Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Harry Styles
How Harry Styles built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Harry Styles is a prominent English singer, songwriter, and actor. Rising to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction, he has since achieved considerable success as a solo artist. Known for his charismatic stage presence, musical talent, and distinctive, often flamboyant fashion choices, Styles has become a significant figure in contemporary pop culture. Beyond music, he has also ventured into acting, further solidifying his status as a multi-faceted entertainer.
1973: One Direction Concert at MetLife Stadium
In 1973, Rob Sheffield compared Harry Styles during the concert of One Direction at MetLife Stadium to Secretariat running the Belmont Stakes, during the concert of One Direction at MetLife Stadium.
1991: Nielsen SoundScan Begins Tracking Sales Electronically
In 1991, Nielsen SoundScan began electronically tracking sales data. This is relevant to the success of Harry Styles' album, Fine Line, which later broke a sales record tracked by Nielsen SoundScan.
April 2010: Audition for The X Factor
On April 11, 2010, Harry Styles auditioned as a solo contestant for the seventh series of The X Factor, singing a rendition of Train's 'Hey, Soul Sister'. He then sang a rendition of Stevie Wonder's 'Isn't She Lovely' after a suggestion by Simon Cowell.
July 2010: Formation of One Direction
In July 2010, Harry Styles was grouped with four other eliminated contestants on The X Factor to form a boy band. This band, later named One Direction at Harry's suggestion, competed in the 'Groups' category.
2010: Formation of One Direction on The X Factor
In 2010, Harry Styles' musical career began when he became part of One Direction, a boy band formed on the British music competition series The X Factor. The band was created after each member was eliminated from the solo contest.
January 2011: One Direction Signs with Syco Records
In January 2011, One Direction signed a recording contract with Simon Cowell's label, Syco Records. This marked a significant step in their professional music career.
2011: Release of 'Up All Night' and 'What Makes You Beautiful'
In 2011, One Direction released their debut single, 'What Makes You Beautiful', which reached number one in the UK. Later that year, they released their debut studio album, 'Up All Night', which also debuted at number one in the United States. Styles co-wrote three songs on the album.
2012: Release of 'Take Me Home'
In 2012, One Direction released their second studio album, 'Take Me Home', which debuted at number one in the UK.
2013: Release of 'Midnight Memories'
In 2013, One Direction released their third studio album, 'Midnight Memories', which debuted at number one in the UK and became the world's best-selling album of the year. The accompanying 'Where We Are Tour' was the highest-grossing tour of 2014.
2013: Support for Equal Rights and Fundraising for Trekstock
In 2013, Styles and Liam Payne became ambassadors for the cancer charity Trekstock and raised over US$800,000. After the Westboro Baptist Church picketed a One Direction concert, Styles responded on Twitter, advocating for equal rights.
2013: One Direction: This Is Us
In 2013, the One Direction documentary, One Direction: This Is Us, featured the Tremlow Viaduct, where Styles signs his name.
2014: Endorsed Emma Watson's HeForShe campaign
In 2014, Harry Styles endorsed Emma Watson's HeForShe gender equality campaign, showing his support for gender equality.
2014: Release of 'Four'
In 2014, One Direction released their fourth studio album, 'Four', which debuted at number one in the UK. The album made One Direction the only group in Billboard 200 history to have their first four albums debut at number one. Additionally, Harry co-wrote 'Just a Little Bit of Your Heart' for Ariana Grande's album My Everything.
2014: Support for LGBT Rights
In 2014, Styles joined LGBT rights charity Stonewall's #FirstSnog campaign and supported Michael Sam by wearing his jersey onstage during a concert.
2014: Collaboration with Harry Lambert
In 2014, during the band's Four era, Styles began collaborating with stylist Harry Lambert.
2015: Sponsored water wells in India
In 2015, Harry Styles sponsored water wells in India via Drop4Drop in support of Life Water's World Water Day campaign, providing clean water to communities in need.
2015: Release of 'Made in the A.M.'
In 2015, One Direction released their fifth studio album, 'Made in the A.M.', which debuted at number one in the UK.
2015: Energetic Performance Praised
Since at least 2015, Harry Styles has been seen by critics to be an unusually energetic performer.
2016: One Direction Hiatus
In 2016, One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus after promotional activities for 'Made in the A.M.'. This marked a significant turning point in Harry Styles' career as he prepared to embark on his solo journey.
2016: Featured in Another Man Magazine
In 2016, Styles was featured in Another Man magazine, after which Anne T. Donahue of The Guardian labelled him an "artthrob" who offers "something other than token shirtlessness" and telegraphs "an allegiance to the niche worlds of art and fashion rather than aiming for mainstream notoriety."
2016: One Direction Enters Indefinite Hiatus
In 2016, after completing promotional activities for their album 'Made in the A.M.', One Direction went on an indefinite hiatus upon Harry Styles's suggestion. This marked the end of a significant era for the band.
2016: Solo Career Developments
Throughout 2016, Harry Styles made key steps towards his solo career. He joined Jeffrey Azoff's Full Stop Management and talent agency CAA, signed a recording contract with Columbia Records, and launched his own record label, Erskine Records. He spent a two-month writing retreat in Jamaica during the autumn to record his debut album.
March 2017: Announcement of First Solo Single
In March 2017, Harry Styles announced that his first solo single, 'Sign of the Times,' would be released on April 7. This marked the beginning of his career as a solo artist.
May 2017: Intimate shows to celebrate debut album release
In May 2017, Harry Styles played intimate shows at The Garage in London and at the Troubadour in Los Angeles to celebrate the release of his debut album, with all proceeds benefiting charities.
May 2017: Release of 'Harry Styles' and 'Harry Styles: Behind the Album'
In May 2017, Harry Styles released his debut studio album, 'Harry Styles', which debuted at number one in several countries. The film 'Harry Styles: Behind the Album', which documented the album's creation, was released exclusively on Apple Music.
July 2017: Film Debut in Dunkirk
In July 2017, Harry Styles made his feature film debut in Christopher Nolan's war film Dunkirk, playing a British soldier named Alex during the Dunkirk evacuation in World War II.
September 2017: Start of Harry Styles: Live on Tour
In September 2017, Harry Styles embarked on his first headlining concert tour, 'Harry Styles: Live on Tour'.
November 2017: Television Special, Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, and Award
In November 2017, BBC One broadcast 'Harry Styles at the BBC', a one-hour television special. Later that month, he performed at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai. At the 2017 ARIA Music Awards, Styles received the Best International Artist award.
2017: Film Role in Dunkirk
In 2017, Harry Styles appeared in his first feature film Dunkirk.
2017: Started Using "TPWK" Slogan
In 2017, Harry Styles began using the slogan "Treat People with Kindness" (TPWK) during his debut concert tour, initially on a badge on his guitar and later on tour merchandise.
2017: Debut Solo Album Release
In 2017, Harry Styles released his self-titled debut solo album through Erskine and Columbia Records. The album reached number one in both the UK and the US, becoming one of the world's top-ten best-selling albums of the year. The lead single, 'Sign of the Times,' also topped the UK Singles Chart.
July 2018: End of Harry Styles: Live on Tour
In July 2018, Harry Styles concluded his first headlining concert tour, 'Harry Styles: Live on Tour', having performed across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
October 2018: Premiere of 'Happy Together'
In October 2018, the CBS sitcom 'Happy Together', on which Harry Styles served as an executive producer, premiered. The show was inspired by his time living with television producer Ben Winston and his wife.
2018: Joined Fleetwood Mac for MusiCares Performance
In 2018, Harry Styles joined Fleetwood Mac for a performance of "The Chain" when the band were honored with the MusiCares Person of the Year award.
2018: T-shirts with the slogan "Treat People with Kindness" sold for Pride Month
In 2018, Harry Styles' online store sold T-shirts with the slogan "Treat People with Kindness" in a rainbow print for Pride Month, with profits benefiting GLSEN.
2018: Gay Times Honour for LGBTQ Advocate
In 2018, Styles received a Gay Times Honour for LGBTQ Advocate.
July 2019: Reported Talks for 'The Little Mermaid'
In July 2019, it was reported that Harry Styles was in early talks to play Prince Eric in the live-action Disney film The Little Mermaid (scheduled for 2023). He ultimately turned down the role.
October 2019: "Do You Know Who You Are?" Website Launch
In October 2019, Harry Styles launched a website bot called "Do You Know Who You Are?" to mark World Mental Health Day, providing users with positive randomised messages and ending with "TPWK. LOVE, H."
October 2019: Release of 'Lights Up'
In October 2019, Harry Styles released 'Lights Up', the lead single from his second album, Fine Line. The song debuted at number three in the UK.
2019: Release of 'Fine Line'
In 2019, Harry Styles' second album, 'Fine Line,' debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200, achieving the biggest first-week sales by an English male artist. The album's fourth single, 'Watermelon Sugar,' later topped the US Billboard Hot 100.
March 2020: NPR Tiny Desk Concert and Songwriting
In March 2020, Harry Styles performed an NPR Tiny Desk concert and co-wrote the song "Changes" for Cam's album The Otherside.
May 2020: Supported Black Lives Matter
In May 2020, in light of the murder of George Floyd, Harry Styles showed support for Black Lives Matter, urging fans to share and donate in support, and pledged to donate to a bail fund for arrested Black Lives Matter activists.
2020: Released t-shirts for COVID-19 relief
During the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, Harry Styles released t-shirts with the slogan 'Stay Home. Stay Safe. Protect Each Other,' with 100% of the profits going towards the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund by the World Health Organization.
2020: Postponement of Love On Tour
In 2020, 'Love On Tour', the tour planned to support Fine Line, was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This affected Harry Styles' performing schedule.
January 2021: "Treat People with Kindness" Single and Music Video Release
In January 2021, Harry Styles released "Treat People with Kindness" as a single, accompanied by a music video featuring writer and actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge, further promoting his message of love and acceptance.
March 2021: Grammy Award Win
At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in March 2021, Harry Styles won Best Pop Solo Performance for "Watermelon Sugar" and was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album (Fine Line) and Best Music Video ("Adore You").
September 2021: Love On Tour Kickoff
After a postponement, Harry Styles' Love On Tour finally kicked off on 4 September 2021 in Las Vegas.
November 2021: Eternals Cameo and Pleasing Launch
In November 2021, Harry Styles made a cameo appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Eternals as Eros/Starfox and launched his gender-neutral skin and nail care brand, Pleasing.
2021: Rescheduled Love On Tour
In 2021, Love On Tour, the tour to support Fine Line, which had been postponed in 2020, was expected to take place.
June 2022: AirPods Commercial Feature
In June 2022, Harry Styles and his song "Music for a Sushi Restaurant" were featured in an AirPods commercial.
September 2022: Madison Square Garden Residency
In August and September 2022, Harry Styles performed 15 sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden, resulting in a permanent banner being raised inside the venue. He became only the third musical artist in history to receive this honor.
November 2022: Gucci Collaboration
In November 2022, Harry Styles collaborated with Alessandro Michele on a Gucci collection titled "Gucci Ha Ha Ha".
2022: Chart Success and Recognition
In 2022, "As It Was" was the most-streamed song of the year globally on Spotify and Deezer, Styles racked up a first-week vinyl sales count larger than anything any musician has managed before with Harry's House, Styles was the second-most-searched musician on Google, and Rolling Stone UK named Styles the "new King of Pop".
2022: Onstage Physicality
In 2022, Craig McLean described Harry Styles' onstage physicality as "stomping, head-banging exuberance" that is "impossible to resist."
2022: Film Roles in Don't Worry Darling and My Policeman
In 2022, Harry Styles continued his acting career with roles in the films Don't Worry Darling and My Policeman.
2022: Release of 'Harry's House' and Global Success of 'As It Was'
In 2022, Harry Styles released his third album, 'Harry's House,' which broke several records and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The album's lead single, 'As It Was,' became the number-one song globally, according to Billboard.
2022: Film Roles and Releases
In 2022, Harry Styles starred in Don't Worry Darling and My Policeman, which premiered at film festivals and received mixed reviews regarding both films and Styles' performances. He also auditioned for the role of Elvis Presley in the movie Elvis but did not get the part.
2022: Gucci 'Ha Ha Ha' Collection and Museum Exhibits
In 2022, the Gucci dress Styles wore on the cover of Vogue was featured in a V&A Museum exhibit. Styles also designed a Gucci capsule collection with Alessandro Michele entitled "Ha Ha Ha", unveiled at Milan Fashion Week.
July 2023: Love On Tour Conclusion
In July 2023, Harry Styles' Love On Tour concluded as the fifth-highest-grossing tour of all time, earning $617.3 million.
September 2023: Background Vocals for Mitch Rowland
In September 2023, Harry Styles provided background vocals on his bandmate Mitch Rowland's track "Here Comes the Comeback".
July 2024: Performance with Stevie Nicks
In July 2024, Harry Styles joined Stevie Nicks on stage at the British Summer Time festival in London to perform "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and "Landslide" in tribute to Christine McVie's birthday.
2024: Investment in S.S. Daley
In 2024, Styles invested in a minority stake in the emerging British fashion label S.S. Daley.
Mentioned in this timeline
AirPods are wireless Bluetooth earbuds created by Apple announced in...
TikTok also known as Douyin in China is a social...
Victoria's Secret is an American retailer specializing in lingerie clothing...
Taylor Swift is a highly successful American singer-songwriter recognized for...
Mac Miller born Malcolm James McCormick was an American rapper...
Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social networking service owned...
Trending
10 days ago James Gunn Plans Superman Sequel Shooting Soon; Teases 'Peacemaker' Role in DCU.
10 days ago Motorcycle crash in Beloit on Cranston Road: Police investigate single-vehicle incident.
10 days ago Zion: Influencers' Storm, Hidden Trail & East Mesa Hike, Views and Fewer Crowds
10 days ago Qatar Airways and Accenture partner for AI-driven aviation excellence, creating 'AI Skyways'.
10 days ago Ketel Marte's Absence and Day Off Requests Cause Frustration Among Diamondbacks Teammates
10 days ago Jamie Lee Curtis Celebrates 'Freakier Friday' with Fan Event and Lookalike Screening
Popular
Gavin Newsom is an American politician and businessman currently serving...
John Bolton is an American attorney diplomat Republican consultant and...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Muhammad Ali nicknamed The Greatest was an iconic American professional...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
George Soros is a prominent American investor and philanthropist As...