Did you hear that? It's the sound of 50 million One Direction fans collectively sobbing.

According to The Sun, the mega-popular boy band is taking an extended break.

Sources told People magazine that the hiatus will begin in March after the release of the group's fifth album and will last at least a year. The band's four stars -- Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan -- will pursue solo projects in the meantime.

A spokesman for the band told The Associated Press that the reports were "speculation." He declined to comment further.