US artist in the US.
Their second single, "Little Things", became their second number one song in the UK. In November 2012, their second album, Take Me Home, was released. It sold 540,000 copies in its first week in the US. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It also topped the charts in over thirty-four other countries.
Both Up All Night and Take Me Home were among the best-selling albums of 2012 worldwide. One Direction became the first boy band in US chart history to have two number-one albums in the same year. They were also the first group ever to have their first two albums reach number one on the Billboard 200.
The band performed "Little Things" for Queen Elizabeth II at the 2012 Royal Variety Performance. They also played a sold-out show at New York City's Madison Square Garden.
In February 2013, One Direction released a charity single. It was a mix of "One Way or Another" and "Teenage Kicks", called "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)". It became number one in the UK and Ireland. As part of this, the band visited Ghana to help at a children's hospital.
After Take Me Home was released, they started their second concert tour. This was their first tour playing in arenas. The "Take Me Home Tour" had 123 shows around the world. Tickets sold out very quickly. The tour made $114 million. By February 2013, One Direction had sold over 2.4 million records in the UK.
Midnight Memories and This Is Us (2013-2014)
"Best Song Ever" was the first single from their third album, Midnight Memories. It was released in July 2013. It became their highest-charting single in the US, reaching number two. The music video broke a 24-Hour Vevo Record with 10.9 million views on YouTube.
A 3D documentary and concert film about the group, One Direction: This Is Us, came out in August 2013. It was a big success at the box office. It made over $60 million worldwide. It became the fourth highest-earning concert movie ever.
In May 2013, the band announced their first all-stadium tour, the Where We Are Tour. Tickets sold out in minutes.
On 23 November 2013, the band celebrated "1D Day". This was a 7.5-hour live stream on YouTube for their fans. It featured performances and celebrity guests. The second single from Midnight Memories, "Story of My Life", was released in October 2013.
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Midnight Memories was released in November 2013. It debuted at number one in the UK and US. This made them the first group to have their first three albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200. The album was described as having a "rockier tone" than their previous work. Many of the songs were written by the band members themselves. Even though it was released late in the year, it was the best-selling album worldwide in 2013. It sold 4 million copies.
In December 2013, the DVD and Blu-ray of This Is Us broke a UK sales record. The group was also named among the Top Global artists of 2013 by the IFPI. By 2013, they became the first boy band in history to earn over $1 billion.
The "Where We Are Tour" ran from April to October 2014. It had 69 shows and earned over $290 million. It was the highest-earning concert tour of 2014. It was also the highest-earning tour of all time by a vocal group. About 3.4 million fans attended the tour. In August 2014, the group released their third book, One Direction: Where We Are: Our Band, Our Story.
Four and More Success (2014-2015)
In July 2014, One Direction announced One Direction: Where We Are - The Concert Film. This film showed their concerts from the "Where We Are Tour". It was released in cinemas and then on home video. The group also released an autobiography called Who We Are in September 2014.
On 8 September 2014, One Direction announced their fourth album, Four. It was released on 17 November 2014. They gave fans a free download of one song, "Fireproof", for 24 hours.
"Steal My Girl" was the first single from Four. It was released in September 2014. The second single, "Night Changes", came out in November. Four topped the Billboard 200 and the UK Album Chart. It debuted at number one in 18 countries and sold 3.2 million copies. One Direction became the only group in the 58-year history of the Billboard 200 to have their first four albums debut at number one.
In February 2015, the group started their fourth world tour. This was their second all-stadium tour, called the "On the Road Again Tour".
Changes and Hiatus (2015-2024)
Zayn Malik Leaves the Band
On 25 March 2015, Zayn Malik announced he was leaving One Direction. This happened during the Asia part of their tour. Zayn said he wanted to be a "normal 22-year-old" and have private time. He also said he had "four friends for life" in the other band members.
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In May, the group made their first public appearance as a four-member band. They confirmed they would continue without a new fifth member.
On 31 July 2015, the group released "Drag Me Down". This was the first song from their fifth album, Made in the A.M.. It was also their first song released after Zayn left. The song topped charts in many countries, including France, Australia, Ireland, and the UK. It reached number three in the United States.
In September, Made in the A.M. was officially announced. Another single, "Perfect", was released in October. It reached the Billboard top ten. This made it the group's fifth top-ten hit. They broke The Beatles' record for the most top ten debuts among bands.
The Band Takes a Break
In August 2015, it was announced that One Direction would take a break in 2016. This was so the members could work on their own projects. But they said they would still be a band and planned to work together again.
The "On the Road Again Tour" ended on 31 October 2015. It had eighty shows and earned $208 million. It was the second highest-earning tour of 2015.
Made in the A.M. was released on 13 November 2015. It topped the charts in the UK and other countries. It reached number two in the US. It was the sixth best-selling album of 2015.
One Direction won "Artist of the Year" at the 2015 American Music Awards for the second year in a row. Their last TV performance as a group before their break was on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on 31 December 2015.
In January 2016, there were rumors that the break would be permanent. But the band's representatives said that nothing had changed. At the 2017 Brit Awards, One Direction won "Video of the Year" for "History". Liam Payne accepted the award. By May 2017, all members had released solo songs. Since then, they have all worked on other projects and released solo albums.
Liam Payne's Passing
Liam Payne passed away in October 2024.
One Direction's Music Style
One Direction's first album, Up All Night (2011), was mostly pop music. It also had elements of teen pop, dance-pop, and pop rock. Critics praised their songs for having "killer choruses" and showing an original sound. Songs like "One Thing" and "What Makes You Beautiful" were noted for their strong guitar riffs.
Their second album, Take Me Home (2012), featured more rock-influenced pop. It had strong electric guitar riffs and bright synthesisers. Critics said it was an improvement from typical boy band music. The songs on this album talked about falling in love, unrequited love, and accepting flaws.
When performing live, critics often praised One Direction's singing. They noted that Niall Horan could play guitar. Many people were surprised that the boys could "actually sing" live.
Their third album, Midnight Memories (2013), was a pop rock record. This was a change from their earlier teen pop sound. Liam Payne said it was a "slightly rockier and edgier" album. It was influenced by 80s rock and folk music. The album's songs were mainly about love and heartbreak. Critics liked its deeper lyrics and music. The band members were also more involved in writing the songs.
Their fourth album, Four (2014), showed their pop sound growing even more. The first single, "Steal My Girl", had a classic rock sound. Rolling Stone magazine said the album had "retro vibes." It mixed 80s pop rock with 70s styles.
Other Things They Did
Endorsements and Products
One Direction worked with many brands. In 2011, they were the faces of Pokémon Black and White video games. They also helped launch Nokia phones.
In 2012, they teamed up with Colgate to release their own One Direction toothbrushes and toothpaste. They also signed a big advertising deal with Pepsi. They worked with Shazam so fans could get special content. Hasbro made mini figures of the band members. They also endorsed the Filipino clothing brand Penshoppe.
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In 2013, One Direction opened pop-up shops around the world. These shops sold special merchandise. Nabisco sponsored their North American tour. The band also became the new faces of Toyota VIOS cars.
One Direction launched their first perfume, Our Moment, in 2013. It was the best-selling celebrity perfume that Christmas. In 2014, they released their second scent, That Moment. They also released a commercial for their third perfume, "You & I", named after their song.
In 2015, One Direction appeared in another Toyota Vios ad in Thailand. Coca-Cola Mexico also featured them in commercials. They revealed their fourth perfume, 'Between Us'. The band also appeared in a Honda Civic ad. Their 2015 US tour was supported by Honda.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
One Direction often helped charities. In 2011 and 2012, they performed on the BBC's Children in Need 2011 charity telethon. They said it was "incredible" to be involved.
In February 2013, they released "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" for Comic Relief. This charity single helped raise money. As part of this, they visited Ghana to volunteer at a children's hospital. The band also made other charity appearances. They presented an award at the 2011 Pride of Britain Awards. They also performed for Prince William and Catherine at the 2014 Royal Variety Performance.
In September 2012, Niall Horan organized an event to raise money for Irish Autism Action. The demand for tickets was so high that the website crashed!
In 2013, Liam Payne and Harry Styles worked with Trekstock, a cancer charity. They offered a chance for a fan to meet them if they donated. They raised over $784,000 for cancer research. One Direction was named one of the most charitable celebrities in 2013 by DoSomething.org. They also partnered with Office Depot to sell school supplies. Part of the money went to an anti-bullying program.
In 2014, One Direction donated £600,000 to the Stand Up to Cancer campaign. This came from their "Where We Are Tour" ticket sales. In November 2014, they joined the charity group Band Aid 30. They recorded a new version of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis.
In 2015, One Direction launched their 'Action 1D' campaign. This aimed to raise awareness about global issues like poverty and climate change. They asked fans to share creative content using the hashtag #Action1D.
Band's Image and Impact
In the mid-2010s, One Direction were seen as teen idols. Their fans were very excited about them. Some people noted that One Direction filled a gap in the market for "clean cut, wholesome" pop music.
Niall Horan said that One Direction was different from typical boy bands. He said, "We're boys in a band. We're trying to do something different." They often acted like normal, funny teenage boys. They posted funny videos online and didn't always wear matching outfits. This helped them seem more real to their fans.
Each member also had their own unique style. Their stylist wanted them to be like the "male equivalent to the Spice Girls". Each member had their own look, not all dressed the same.
One Direction's Legacy
Their Importance in Music
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One Direction is credited with bringing back interest in boy bands. They were part of a new "British Invasion" in the United States. Many people said their popularity was similar to or even surpassed that of NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and New Kids on the Block.
HuffPost wrote that One Direction's fame was "unprecedented." Some even compared their intense fan excitement to The Beatles in the 1960s. NPR called them "one of the biggest boy bands the world had ever seen."
Rolling Stone named "What Makes You Beautiful" the sixth greatest boy band song ever. Billboard called their album Four the best boy band album of the last thirty years. One Direction's music was unique because it was pop music rooted in guitar rock. This was rare at the time. Rolling Stone even called them "one of the great rock bands of the 21st century."
One Direction was widely seen as the biggest boy band in the world. Their rise to fame was very fast. Forbes noted that their "meteoric rise has surpassed any other boy band in history." In 2012, the excitement around them was called "One Direction Infection." Special "1D World" stores opened in the US due to high demand.
The group was different because they didn't dance much, rarely wore matching outfits, and had tattoos. This broke the "boy band mold." They also showed a more "joking" and "fun" side in their songs and videos. They were credited with helping to change ideas about what a boy band could be.
One Direction is also known for being one of the first groups to become globally famous because of social media. Their manager said, "These guys live online, and so do their fans." The band members often tweeted themselves. This made fans feel very close to them. Social media helped fans spread the word about the group. It also allowed fans to get live updates about concerts and the band's activities. The Detroit News called them "the first megastar boyband of the Social Media Era."
In 2017, the TV show Boy Band premiered. Many people thought the show's goal was to find "the next One Direction."
Their Fans
One Direction's fans called themselves "Directioners." They were known as one of the biggest fandoms on the internet. Huffington Post noted that fans formed "unprecedented mobs" outside hotels and airports.
The Independent newspaper said that the success of One Direction was due to "the extraordinary power of teenage girls." They called the fans the "sole engineers of the band's unbelievable success." A 2022 article said that "One Direction fangirls made the internet a better place."
When Zayn Malik left the band in March 2015, fan reactions went viral on social media. Some fans even held candlelight vigils.
Tenth Anniversary Celebration
On 22 July 2020, One Direction posted on their social media accounts. They shared an image saying "10 Years of One Direction." This was to celebrate their tenth anniversary the next day. The Instagram post received 7.5 million likes. The tweet received 1.8 million likes. The hashtag "10YearsofOneDirection" became a top trend on Twitter.
One Direction launched a new anniversary website. But it crashed quickly because so many fans tried to visit it at once. Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson also posted messages. They thanked their fans and all five original members. Harry Styles' tweet reached one million likes in just over an hour. This made it the fastest tweet ever to reach one million likes.
One Direction also released a video looking back at their history. They released remastered 4K versions of their old music videos and concert recordings.
Awards and Honours
As of 2020, One Direction had sold 70 million records worldwide. This makes them one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. In 2013, they earned about $75 million. Forbes magazine ranked them as the fourth highest-earning celebrities in the world in 2015. They were second highest in 2016.
The band won many awards. They received seven Brit Awards, seven American Music Awards, and six Billboard Music Awards. They also won four MTV Video Music Awards. One Direction holds the record for the most awards at the Teen Choice Awards. They won 28 times out of 31 nominations.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) named them the Global Recording Artist of the Year in 2013. This was because they were the world's best-selling artist that year. In 2014, Billboard named the band "Artist of the Year."
Band Members
Current Members
- Niall Horan (2010–2016)
- Harry Styles (2010–2016)
- Louis Tomlinson (2010–2016)
Former Members
- Zayn Malik (2010–2015)
- Liam Payne (2010–2016; passed away 2024)
Discography
- Up All Night (2011)
- Take Me Home (2012)
- Midnight Memories (2013)
- Four (2014)
- Made in the A.M. (2015)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 2010 | The X Factor | Themselves | Contestants: Series 7 |
| 2011 | One Direction: A Year in the Making | ITV2 Documentary | |
| 2012 | iCarly | Episode: "iGo One Direction" | |
| Up All Night: The Live Tour | Video album | ||
| 2012–14 | Saturday Night Live | Musical guests | |
| 2013 | One Direction: This Is Us | Documentary concert film | |
| 2014 | One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film | Concert film | |
| One Direction: The TV Special | NBC special | ||
| 2015 | One Direction: The London Session | Apple Music series |
Tours
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Headlining Tours
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Opening for Other Acts
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Publications
- One Direction: Forever Young, HarperCollins (2011)
- One Direction: The Official Annual 2012, HarperCollins (2011)
- Dare to Dream: Life as One Direction, HarperCollins (2011)
- One Direction: Where We Are: Our Band, Our Story: 100% Official, HarperCollins (2013)
- One Direction: Who We Are: Our Official Autobiography, HarperCollins (2014)
Images for kids
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One Direction performing in Sydney on their Up All Night Tour, 2012. From left to right: Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik
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One Direction on The X Factor Live tour in 2011
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One Direction performing on their Up All Night Tour, January 2012
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One Direction at the Logie Awards of 2012 in Melbourne
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One Direction in Glasgow on their Take Me Home Tour in February 2013
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The band performing in East Rutherford, New Jersey on 2 July 2013
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One Direction on stage in Santiago, Chile on 14 April 2014 during their Where We Are Tour
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The group performing as a four piece after Zayn Malik's departure from the group at Soldier Field, Chicago in 2015
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One Direction in Glasgow on their On the Road Again Tour, one of the last concerts before hiatus, in October 2015
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A One Direction merchandising shop in Leeds, Yorkshire in March 2013
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One Direction greet Swedish fans in Stockholm, May 2012
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Waxwork of One Direction at Madame Tussauds, London
In Spanish: One Direction para niños
- Best-selling boy bands
- List of Billboard Social 50 number-one artists
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of highest-grossing concert tours
