R&B stars Destiny's Child split
R&B group Destiny's Child have confirmed they are splitting up.
The trio of Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams told 16,000 fans at a concert in Barcelona they were going to call it a day.
"We realised that now is the time to pursue our personal goals and solo efforts in earnest," the chart-toppers said in a statement.
The group will tour North America before they split, with their final show in Vancouver on 10 September.
Destiny's Child scored a string of hit singles since 1998, including chart-toppers Independent Women and Survivor.
They have sold more than 50 million CDs worldwide, including solo releases, their record company said.
"We've been blessed with success and the greatest fans in the world," the group said.
"After a lot of discussion and some deep soul searching, we realised that our current tour has given us the opportunity to leave Destiny's Child on a high note.
They would be "united in our friendship and filled with an overwhelming gratitude for our music, our fans, and each other", they added.
"We want to thank all of our fans for their incredible love and support and hope to see you all again as we continue fulfilling our destinies."
Global stardom
Beyonce Knowles has enjoyed a highly successful solo career
Guided by Beyonce's father Matthew Knowles, the trio used a strong image and cutting-edge pop sound to shoot to global stardom.
They won two Grammy Awards for best R&B group performance for Say My Name in 2000 and Survivor in 2001.
Their greatest success came after an acrimonious change of personnel at the start of 2000, and the current trio took a break in 2002 to pursue solo projects.
Beyonce Knowles proved the most successful on both sides of the Atlantic with hits such as Crazy In Love with her boyfriend, rapper Jay-Z.
She has also won roles in films including Austin Powers in Goldmember and The Pink Panther.
Comeback
Kelly Rowland sang the duet Dilemma with rap star Nelly, which also topped the charts in the US and UK.
Their comeback album, Destiny Fulfilled, reached number one in the US at the end of 2004 and has sold 2.7 million copies.
Reports of their split were initially denied by the UK arm of their record company, Sony/BMG.
In previous interviews, Destiny's Child insisted they reformed because it was enjoyable - not because it was a shrewd business move.
"We did this record for ourselves, not to sell a million the first week out," Knowles told Billboard in an interview last year.
