JLS are a British pop and R&B group formed in London in 2007. The quartet consists of Aston Merrygold, Oritsé Williams, Marvin Humes and Jonathan “JB” Gill. They rose to prominence after finishing as runners-up on The X Factor in 2008 and are notable for a series of UK chart hits and for being one of the most successful UK boy bands of the late 2000s and early 2010s.

The group was originally formed by Williams and later finalised its line-up with Merrygold, Humes and Gill. After The X Factor, they signed a recording deal and released their debut single “Beat Again” in 2009, which reached number one in the UK. Their self-titled debut album, JLS (2009), also reached number one, establishing them as a major commercial act soon after their television breakthrough.

JLS’s most successful period followed with a steady sequence of hit singles and albums. Releases such as Outta This World (2010), Jukebox (2011) and Evolution (2012) produced multiple high-charting songs, including “Everybody in Love”, “The Club Is Alive”, “Love You More” and “She Makes Me Wanna”. The group received major industry recognition during this period, including Brit Awards and MOBO Awards, and they became known for large-scale arena tours across the UK and Ireland.

In 2013, JLS announced that they would split after a farewell tour and a greatest hits release, and the members pursued solo projects in music, broadcasting and entertainment. The group later reunited and returned to recording with the album 2.0 (2021), their first studio album in nearly a decade. The reunion was accompanied by further live performances and renewed activity, continuing their presence in UK pop culture beyond their initial peak years.

JLS have sold millions of records and remain associated with a specific era of mainstream UK pop and R&B, particularly in the period following the rise of televised talent competitions. Their music continues to be played on UK radio and streaming services, and their success helped define the commercial landscape for British vocal groups in the late 2000s and early 2010s.