Recommendations of the Editorial team
Regardless of the debate about high ticket prices and endless queues in the digital ticket system, things are going really smoothly for Harry Styles – even off stage. The singer celebrated his 32nd birthday on Sunday (February 1) and gave himself the best present: his single “Aperture” shot to number one on the “Billboard Hot 100” charts, his third number one hit in the USA. After “As It Was” from 2022, it is his second song to enter directly at the top. “Watermelon Sugar” previously occupied pole position for a week in summer 2020.
The success was announced: “Aperture” is the most streamed song of the week and serves as an overture to the fourth solo album “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally”, which will be released on March 6th. His solo albums – Harry Styles (2017), Fine Line (2019) and Harry’s House (2022) – all debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 list.
While Styles leads the streaming and sales charts, the balance of power on radio is shifting: “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean, newly crowned Grammy winner for Best New Artist, rises to number three on the “Hot 100” and simultaneously takes over the top position on the US radio charts. A lightning bolt for a new pop generation that can hold its own alongside established superstars.
The good UK taxpayer
But the name Styles is not only appearing prominently in the music world these days. The Sunday Times Tax List lists him among the UK’s top 100 taxpayers for the first time. According to the BBC, the significant increase in taxes paid is due to higher corporate tax rates introduced under the previous Conservative government. In total, the top 100 taxpayers paid £5.758 billion this year – a significant jump from £4.985 billion last year.
Styles is said to have made over £51.8 million from his touring and merchandising company Erskine Records in the 2023/24 financial year. In contrast to the tax avoidance practices of prominent colleagues such as U2 (in Ireland), this is almost entirely taxable at the UK top tax rate of 45 percent. His tax payment was £24.7 million, according to insider reports.
The ex-boy band singer thus joins prominent newcomers and returnees such as Ed Sheeran and author JK Rowling. The list is headed for the first time by the betting provider brothers Fred and Peter Done.
