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Image by Alison Martin, Eva Rinaldi licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Youtube/ The Beatles

SUMMARY

  • Nicole Scherzinger, not Simon Cowell, played a crucial role in selecting the original members of One Direction on X-Factor UK in 2010.
  • One Direction broke The Beatles' record with five songs in the top 10 Hot 100 debuts among groups.
  • The band achieved numerous records, including four consecutive No. 1 albums on the US Billboard 200 chart.

The world of music has seen the rise of several boy bands with everlasting popularity. From The Beetles to Backstreet Boy or NSYNC, boy bands have mostly turned out to be incredibly famous ventures. But not many boy bands hold the acclaim One Direction does.

One DirectionOne Direction | Credit: Up All Night Album / Syco Music

Still as famous and loved as ever, One Direction has for the past 12 years continued to entertain fans even though Zayn Malik left the band in 2015 and the rest of the boys have been on hiatus since 2016. Widely believed to have singlehandedly been created by Simon Cowell, here is who really created one of the biggest boy bands in the world.

Who Created the English Boy Band One Direction?

The X Factor judges creating One DirectionThe BTS of the formation of One Direction | Credit: X-Factor UK

Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and the late Liam Payne might have never guessed that when they entered the X-Factor in 2010 they would leave as one of the biggest musical sensations in the world. It’s been 14 years since the band was created, but details about their formation were really revealed on their 12th anniversary.

Believed to have been created by Simon Cowell, who named the group as well, the formation of the boy band wasn’t entirely Cowell’s deed, for guest judge Nicole Scherzinger played a vital part in the creation of the band. In 2022, X-Factor UK released a Never Seen Before footage of the band, where it can be seen Scherzinger selecting the five members of the band, stating they will make the cutest boy band in the world.

Although all three judges played a part in the selection, it was really the American singer who played a pivotal role in their selection, contrary to Cowell taking the credit for their formation. While Horan was the first member to be chosen, followed by Styles, Tomlinson, and Payne, it was Scherzinger who added Malik to the blend, creating the perfect boy band as a result.

One Direction: One of the Biggest Boy Bands who Broke The Beatles Record

One Direction the day the band was createdTeen sensation One Direction the day the band was created | Credit: X-Factor UK

Before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016, One Direction was one of the best-selling groups of all time, even though they were still reeling from the loss of Zayn Malik, who quit the band in 2015. Hailed as a pop culture phenomenon, the group has broken numerous records and created new ones since their initial year.

They created history as the first band to have their first four albums debut at No.1 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with the release of their fourth album, Fourth (via Billboard). The teen idols then went on to have four highly successful world tours, becoming one of the highest-grossing tours of all time (via Billboard).

While their time together is filled with similar grand and incredible feats, along with some 200 or so awards, their most significant record is when they broke The Beatles’ world record by having five songs in the 10 Hot 100 debuts among groups with Perfect being their fifth top 10 in the category (via Billboard).

And so while Zayn Malik might have left the band and we have lost Liam Payne in the most tragic way, their time together as a group will continue to echo in the hearts and minds of their millions of fans, reminding them of those joyful moments when their melodies brought them solace, laughter, and a sense of belonging.

Niall Horannicole scherzingerOne DirectionZayn Malik

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Written by Maria Sultan

Articles Published: 1732

Maria Sultan is a News Content Writer at FandomWire. Having honed her skills are a Freelance and Professional content writer for more than 5 years (and counting), her expertise spans various genres and content type. A Political Science and History Graduate, her deep interest in the world around shapes her writing, blending her insights across diverse themes.

Outside the realm of writing, Maria can be often found buried in the world of books or pursuing art or engaged in fervent discussions about anything or everything, her passions balanced by binge watching Kdramas, Anime, Movies or Series during leisure hours.