Harry Styles is taking the next step in his music career. The British heartthrob has cut ties with One Direction’s longtime management team, Modest Management, for a new deal with CAA’s Jeffrey Azoff. “We wish Harry the very best. It has been a real pleasure working with him,” Modest executives Richard Griffiths and Harry Magee said in a statement to Billboard on Monday, February 1, which just happens to be Styles’ 22nd birthday. “Harry is a total gentleman, and we know our good friend Jeffrey Azoff will look after him. We look forward to sharing some great wine with them next time we are in L.A.”
Harry Styles latest move isn’t surprising. As Us Weekly exclusively revealed, One Direction’s current hiatus is actually a permanent break. Styles and his bandmates — including Niall Horan, Liam Payne and new dad Louis Tomlinson — decided not to renew their contract. “The 1D thing just ran its course,” an insider told Us last month. “They’ll remain friends, but they are exhausted and want solo careers.” Former member Zayn Malik is already on that path. The singer — who is dating model Gigi Hadid — is working on his debut album, Mind of Mine. He dropped his music video for “Pillowtalk” last Friday.