One Direction Announced As Global Recording Artists Of 2013

They certainly have a lot of fans out there, but now One Direction can officially call themselves the Global Recording Artists of 2013, following their amazing chart success last year.

The British and Irish boy band have been named the Global Recording Artist of 2013 by the IFPI, a company which promotes the international recording industry, it has been revealed today.

Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik, the boys that make up the famous five-piece will be over joyed to discover that they can claim the coveted title, beating the likes of Eminem and Justin Timberlake.

Their success can be largely attributed to the incredible amount of music downloads and CD sales. Due to their amazing popularity, last year the boys became the first group EVER in US Billboard chart history to debut at the number one spot with their first three albums.

Of course they've not just enjoyed success Stateside, One Direction have also topped the UK chart with their third album, Midnight Memories.

YouTube has also been their friend, offering them almost 200 million views for their hilarious music video, Best Song Ever and more than 100 million for Story Of My Life.

It will be just another award in the trophy cabinet for the successful boys after already kicking off 2014 with plenty of accolades. Irish cutie, Niall has already thanked fans on Twitter after One Direction won at the People's Choice Awards as he shared: "Just found out we won favourite band at people's choice last night! Guys thank you so much , great start to 2014! Love you lots"

The boys will also be up for the Brit Awards in February this year, and it seems that this had Niall feeling rather emotional: "Holy c**p! We've been nominated for best group and best single at the Brits! I can't believe what's goin on! Honestly have a tear in my eye", he tweeted earlier this month.

The boy pipped the likes of Eminem and Justin Timberlake in the IFPI charts. The rapping supremo came in at number two, following the tremendous success of his album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2.

Second runner up went to Justin Timberlake for his third album, The 20/20 Experience, which was released in March 2013.

One Direction’s Midnight Memories Tops The Album Chart and becomes Fastest Selling Album Ever

One Direction will be celebrating today after their album Midnight Memories not only shot to number one in the UK Album Charts, but also became their fastest selling album to date.

Not only that, but it's on course to take the accolade of being the fastest selling artist album of 2013.

Midnight Memories, which is the boyband's third LP, went straight in at the top of the Offical UK Albums Chart yesterday, knocking Robbie Williams off his perch.

It's also their second UK number one album after Take Me Home went to number one last year, a spot higher than their debut album Up All Night, which was released in 2011.

Midnight Memories has sold more than 237,000 copies during the last seven days, beating the first week tallies of 2011’s Up All Night (139,000 copies week one) and 2012’s Take Me Home (155,000 copies).

And being the fastest selling artist album of 2013 so far, it overtakes Random Access Memories by Daft Punk, the previous record holder, which sold 165,000 copies during its first week sale in the UK back in May.

Listen: One Direction - Midnight Memories (Lyric Video)

Martin Talbot, the Official Charts Company’s Chief Executive, said: “It is a fantastic first week for One Direction, whose album is not just the fastest seller of the year - but is also the first artist title to sell more than 200,000 copies in a week since Michael Buble‘s Christmas album in December, 2011.

"The success really does send a signal that the festive season is almost with us - and means 1D are now real contenders to claim the biggest album of the year.”

Meanwhile, as Williams drops two places to number three with his album Swings Both Ways - which last weekend became the UK's 1,000th number one album, his Take That bandmate Gary Barlow makes his chart debut at number two with his long awaited solo album, Since I Saw You Last.

The X Factor judge also claimed a bigger first week sales figure than Robbie, who opened on sales of more then 109,000 copies last week, while Gary clocked up just over 116,000 sales this week.

At number four is Robbie's new best friend Olly Murs, whose album Right Place Right Time jumped a whopping 92 places following the release of a special edition version of the LP, which topped the charts when it was first released in November last year.

And Eminem clings on to a top five slot as his The Marshall Mathers LP 2 dropped three places to number five.

1: One Direction - Midnight Memories

2: Gary Barlow - Since I Saw You Last

3: Robbie Williams - Swings Both Ways

4: Olly Murs - Right Place Right Time

5: Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2

6: Boyzone - BZ20

7: Elvis Presley - The Nation's Favourite Elvis Songs

8: Celine Dion - Love Me Back To Life

9: Susan Boyle - Home For Christmas

10: Andre Rieu - Music of the Night

One Direction Boys Performs ‘Story Of My Life’ On ‘The X Factor’

Watch 1D’s emotional performance of its latest single, then weigh in with your review.

The boys of One Direction came home Nov. 21, as they performed “Story Of My Life” on The X Factor, the very franchise that first spawned them three years ago. The performance was technically recorded on Nov. 20, then aired during the live results show, but that didn’t make their electrifying rendition of any less memorable.

All five Directioners – Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne – were in rare form, crooning the emotional lyrics over the hordes of screaming fangirls. 1D’s performance was the perfect addition to The X Factor‘s live-yet-lifeless results show, giving it a much-needed boost of energy.

Harry Styles’ Big Date With Kendall Jenner

Of course, One Direction’s performance didn’t get nearly as much as attention as its frontman’s post-show rendezvous. Harry, 19, was spotted grabbing dinner with none other than Kendall Jenner, 18, at Craig’s in West Hollywood. The dinner was reportedly of a romantic nature, and eyewitnesses saw the duo sneaking out a back entrance into Harry’s SUV.

A source close to Kendall confirmed to an online tabloide that this was, in fact, Harry’s first date with the reality TV princess — and we can’t help but wonder if a second date is in the cards.

Watch:  One Direction Performing Story Of My Life on The X Factor USA

One Direction Launches Brand New 'Little Things' Makeup Line!

One Direction has already given millions of swooning fans "What Makes You Beautiful"-and now the boys are putting their own line of beauty products to the test.

The band has paired up with British cosmetics retailer MUA to release the Little Things makeup collection, a multiproduct line that will launch next week. The collection includes lipsticks, glosses and nail polishes with cute names like Harry Loves Strawberry and Louis Loves Vanilla.

One Direction can still launch a make-up collection and make millions - and so they are, with 'Little Things'.

Lipsticks, cheek tints and polishes - that's what makes you beautiful according to boy band One Direction, who have just launched their capsule cosmetic collection with MUA Make-Up Academy.

So fans, forget the natural look because it's the Little Things (the name of their 15-piece lip, nail and cheek colour collection) which makes all the difference now.

If you can't decide between colours, let the British boys Harry, Liam, Zayn and Louis, persuade you. Each band member has chosen their favourite polish (represented by a smiley photo of each hanging from the lid), and signed their own 'Kiss You' lippy colour from a range which includes coral Rock Me and Moments, a romantic soft pink - natch.

Fashionista.com report how each boy, between their worldwide tour, song writing and performing, has also had time to pick out their own scented lip gloss for us. 'Harry loves strawberry,' while 'Niall loves cherry' and 'Louis Loves Vanilla,' (good to know). So it was easy pickings for the beauty-loving popstars, who also have a fragrance, 'Our Moment,' which strangely includes none of aforementioned notes, but launches in September.

The boys have each put their face to a different shade of nail polish, with Harry rocking hot pink and Zayn favouring emerald green.

The range contradicts these famous lyrics from the group's chart-topping hit What Makes You Beautiful: "Don't need make-up / To cover up / Being the way that you are is enough".

But fans were quick to comment on MUA's official website, gushing: "I just screamed a little bit" and make jokes like, "Harry Styles' colour should be called" Cougar Crimson "."

Nevertheless, a few 1D fans appeared sceptical about the idea of ​​a boy band cashing in on a make-up range.

One wrote: "I'm a fan of 1D but when I first heard about this I was like 'eurgh, typical' but these actually seem quite cute!

One Direction's 'Best Song Ever' Breaks One-Day Vevo Record!

One Direction's video for its "Best Song Ever" is breaking records just one day after release.

Music video and entertainment platform VEVO announced Tuesday that within 24 hours of its release on the site yesterday, the video had garnered 10.9 million views. The rabid fan response bests that for Miley Cyrus' controversial new video, "We Can't Stop," which received 10.7 million views in its first day on the web.

The members of 1D put their acting chops on full display in the video, playing caricatures of people they may or may not have encountered in the music industry. Niall Horan sports a beard as the "Studio Exec"; Zayn Malik cross-dresses to play the "Sexy Assistant"; Harry Styles dons nerdy glasses as a misplaced "Marketing Guy"; Liam Payne breaks out his neon workout gear to play the flamboyant "Choreographer"; and Louis Tomlinson invokes Tom Cruise's Les Grossman from "Tropic Thunder," rocking a gold chain and a shaved dome.

Used as a promotional tool for their upcoming film, "One Direction: This is Us," the "Best Song Ever" video features numerous clips from the movie, many of which had been released in the trailer.

The video was directed by Ben Winston and shot in Miami. "One Direction: This is Us" will be released Aug. 30 in 3D.

Watch:One Direction - Best Song Ever

Harry Styles’ Sexy Solo Song: The Truth Behind The One Direction Split!

When Harry’s solo track leaked online, rumors began swirling that the boy band was splitting up to pursue solo careers. We exclusively learned the truth about whether the boys of One Direction will be going their separate ways!

Are the boys of One Direction going in separate directions? A solo track titled “Don’t Let Me Go” by Harry Styles was leaked online, raising questions that Harry may be considering a solo path. Exclusively uncovered the truth behind Harry’s mysterious solo song!

Harry Styles’ Solo Song: The Truth Behind The One Direction Split

One Direction’s rep tells exclusively, ”This is NOT a Harry Styles solo song. It’s a demo from a year and half ago that was being considered for a 1D album and it is not a solo track. The boys often work separately to save time.”

Phew! We loved hearing Harry sing by himself, but we aren’t anywhere near ready for the band to split up!

Harry Styles Solo Song Leaks Online

On June 14, a solo track title “Don’t Let Me Go” featuring Sam McCarthy leaked online, igniting rumors that Harry was pursuing a solo career. After the song leaked, Sam took to Twitter and revealed that Harry wrote the lyrics for the song.

“Wow! Thanks for all the nice tweets about the song,” Sam wrote to fans on Twitter. “Harry did most of the words I did the music.”

LISTEN: Harry Styles – Don’t Let Me Go (Audio) Ft. Sam McCarthy