<P> On 22 November 2014, Paul Higgins, the group's tour manager who has been with them since its formation, parted ways with the band . The band confirmed at the BBC Music Awards that following the success of Four, they had hopes to continue to go "somewhere else" on their fifth album . In support of Midnight Memories and Four, the band's Where We Are Tour was the highest - grossing concert tour in 2014, and the highest - grossing tour ever by a vocal group, generating $282 million . </P> <P> On 25 March 2015, the band released a statement announcing Malik's departure . They admitted that they were angry at first because of Zayn Malik's decision . The group made their first official public appearance as a four - piece on The Late Late Show with James Corden on 14 May, where they confirmed that they would continue working without a new fifth member . Since leaving the band, Malik has gone on to have solo success with his number one debut single "Pillowtalk" and album Mind of Mine . </P> <P> On 31 July 2015, the group released "Drag Me Down" without promotional material or announcement . The single is the first single from their fifth studio album, Made in the A.M., and the first material released by the group after Malik's departure . Following the release, it was revealed that the group would going on hiatus in 2016 to take a break . On 22 September, the title for the fifth studio album, Made in the A.M., was officially announced along with promotional single "Infinity" being released . The group began to reveal the track listing on their Snapchat stories to which it was later confirmed on iTunes . The album was released on 13 November 2015 . At the 2015 American Music Awards on 22 November, One Direction won the award for Artist of the Year for the second year in succession . Louis Tomlinson later confirmed that the break would be around 18 months . On 13 December, One Direction performed on The X Factor final . Their last televised performance as a group, before their hiatus, was on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on 31 December 2015 . </P> <P> On 13 January 2016, Us Weekly published a report claiming that the group's hiatus would become a permanent split, with a "source" citing that each of the four remaining group members did not renew their contracts following the completion of the on the Road Again Tour in October 2015 . Representatives for the group denied said - report in a statement to Billboard, stating, "nothing has changed regarding hiatus plans for the group, and all will be revealed in due time from the band members' own mouths ." By May 2017, all members of the group had released solo singles . Despite saying the hiatus would last 18 months, the band still are yet to confirm when they will reform . </P>

When did one direction go on a hiatus