Louis Tomlinson is launching his own record label and has already 'signed two acts'

The singer’s first signing is X Factor finalist Jack Walton. The second will be a new girlband he’s currently holding auditions for

Just a month after Zayn Malik announced his departure from the band, a second member of One Direction has taken a change of career direction.

Louis Tomlinson has started his own record label, and intends to launch the project next year with full Sony backing as an subsidiary of Simon Cowell’s Syco label.

The singer’s first signing is X Factor finalist Jack Walton. The second will be a new girlband he’s currently holding auditions for.

“It's absolutely great to be working with Syco on a label,” Tomlinson, 23, told The Sun.

“This is something I've wanted to do for some time, and to be given the opportunity to potentially give new artists a platform is an incredible feeling.

“I hope to sing some really exciting artists down the line.”

The label announcement comes after Tomlinson founded a media company in January.