One Direction: 'Cracking the US is going to be hard'

One Direction have admitted that cracking the US music market is going to be hard.

The boyband have signed a Stateside record deal with Columbia, which is currently home to international stars like David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Adele and Beyoncé.

Talking to one of our bloggers about their new deal, Niall Horan explained: "If you look at the names and record sales on Syco, our label here, you go 'Wow' - but being label-mates with Bowie, Dylan and Bruce is on another level."

Harry Styles added: "America is a massive place and it's going to be hard. Nothing is gonna come easy.

"A lot of people have tried and failed but we want to break the mould and see what we can do. We'll definitely give it a go."

He continued: "We did a couple of signings in Europe and it surprised us how many people were out there.

"It was crazy in Italy. Riot police had to protect us and nearly had to shut down the whole event. There were 3,500 people. Optimistically, we were expecting 200."

One Direction's debut album Up All Night is available to buy now.

One Direction, JLS join 'X Factor' charity single

One Direction and JLS will star on this year's X Factor charity single, it has been revealed.

Simon Cowell is said to have asked the bands, both previous X Factor finalists, to sing on the cover of Rose Royce's 1978 hit 'Wishing on a Star'.

He was apparently concerned that this year's "average" contestants weren't enough to ensure the song becomes a chart success and so added established artists for the first time.

An insider told The Sun: "Simon and the other Syco execs want huge sales this year and weren't sure the contestants would get that on their own.

"Now they'll be using One Direction and JLS's combined fanbase to sell the song. It's a no-brainer and is bound to be a huge seller now."

A spokesman confirmed: "As Simon has a personal involvement in this year's charity he has asked two of the country's biggest acts to make this year's X Factor charity single the biggest of the year.

"He asked One Direction and JLS to sing on the track to give the song something extra special - and encourage all their fans to buy the single and raise lots of money for the charity."

Previous X Factor charity singles - 'Hero' in 2008, 'You Are Not Alone' in 2009 and 'Heroes' last year - have all reached number one.

'Wishing on a Star' is due to be released on November 20 and all proceeds will go to ACT & Children's Hospices UK.

JLS will perform on the X Factor results show on Sunday, while One Direction will appear the following weekend.

One Direction, The Saturdays, JLS for Jingle Bell Ball 2011

One Direction and JLS will perform at this year's Jingle Bell Ball, it has been announced.
The bands will be joined by The Saturdays and singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran for the second day of the Capital FM event on December 4.
Also on the bill at the festive concert, which will take place at London's O2 Arena, are Wretch 32 and 'Heaven' star Emile Sandé.
It was previously announced that Rihanna, Olly Murs and The Wanted would perform during the first day of the Jingle Bell Ball on December 3/
Pixie Lott, Calvin Harris and Jason Derulo will also take to the stage on the first day of the event.
Tickets for the Saturday December 3 show are on sale now, while tickets for Sunday December 4 will go on sale on Monday (November 7).
It was recently confirmed that One Direction and JLS will feature on this year's X Factor charity single.

The Wanted tell us! all about The X Factor 'golden rule' and why One Direction are better

WE can always rely on The Wanted to get us excited on a gloomy afternoon.

And after their rap extravaganza earlier this week, we bet you guys thought their visit to MarkMeets HQ couldn’t get any better.

Well actually it did.

Check out the best bits from our chat below where while Siva was chatting video games with our colleagues and Tom was mostly on the phone to his girlfriend (aw!), Nathan, Max and Jay talk everything from One Direction to getting lucky in a tent.

ON THE COMPETITION

How do you feel about One Direction? Are they the new JLS in terms of being your competitors?

Max: They are the cute, better looking, cleaner version of us. With definite age on their side. They’re going to be around for a very long time. I would love to take them out and get them all absolutely smashed one night.

Harry isn’t old enough to drink.

Max: Is he not? Even better. I want to get them all absolutely leathered.

ON GIRLS

Do you have a girlfriend yet?

Jay: No.

Are you lying?

Jay: No, but when I get one I am going to lie.

For how long? You can’t keep it a secret forever.

Jay: Um, until about engagement stage. The stress that Max and ‘Chelle have to go through is just ridiculous. The stuff that she has to read sometimes and hearing him have to explain to her all the time is just…

I don’t understand how he doesn’t have a nervous breakdown. The stuff that he has to deal with - and the other boys who have girlfriends - plus all of that on top. If he didn’t have a shaved head he’d have alopecia through stress.

I’m so proud of you staying so calm all the time Max!

ON X FACTOR

You know what the X Factor golden rules are (Max’s old band, Avenue, were axed in series 3 for misleading the judges over an existing record contract). Why did Frankie get the boot?

Max: I never lied they never asked! (OK.co.uk may or may not have called him a liar at the time).

Nathan: It’s like Max now, no one’s asked him if he’s a girl so he’s allowed to be in our boyband.

The Wanted: [LAUGHS]

Max: Having sex with one of the contestants without their consent?

Tom: Well that’ll be against the rules, surely?!

Max: Drugs?

ON JEDWARD:

Referring to their OK! column picture.

Jay: WTF, Jedward look like models here.

Max: We've met them loads of times. They are absolutely off their head.

[In high pitched Irish accents]

Jay: Edward, I need to do a poo, would you do it for me?

Max: John, my bum’s itching…itch your bum.

ON GIRLS

What all this about you getting it on with a girl in a pink tent?

Nathan: There’s a rumour going around that on the Lightning video set, I got lucky in a tent. So these girls bought me a baby-sized pink tent to christen and I said funnily enough I did it three weeks ago!

So is the rumour true?

Nathan: Yes…it was acting though. It was filmed... not for my own personal use though!

What about when the camera was off?

Nathan: Well we had to practice…