5sos Logo PNG
The 5sos logo conveys the group’s unity. The growth and maturation that the members of the foursome have experienced together have prepared them to move into the future as a united group. The emblem hints at the importance of friendship, love, and family in a dangerous and dark world.
5 Seconds of Summer began in 2011 in Sydney’s western suburbs. Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, and Calum Hood studied at Norwest Christian College. They started posting cover videos on Hemmings’s YouTube channel. A cover of Chris Brown’s “Next to You” reached more than 600,000 views, giving three school friends an early online audience without a label campaign.
In December 2011, drummer Ashton Irwin joined through mutual friends. On December 3, the four played their first full show at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney, to a crowd of 12. Their early EP Unplugged later reached No. 3 on Australian iTunes and entered charts in New Zealand and Sweden. The band signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
The breakthrough came in November 2012, when Louis Tomlinson of One Direction tweeted support for the group and shared their video. In February 2013, 5 Seconds of Summer were announced as the opening act for One Direction’s Take Me Home Tour, which began at London’s O2 Arena on February 23. They played in the U.K., the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, then signed with Capitol Records in November 2013.
“She Looks So Perfect,” co-written with John Feldmann, was released in February 2014 and topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the U.K. Their debut album reached No. 1 in 11 countries, followed by Sounds Good Feels Good in 2015. Youngblood in 2018 marked a shift toward a more rhythmic sound, CALM followed in 2020, and 5SOS5 arrived in 2022 through BMG Rights Management.
Meaning and History
The band’s logo has changed with each new album and contract. Each rendition seeks the perfect representation and captures the album’s essence. To date, there have been three rebrandings. One of them concerns plagiarism. The group had to abandon one of the line’s main elements because it resembled another brand’s emblem. The claims required finding a completely new approach to its own identity. The result isn’t a bull’s-eye, but the logo has definitely gained distinct features.
What is 5sos?
A musical group formed in high school. Popularity came to the band after the band posted songs on YouTube. The group further developed through a contract with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and collaborative songs with popular bands. A world tour with One Direction cemented their success. After the tour, the band’s debut album sold 259,000 copies in one week. The band’s studio and solo albums have been popular ever since.
2012 – 2014
The band’s first emblem consists of an image and an explanatory caption below it. The image’s background is a black circle, symbolizing records and music CDs. Since the band’s songs are recorded on CDs, the logo also overlays information on top of the disk.
In the center of the drawing are five white lines: four vertical lines and a fifth horizontal line crossing the others. The lines symbolize the number 5 in the title and allude to the four participants united by a common idea.
Next comes the acronym SOS, written in capital letters.
Below the disk, the band’s full name is listed at two levels. Here, the preposition OF is made in thin, barely visible lines. Guitarist Michael Clifford suggested the band’s name. Since the guys started playing as students, their interest in music was like a breath of fresh air amid classes. A way to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of summer vacations. Interestingly, 3 out of 4 band members ended up dropping out of school for a music career, permanently staying “on vacation.”
In some versions of the logo, the full name appears on a white stripe around the disk’s black core, making the symbol look even more like a record.
2014 – 2018
The band signed a contract with Capitol Records. Growing popularity draws attention to the visual symbol of the previously little-known band, and the disc symbol seems unoriginal, as it appears on the logos of many companies, including record labels.
Therefore, in 2014, they changed the emblem. A light, free logo without a restrictive background was chosen, as the band was on a world tour and there were no boundaries for the musicians anymore.
The mark emphasizes a line composition, sized to match the letters of the inscription, and rendered in bold glyphs. This technique indicates that the quartet depicted on the sign is becoming known.
The group name above the image is slightly tilted. The turn shows growth and aspiration for the future: Blossoming and popularity.
2018 – 2019
Since 2018, the band’s emblem has undergone a significant change. The new mark is characterized by minimalism.
The team replaced the visual representation of the lines with the number 5 to avoid legal proceedings with the Undefeated store. This clothing brand uses an almost identical symbolism of crossed sticks.
The band name 5 Seconds of Summer has been shortened to the acronym SOS. In 2018, Youngblood’s third album was released, and the tour promoting it was called 5SOS III, which echoed the new logo.
The sign turned out to be concise and simple. However, it was more like a temporary replacement “on the fly” while the band searched for a better option. The new symbol was developed just a year later.
2019 – today
The band is preparing for the release of their fourth album by introducing two singles to the public. An original sign was designed for the new collection. The band’s logo was set against a black rectangular base. The choice turned out to be quite appropriate for the title of the new album – C A L M, formed from the first letters of the artists’ names. The musicians, who started in high school, have been inseparable for more than a decade.
The orange border inside the rectangle reinforces the impression of isolation. The line shows that the band’s inner world is based on mutual support and unity.
The inscription “5SOS” is in large orange font. The letter O is crossed by a drumstick, making the symbol look like a drum. This technique hints at the band’s musical direction.
Font and Colors
The contrast of black and white is a major technique in the band’s emblems. The appearance of color in the last sign indicates a change in the views of the members and the expansion of horizons. With age, musicians stop dividing the world into black and white, and feel its benevolence. They find strength and inspiration in friendship and unity. This is indicated by the title’s warm, sunny hue.
A square geometric font with rounded corners highlights the lettering. The rectangular shape hints at the four members of the quartet. The transformation of the letter O makes the title unique and emphasizes the music’s rhythmic nature.
5sos Logo Color Codes:
- Black: Hex: #000000; RGB: 0, 0, 0; CMYK: 0, 0, 0, 100; Pantone: PMS Process Black C
- White: Hex: #FFFFFF; RGB: 255, 255, 255
- School Bus Yellow: Hex: #F5A602; RGB: 245, 166, 2; CMYK: 0, 32, 99, 4; Pantone: PMS 137 C
FAQ
Why did the 5SOS group lose its logo?
The band 5SOS has decided to abandon their original “tally mark” logo due to legal difficulties, as revealed in a deleted tweet by band member Calum Hood. Responding to a fan’s question about the disappearance of the tally marks, Calum cited copyright issues.
Who made 5SOS famous?
The band 5SOS first gained attention as a YouTube personality before achieving international fame as One Direction’s opening act during their “Take Me Home” tour.
Why is 5SOS being sued for their logo?
According to unconfirmed reports, the clothing brand Undefeated has filed a lawsuit against 5SOS for using its tally-mark logo. Tom Gordon, the famous designer, stated on his website that the emblem has been the source of legal difficulties.