Grammy-winning popstar Harry Styles shocked fans on Thursday with a schedule of private listening parties to promote his fourth independent album “Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally,” which is releasing on March 6. One city on the list stood out.
Out of the 40 cities worldwide that Styles chose to host private listening parties, only two were in the United States: Los Angeles, California and Madison, Wisconsin.
It’s likely that Styles didn’t choose Madison randomly.
The English-born musician has been a fan of the Green Bay Packers since 2013. He became a fan because he and a friend from Appleton would play the Madden together.
“I would always play as the Green Bay Packers,” Styles said in an interview with NPR. “They’re also the only NFL team owned by the fans, so, you know, I like that.”
When Styles visited Milwaukee for a show during his 2022 tour, a fan threw a cheesehead — the iconic Packer fan hat resembling a wedge of cheddar cheese — on stage. Styles caught it and put it on for a brief moment.
Styles also sports a Packers logo tattoo on one of his arms.
“I’m honored to live in one of the smallest cities on that list,” said Colin Steffl, a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate and current Madison resident. “Being able to know that he’s looking out for Madison, that’s pretty cool.”
UW-Madison junior Becca Hall agreed.
“I feel really excited about the listening party and was really surprised to see Madison on the list,” she said. “It’s a wonderful city that doesn’t get a lot of these cool opportunities like places like Los Angeles do.”
Fans’ excitement is palpable: the lead single off Styles’ new album, “Aperture,” broke the record for biggest Spotify debut by a male solo artist with 12.47 million global streams, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
“I’m excited for the album because Aperture is a really good first taste of what we’re gonna get from the full album,” Steffl told The Daily Cardinal.
Only 50 people will win the opportunity to attend the listening party, with each winner receiving two tickets. Winners will be announced on Feb. 16 via email. The listening party in Madison will take place on Feb. 18.
Though the exact venue has not been released, fans theorize that Strictly Discs, a record store founded in 1988 on Monroe Street, is a top contender, given the fact that fans can preorder Styles’ upcoming album there.
“Though tickets are random and limited, I still think having it in Madison is really awesome and is a big indicator for the future of our city,” Hall said. “It’s a really cool opportunity for our city to host such a unique event.”
According to the official rules, applicants must be 18+ and enter a sweepstakes for a chance to attend the Madison listening party by choosing the “Madison” location option.
Applicants must also answer the question “WHAT DO YOU THINK LISTENING TO THE ALBUM WILL FEEL LIKE?” in addition to providing their Instagram, Twitter and TikTok handles.
The winners will be determined by random drawings. However, if the winner can’t be contacted within a day of notification, their place may be forfeited and given to another fan.
Many of Styles’ dedicated fans across the globe are excited for his return to music.
“We need more high-energy, romantic, fun, poppy music,” Steffl said. “Let’s do this.”
Editor’s Note: Olivia Ruetten is a ride-or-die Harry Styles fan. This article was written after she got a tattoo inspired by his 2022 Love on Tour. At the time of publication, she is obsessively refreshing her email, waiting with a glimmer of hope for Styles to announce the listening party attendees.
