The group went on to release five studio albums together, becoming the first band in history to have their first four records debut at number one on Billboard 200. The five singers became a group at judge Simon Cowell’s behest and the record executive signed One Direction to his label Syco Records in 2010. Pop boy band One Direction became one of the biggest groups of the 2010s after its five members - Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik - met as contestants on the reality television series The X factor in 2010.