In a statement released on February 1st, 2016 from Richard Griffiths and Harry Magee, Harry Styles has taken his split from Modest Management public and has signed with CAA’s Jeffrey Azoff, who is the son of industry genius Irving Azoff.
Harry’s split from Modest does not mean a split from one Direction, as most sources are speculating – it simply means that he, along with Liam (who has already been recording music), Niall, and Louis are going to do as they’ve said and explore new things during their hiatus. We expect the next few weeks and months to bring official statements on the other lads regarding their split Modest Management as well. Without panic, fans should remember that with One Direction on a hiatus it is not immediately necessary for them, as a band, to find new management.
Griffiths and Magee had this to say on Harry’s news.
“We wish Harry the very best. It has been a real pleasure working with him. 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.”
One Direction fans scoffed at the statement, and with good reason as it seems that Modest Management’s intentions were never to manage the boys at all, but to turn them into a well oiled machine that they could run tirelessly down. Former band member Zayn Malik opened up in an interview with his departure from the band and had this to say about their environment.
“It was like a f—ing machine going constantly. We weren’t allowed to say certain things, or word lyrics the way we would want to. I’d sit and wonder, ‘If the fans knew how it worked, what would they think?’ My argument was: People are more intelligent than that. They want to hear what’s real, so why don’t we write some stuff that we’re actually going through?”
If Zayn felt like that during his time with One Direction under Modest’s management, it’s likely that Harry, Louis, Liam, and Niall feel the same way – it would come as a complete shock to everyone if Louis, Liam, and Niall decided as individuals, or the four as a band, to stay under control of Modest.
Harry’s signing with Azoff comes as no surprise as he and Jeff have not hidden their friendship; and as the son of Irving, who has gone to battle for his own clients, we think Harry made the right decision.
We can’t wait to hear the official statements for the rest of the lads once they sign with new management and we’re crossing our fingers that once their hiatus is over, they’ll all be in the capable hands of the Azoff’s and they’ll finally be able to embrace the image, and the freedom, they’ve long deserved.