semi protected edit request on march one direction commonly abbreviated as d are an english irish pop boy band based in london comprising niall horan liam payne harry styles and louis tomlinson zayn malik was formerly a member leaving the band on march th they signed with simon cowell's record label syco records after forming and finishing third in the seventh series of the british televised singing competition the x factor in propelled to international success by social media one direction's four albums up all night take me home midnight memories and four broke records topped charts in most major markets and generated hit singles including what makes you beautiful live while we're young story of my life and steal my girl their achievements include five brit awards four mtv video music awards eleven mtv europe music awards and nineteen teen choice awards out of nineteen nominations among many others according to nick gatfield the chairman and chief executive of sony music entertainment uk one direction represented a million business empire by june they were proclaimed 's top new artist by billboard according to the sunday times rich list by april they had an estimated personal combined wealth of million m making them the second wealthiest musicians in the uk under years of age in forbes listed them the second highest earning celebrities under with the group earning an estimated million from june to june justin bieber is forbes' highest earning celebrity under pocketing m this year which should just about cover his costly legal woes mail online retrieved november after the release of four one direction became the first band in the u s billboard history to have their first four albums d but at number one cite news