One Direction tour news: 1D keeps mum on hiatus; announces new album, single release

British boy band One Direction announced that they completed a new album. Will the band, who is now down to four members, split for good after taking a hiatus for a year?

A report by Venture Capitol Post claimed that the boy band may not be performing together after a year. The report states that the handlers of the group are trying to avoid the mass hysteria over the breakup of Take That in 1996.

A source told Daily Star that Simon Cowell, the owner of the label Syco Records where the boys are signed, stated that the break up has been a long time coming.

"We were conscious about the welfare of fans. It has been the worst-kept secret in music. We have known about this for about a year and didn't want it to be a massive shock," Cowell reportedly said. "We have said to the boys to take as long as you want and, within reason, do whatever you want."

The site also reported that One Direction will disband after the release of the fifth album but to break it slowly, the announcement will be under the guise of "taking a break" and pursuing solo careers.

"The official statement is the band are taking a year's break to pursue solo projects but the truth is they may never come back together," a source told the Star. "It depends how successful their solo careers become and whether all four commit to a comeback because they've agreed it has to be all four or nothing following Zayn's exit."

The International Business Times reports that Cowell thinks that Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan deserve a break. Cowell said per Entertainment Weekly that the boys gave their 100 percent ever since coming together as a group and being signed five years ago.

However, Cowell said that the decision to disband or stay together remains entirely to the remaining four members. He added that there may be solo stuff going on and then 1D will regroup but it depends on the boys.

In another report by Entertainment Weekly, One Direction's album producer Julian Bunetta said that the fifth album will have an "evolved" feel with "different instrumentation including strings and horns." Meanwhile, the latest single from 1D titled "Drag Me Down" which was released late August this year is the first song and music video without former member Zayn Malik.

According to the Inquisitr, the One Direction split may happen after the current tour ends on Oct. 31 this year. Additionally, the site added that there might be no tour for the upcoming fifth album.