Thing is, at the time, I thought that Liam was getting a bit ahead of himself because the new album process was far from done... Just like his tweet about proving the naysayers wrong with the next album. I just think "we'll see", no need to hype things up too much like Gaga did.

But I too wonder about Simon's sudden involvement... though we perceive it as sudden because of Ed's sudden statement, maybe that's always how it's worked & we didn't hear about it in the past.

I am of 2 minds: I don't want the boys' creative process to be stifled, but if the album isn't up to the standart that is expected, it's important that someone steps in (and not to let the boys release something not good enough)... But I agree that the boys won't be happy if they don't have at least a bit of control in the creative process.

I would expect that the label will be a bit concerned about the sales of the last album in the US. Although they were still really good it was about 75% of the first two albums. It's suprising as the album is quite American sounding.

I said a few days ago that I wonder if Simon asking Ed to go see him indicates that Liam and Louis have lost control of this album. Louis certainly has his mind elsewhere with the football club. I really thought they had finished writing and were at the recording stage I hope the boys stick together on what songs they want to go in. I feel like Niall would love anything any of the boys wrote and Harry and Zayn wouldn't put up a fight. I get the feeling that Zayn isn't really into Midnight Memories so hopefully he'll be more energetic next tour when he's singing the smash hit single he wrote with Naughty

I'd thought Simon wasn't all that into music but it does seem that he's involved with what goes into the album. He understands the business side of it I guess. Naughty Boy said he was told the song he's written with Zayn is Simon's favourite so Simon is clearly hearing songs and making judgements. I hoped we would get more than one song out of 'Zaughty Boy' as their partnership seems to be a real meeting of minds. But Naughty is really busy with other projects and a lot of the time Zayn is in the studio with him has been for Naughty's stuff not 1D.

I think the lower sales of MM is because that sound is very different from Up All Night and more for parents than teenyboppers and power pop fans. If they had released better post-SOML singles and promoted them properly then they would have got many more adults being interested in the album and upped sales. It could have been a real transition record. I think Simon will be very focused on getting high charting singles as he likes those big numbers at the start of the X Factor intro. You & I and Midnight Memories flopped and I don't think they've had a Number 1 since One Way Or Another (even though SOML came close several times).

I hope there are fewer songs than Midnight Memories on 4th album - I like most of them but it seems to me than really great albums that get 4/5 star reviews are around 12 songs (+maybe a few bonus ones). They need good reviews to drum up interest in the new mature audience. Some of the songs on MM were quite similar to each other (Alive, Does He Know, Why Don't We Go There, Diana), as well as being rather similar to other people's songs (*cough* Midnight Memories *cough*). For example Something Great has grown on me but I noticed that it was disliked by a lot of reviewers and fans. It's just not catchy, nor is it a proper ballad and actually I think the lyrics need a bit more bite in the delivery.

I also visit other music forums and one used to have up to 4 new threads a day with up to 16 pages of replies now it seems to be one or two threads a week with only one page replies . I know news is quiet at the moment but sadly I do think they are losing support and from the older not younger crowd

The next album really needs to deliver

For those who like Harry's luscious locks flowing free

https://38.media.tumblr.com/caf5967e...hi6to1_500.gif

Midnight Memories was bound to be polarizing due to being such a drastic departure from their well-established sound. It did manage to do what Take Me Home didn't and give them another proper US hit though, not to mention did very well internationally. So I doubt Simon and the label are all that worried going into album 4. From the sounds of the billboard cover story they had a while ago, they intended to open them up to an older audience with the songs here and with the reception of Story of My Life it's clear they succeeded. I think people are jumping to conclusions based on one line from Ed. Simon has likely always been involved in some capacity. It's not as if 1D are given carte blanche to write and record whatever and with whomever they please and then show up at their A&R meetings with tracks ready. Simon and SyCo are likely involved at every meaningful step even in just an oversight capacity.

I don't think music forums accurately represent interest among more casual fans. They wouldn't have sold out after sold out tour dates if the public were moving on to any worrying degree.

Yes I think there's still a lot of support, and from people who buy albums. Streaming's got up and running so album sales are down across the board. I do think that if a really good competitor came along 1D would have to up their game with the 10-15 year olds but despite all the scandals the media seems to still like them. SOML was a massive hit and brought in awesome new fans such as myself I do feel they've wasted the opportunity to build on that but it's only another 3 months 'til we get lead single of 4th album. If that gets No.1 (or close) and lots of radioplay then they're on top for another year.

I have noticed that my Tumblr dashboard seems to have a lot of gifs from TMH tour. I thought by now it would be nearly all WWA. I expected the boys to be less affectionate this year as the stages are bigger and they are older but there really hasn't been all that much to get the shippers or OTP fans interested. I'm glad that they're not doing all the tomfoolery but there were a lot of young fans at Wembley who were clearly there to see 2012 - 2013 One Direction. Replacing the kids also means replacing the parents who buy companion tickets. Everyone seemed to leave happy though, including the two men in their 20s in front of me.

That might be down to who you follow because my dash has been full of cute moments from the WWA Tour haha.

Aren't forums losing ground generally speaking?
I really like the topical discussions, but I get the feeling that forums in general are less active than they used to be.

I hope that there will be one more hit single in the next album, that's all they need to stay relevant. Of course more than that would be icing on the cake

i think we're just reading too much into ed being asked to write again for the next album... for all we know, there just wasn't an appropriate ed sheeran song for the last album....

from what i understand, the boys being syco's prized act of the moment, all top songwriters are invited to submit songs, but of course all are subject for approval... in the last two albums, there were singer-songwriters who announced they were writing for the boys but later on we found out their song didn't make the final cut... i don't think getting good songs from other writers is mutually exclusive with the boys penning their own songs and deciding which direction they want to take... coz an album is not comprised of just one song...

i say that's overly optimistic seeing a number of zayn fans who won't even acknowledge zayn's official lovelife status and like to brush it under the carpet, lolz!!

http://zaynthirsty.tumblr.com/post/89747177509

I agree. I mean Julian what's his name is working with them again. Nobody seems panicked about that.

Awww. Look at him.

i know!! soo adorable!!

I am sure they'll have at least one hit single on the next album. Keep faith keep faith lol.

Some of us are talking like it's almost over for the group. Come on people lol. They are currently on a sell out stadium tour. About to launch their 3rd perfume and have a new album on the way. It doesn't seem like a group on its last legs to me.

Exactly! But don't we all like a bit of speculation It's the same as every summer in the forum of my favourite football club: not much play going on, everybody speculating about next season, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. Seems like that to me in here

True. I need to follow more Niall blogs as he's having the time of his life. I'm only really keen on zayn, harry and niall and their combinations and I just haven't seen as many heart eyes and hugs as I'd like. I mean there have only been a few beep beep boops I joined after TMH was over & the gifs that sucked me in came from loads more concerts so I need to be patient. Still though would it kill Harry to fondle Zayn a little?

I agree that I've probably been overthinking things about them losing interest and fan support. They have finished this album campaign and seem to be working on the new one. There would always be growing pains as they mature as an act and really they aren't all over the place like Bieber or Robbie Williams was at the same age. Hopefully they can not have any more scandals during the three months till the zaughty boy song gets released and becomes a worldwide smash hit Radioplay is key for me and they are working with people who are good at that so fingers crossed more than one hit.

I love this side of Zayn I wish he showed it more often.

Liam & Harry being cute & singing the alphabet for Sesame Street!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R67HqIlz-U4

awww!! one small step for lirry, a big leap for international literacy!!

I agree! Are people forgetting Midnight Memories had massive first week sales (despite it leaking online before it's release date) and was the biggest selling album in the UK and the world? I think they are too important to Syco to let them put out a rubbish album. They are the big sellers for them so I'm sure they will make sure that this album is going well.

You are definitely reading too much into it. As Denise said, an album has as many as 20 songs, they're hardly going to ask Ed Sheeran to write the whole album.