One Direction member, Liam Payne (far left), just announced his solo career. (Getty)
First Zayn Malik went out on his own. Then Harry Styles became an actor. And now we’re losing Liam Payne.
So that leaves Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan. But they’ve also moved on, Horan has a promising golf career and Tomlinson is a father.
Liam Payne of One Direction announced his post-1D plans on Twitter today. He signed with Capital Records for a solo deal.
Happy to have signed to @CapitolUK. They have an amazing history of artists, I hope I can follow in their footsteps
Seeing how distraught his fans were, Payne followed the tweet with:
One direction will always be my home and family but I’m very excited to see what this chapter brings.
The Mirror obtained a statement from the former boy band heartthrob:
I’m really happy to have signed to such a prestigious label as Capitol Records UK. Capitol Records has an amazing history stretching right back before even Frank Sinatra and I’m really looking forward to becoming part of their story.
According to Mirror, Nick Raphael, president of Capitol Records UK, said, “Capitol Records UK are incredibly excited to be working with Liam…It’s not often you get the chance to sign such a talented and ambitious 22 year old who has already conquered the world.”
Payne will head into the studio soon, says Mirror.
In February 2016, multiple outlets confirmed that Styles left the band’s management, Modest Management, to forge a solo career. The Sun confirmed the news:
He will now be managed by close friend and top US agent Jeffrey Azoff, with the pair even discussing investing in a new Hollywood management company.
A high up music insider revealed to The Sun that “Harry is done with One Direction. He wants to completely disassociate with the band and that includes any professional connection…His new team will be about launching him as a solo superstar by around this time next year so the work is starting now.”
Last month, Mirror reported that Styles had possibly signed a contract with Columbia Records.
And he’s also acting; right now he’s filming a Christopher Nolan film about World War II called Dunkirk. It’s set to release in July 2017, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Malik launched a solo career last year and released his first solo album in March 2016, Mind of Mine.
Not shortly after Malik left the band, the group went on a hiatus. In January 2016, Us Weekly confirmed that the hiatus was permanent and the band was “splitting,” so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to fans that many of the members have moved on.
Fans are mourning the loss of their favorite band on Twitter with the hashtag #OneDirectionIsOverParty, with Payne’s exit further proof that One Direction is never ever getting back together.
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One Direction Breakup: Liam Payne Signs Solo Deal