There’s nothing quite like a music group. Whether they have two members, seven members, or more, music groups provide a glowing example of just how collaborative the creative process can be. While some groups were formed by childhood friends and others were assembled on talent competition shows such as The X Factor, they all bring a multitude of personalities and talents to the scene.
It’s a story as old as time with a cultural legacy that stretches from the likes of The Jackson 5 and The Beatles to BLACKPINK and Imagine Dragons. Fans can latch on to their favorite individual member and join the group on a journey that may include members leaving or being replaced. Favoritism and friendly competition in music groups add a dynamic to the fan-artist relationship that doesn’t necessarily exist with solo stars. Fans can align with certain members based on individual talent, good looks, or charm, but, ultimately, it all comes back to, and bolsters, the love for the group as a whole.
Nonetheless, there comes a time in the lifespan of many groups where things come to a (temporary) end. Call it a hiatus or call it a break, it’s not uncommon to see a music group’s members take time to focus on solo endeavors or other projects outside of the confines of the original group. Sometimes, these breaks result in the emergence of a marquee solo star such as Beyoncé or Harry Styles. Other times, the hiatus never quite comes to a close.
From Destiny’s Child to BTS, here’s a list of music groups that have announced breaks — temporary or otherwise.
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Why Don’t We
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores for Variety Date of Announcement: July 6, 2022
Following months of litigation between the group’s current and former managers, the group — Daniel Seavey, Jonah Marais, Jack Avery, Zach Herron, and Corbyn Besson — shared an emotional statement via Instagram, canceling their 2022 tour and announcing their hiatus. “Due to unforeseen circumstances related to our ongoing legal battle to emancipate ourselves from the production company we signed with when we started our Why Don’t We journey, we regretfully have to cancel our 2022 Good Times Only Tour,” they wrote. “In light of this announcement, Why Don’t We is officially going on hiatus. Your love and support means everything to us 5 guys.”
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BTS
Image Credit: Amanda Edwards/FilmMagic Date of Announcement: June 14, 2022
After amassing six Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 songs and six No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, K-pop sensation BTS announced that they would be taking a temporary break to focus on solo endeavors. The impromptu announcement was made during the group’s FESTA dinner, where RM noted that “Right now we’ve lost our direction and I just want to take some time to think.” J-Hope, who recently released his new solo single “More,” echoed his bandmate’s sentiments by noting that “I think that change is what we need right now. It’s important for BTS to start our second chapter.”
In a statement to Billboard, a spokesperson for BTS clarified that “they are not on hiatus, but will take time to explore some solo projects at this time and remain active in various different formats.” Jung Kook also followed up to ease fans’ worries, saying in a VLive that BTS isn’t disbanding.
J-Hope and Jung Kook are the only members to release solo music since this announcement thus far; the latter featured on Charlie Puth’s “Left and Right,” which saw its release on June 24, 2022.
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Little Mix
Image Credit: Gareth Cattermole/GI Date of Announcement: Dec. 2, 2021.
Little Mix announced their hiatus in an emotional video posted to Twitter. The group’s break from music followed 10 years of dominance, which two albums in the Billboard 200 top 10. A year before the announcement, the X Factor-born girl group experienced another major shift by way of the departure of Jesy Nelson on Dec. 14, 2020.
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Fifth Harmony
Image Credit: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage Date of Announcement: March 19, 2018
Fifth Harmony, the most successful alums from the U.S. version of The X Factor, followed up their third album with the announcement of a hiatus. Comprised of Normani, Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui, and Camila Cabello — who exited the group in 2016 — Fifth Harmony earned three consecutive top five albums, and smash hits like “Work from Home” (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) and “Worth It” (feat. Kid Ink).
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One Direction
Image Credit: Sam Ruttyn/Newspix/GI Date of Announcement: Aug. 23, 2015
One of The X Factor‘s biggest exports, One Direction, shattered hearts around the world with the announcement of their hiatus. Band members Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson were the first to take to Twitter and confirm rumors of an extended hiatus set to follow the release of the band’s fifth album, Made in the A.M.
One Direction has amassed four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and six Hot 100 top 10 hits. In the time since the confirmation of their break, each of the band’s five members have released studio albums.
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Fun
Image Credit: Dave Hogan/GI Date of Announcement: Feb. 4, 2015
After crafting anthems such as “Some Nights” and the Hot 100 No. 1 hit “We Are Young,” Fun shocked fans with the announcement of their hiatus. In a Facebook post, the band mused that “The 3 of us have always followed inspiration wherever it leads us. Sometimes that inspiration leads to Fun music, sometimes it leads to musical endeavors outside of Fun.”
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LMFAO
Image Credit: Tiffany Rose/WireImage Date of Announcement: Sept. 21, 2012
Comprised of Redfoo and Sky Blu, LMFAO gifted the world club classics with “Party Rock Anthem,” “Sexy and I Know It,” and “Shots.” The announcement of their hiatus came with the promise of each member releasing solo music, which both artists have honored.
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OutKast
Image Credit: Rick Diamond/WireImage Date of Announcement: 2007
Although the iconic duo technically released solo albums with their Diamond-certified Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Big Boi was the first OutKast member to put out an album under his own name. Big Boi’s Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty materialized on July 5, 2010, while André 3000 has appeared on countless tracks from the likes of Beyoncé and Frank Ocean despite not yet releasing a solo LP.
In 2014, before eventually resuming their hiatus, OutKast briefly reunited for over 40 festival performances in commemoration of their 20th anniversary.
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Destiny’s Child
Image Credit: Frank Micelotta/GI Date of Announcement: December 2001
Following No. 1 albums and Hot 100 No. 1 singles such as “Say My Name” and “Indepenent Women, Part I,” Destiny’s Child announced a hiatus to focus on solo music. By then the group had shrunk to a trio comprised of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams, all of whom released solo albums before reuniting for Destiny’s Fulfilled in 2004.
They announced their disbandment a few years later on June 11, 2005, during a show in Barcelona. The R&B girl group have since reunited for performances at the 2013 Super Bowl Halftime Show and Beyoncé’s 2018 headlining performance at Coachella.
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*NSYNC
Image Credit: Tim Roney/GI Date of Announcement: N/A
While the iconic pop boy band never officially announced a hiatus, they never recorded music or toured together after the release of 2001’s Celebrity, their second No. 1 album. Justin Timberlake’s debut solo album and the powerhouse career that followed were big reasons for the group’s unconventional hiatus.
In his 2007 memoir Out of Sync, band member Lance Bass wrote, “We’re definitely broken up. It’s not a hiatus. Justin made it clear that he wouldn’t be interested in discussing another album any time soon.”
Since their last album, the group has reunited (to varying degrees of completion) several times, including ther Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony and Ariana Grande’s 2019 headlining performance at Coachella.
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Spice Girls
Image Credit: Tim Roney/GI Date of Announcement: N/A
Worldwide pop sensation the Spice Girls amassed four Hot 100 top 10 hits and two top five albums, including the No. 1 multiplatinum Spice. Their unofficial hiatus announcement came by way of the halting of promotional activities for their final studio album, 2000’s Forever.
The group has since reunited several times. All five members returned in 2007 for their Return of the Spice Girls tour, and in 2012 for a performance at the Summer Olympics closing ceremony. In 2019, the group reunited sans Victoria Beckham for the Spice World – 2019 Tour.
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The Replacements
Image Credit: Paul Natkin/GI Date of Announcements: July 4, 1991 & June 5, 2015
Alternative rock pioneers The Replacements brought their tumultuous run to a close with an Independence Day show at Madison Square Garden. Since their final show, the band reunited from 2012 to 2015 for performances at Riot Fest, Coachella, and a few stops on a U.S. and European tour.
Concerning new music, bass guitarist Tommy Stinson said in 2015, “We dipped our toe in the water, and it didn’t feel so good.”
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The Police
Image Credit: Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns Date of Annoucement: March 1984 & February 2008
After their Synchronicity tour, The Police halted band activities to focus on solo endeavours. Each of the group’s three members launched solo albums in the year following their last concert in March 1984.
In 2007, the band reunited for The Police Reunion Tour that went on through August the following year. During a 2008 show, Sting proclaimed, “There will be no new album, no big new tour. Once we’re done with our reunion tour, that’s it for The Police.”