Harry Styles crashed onto the Albums Chart at No.1 on Friday (May 19) – and successfully launched his new, rock-oriented career, according to his label boss Ferdy Unger-Hamilton.

The self-titled solo debut by the One Direction star sold 56,630 copies last week, including 10,057 units from streams, according to the Official Charts Company.

That fell short of first week sales by the likes of Rag’N’Bone Man (117,101) and Stormzy (68,594). But Columbia president Unger-Hamilton told Music Week the label’s key ...