X Factor UK contestants One Direction have made history, after becoming the first British group in history to debut at no. 1 in the United States with their debut album. The album, Up All Night, entered the US Billboard 200 chart at #1 having sold over 176,000 copies during its first week of release.
Columbia Records sent over this background: One Direction gained notoriety in 2010 after appearing on the X Factor UK. Their global smash debut album, Up All Night, entered the charts at #1 in 11 countries and has been certified triple platinum in Ireland, double platinum in the UK & Australia, and platinum in New Zealand.
Their BRIT Award winning debut single "What Makes You Beautiful" entered the charts at #1 in both the UK and Ireland. In the US, "What Makes You Beautiful" sold more than 131,000 copies in its first week, debuting at #12 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart. Their #28 debut on the Billboard Hot 100 marked the highest debut from a British Group since the Spice Girls in 1998.
Last week in New York, over 10,000 fans turned out for the band's first live TV performance on NBC's Today Show in Rockefeller Plaza and record numbers of fans have turned out to see them at album signings in the US.
Later this month One Direction will perform their hit single "What Makes You Beautiful" on the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards March 31st, and will appear in an episode of iCarly "iGo One Direction" set to premiere April 7th on Nickelodeon. The band will also be the musical guests on Saturday Night Live April 7th with guest host Sofia Vergara.
Their 2013 UK/Ireland Arena Tour sold out immediately with more dates needing to be added. An estimated 300,000 tickets were sold in the first day. One Direction's tour of Australia & New Zealand sold out in just three minutes.
