I cite these two because they are the two biggest boybands to come out of The X Factor and they were about at around the same time.

 

JLS have had five UK #1 singles, while One Direction had four. JLS had just the one #1 album while One Direction had four.

 

In terms of the impact on pop culture though, I think JLS around about 2009/10 was just as big as 1D. It's interesting how many people seem to associate their earlier songs (Beat Again, Everybody in Love) with their school days, something I haven't really noticed with One Direction (I say this as a massive fan of them). Maybe it was "cooler" to like JLS?

 

I dunno, this came to mind today.

One Direction for sure. I think their international appeal played a part because it meant they were all over social media, which played such a big part in their cultural impact. JLS obviously had some really big hits and some big selling albums (and full credit to them for wasting no time in hoovering up the nostalgia impact!), but they were on a downward slope by the end which didn't feel the case for 1D, which I'd say this can play a big part in how a band is viewed after they spit. For example, Girls Aloud went out on a high when they went on hiatus after Out of Control's release, whereas Sugababes, despite three top 10 singles in their final era, seemed to fizzle out with line-up change drama, leaving 1.0 a bigger job to do than Girls Aloud had to do (in 2012 or 2024) in recapturing the lost audience upon their comeback.

 

Furthermore, songs like What Makes You Beautiful and Best Song Ever always get a massive reaction when played as warm-up music at the gigs I go to, and of course, Harry's ongoing solo success can only be helping his band's back catalogue. I see viral tweets about 1D often, so I think their impact is still being felt now, but that's on a global scale and not just limited to the UK. Speaking statistically, JLS have one 4x platinum album, one 2x platinum, one platinum, two gold and one uncertified (the comeback album), while 1D have two 4x platinum albums, one 3x platinum, and two 2x platinum. What Makes You Beautiful is their highest seller, certified 3x platinum, while JLS don't have any multi-platinum singles, so I think the statistics back up the view that 1D were bigger (but no shade to JLS who were extremely successful!)

1D by miles and miles

 

And actually they had 6 and 5 #1's each, don't forget Wishing On A Star!

Edited July 19, 2024Jul 19 by Dobbo

Surely not even a debate, One Direction by a country mile. JLS helped paved the way but we’re talking about a once in every 25 years global phenomenon in One Direction.

One Direction for sure.

One Direction without a doubt.

I always think One Direction is the bigger group at their peak. JLS was big too in 2009 but 1D "outshone" their bigness (despite JLS having 5 number 1's over 1D's 4), however JLS get a special award for (perhaps) making a way for 1D and other boy groups especially my personal favourite The Wanted in the early 2010s.

Edited July 19, 2024Jul 19 by All★bySmashMouth

One direction as the kids loved them.

As someone who paid neither of them any attention and can only name one song by each (Beat Again and What Makes You Beautiful) I would easily say One Direction. I can at least name all the members and they seemed much more high profile. JLS barely registered to me

One Direction definitely, I just remember them being everywhere and everyone talking about them, don’t remember the same impact for JLS despite them having more number 1s

One Direction, particularly around the Midnight Memories era

Well this is a close poll xx

 

JLS had an impact in the sense they showed that the appetite was there for a younger boyband in the style of Blue a good few years after they were seen as uncool, but One Direction took that so much further and actually broke through in America which was seriously unprecedented. JLS seemed bigger in their time as they were the only ones, but their spotlight got stolen eventually and they just completely faded after that whereas One Direction, though also fairly short lived, are still in the public consciousness and have found success as solo acts.

Difficult question so haven’t voted yet. I think JLS had the fortune of launching when no other boy bands were on the scene. McFly started to fall out of relevance by 2008/09, Take That were around but more manband territory. By the time 1D launched, they had to compete with JLS and The Wanted… I think it’s possible the general public were a bit tired of boy bands by the end of 2011. With JLS, pretty much every lead single (and second single) topped the chart whereas 1D weren’t guaranteed the #1. Away from the charts, I think 1D were bigger? They felt like the third wave of “mania” after Beatlesmania and Spicemania. :lol:

Neither it was Jedward

One Direction, butSpice Girls were as big as them plud union j at the same time.

I think Union J even being mentioned in the discussion is almost as ludicrous as Jedward.

Also 3rd boy big band act xfactor the wanted big girl group little mix