A first for a debut: UK band One Direction tops US charts
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.One Direction, who rose to fame on The X Factor, have become the first British pop group to go straight to No 1 in the US charts with their debut album.
Up All Night has sold more than 176,000 copies in just a week. It beat the previous highest entry by a UK band, which The Spice Girls achieved when their debut, Spice, went in at No 6 in 1997.
The boy band – Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson – were signed by Simon Cowell's music label, Syco, after they finished third on The X Factor.
Their debut album went in at No 1 in the UK as well as in 12 other countries as sales ticked past 4.2 million. More than 10,000 fans turned up in New York's Rockefeller Plaza to see their first live television performance.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments