Ed Sheeran

Overview

English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with 200 million records sold worldwide and 119 million RIAA-certified units in the U.S. The Official Charts Company named him its artist of the decade for the 2010s, and his ÷ Tour became the highest-grossing of all time in August 2019. As of July 2024, he is the third most-followed artist on Spotify.

After signing with Asylum Records in 2011, Sheeran released his debut album, + ("Plus"), which topped the U.K. Albums Chart. His follow-up, × ("Multiply") (2014), was a global chart-topper and the second-best-selling album worldwide of 2015. The album's single "Thinking Out Loud" earned him 2016 Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. His third album, ÷ ("Divide"), was the best-selling album worldwide of 2017, breaking numerous chart records with its singles "Shape of You" and "Perfect."

Sheeran's subsequent albums, including No.6 Collaborations Project (2019) and = ("Equals") (2021), also debuted at number one in major markets. He has won multiple Brit Awards, including Best British Male Solo Artist, and an Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year. In 2023, he released two studio albums, − ("Subtract") and Autumn Variations, the latter on his own Gingerbread Man Records label. His eighth studio album, Play, was preceded by the lead single "Azizam," released on April 4, 2025.

Early life and origins

Edward Christopher Sheeran was born on Feb. 17, 1991, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk. He began writing songs around the age of 11 and is an alumnus of the National Youth Theatre in London. In early 2011, Sheeran independently released the extended play No. 5 Collaborations Project. He signed with Asylum Records later that year.

Career

In early 2011, Ed Sheeran independently released the extended play No. 5 Collaborations Project and signed with Asylum Records the same year. His debut album, + ("Plus"), was released in September 2011. It topped the UK Albums Chart and featured his first hit single, "The A Team." In 2012, Sheeran won Brit Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act.

Sheeran's second studio album, × ("Multiply"), was released in June 2014 and topped charts around the world. It was the second-best-selling album worldwide in 2015. That year, × won Album of the Year at the Brit Awards, and Sheeran received the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year. A single from the album, "Thinking Out Loud," earned him the 2016 Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.

His third album, ÷ ("Divide"), was released in March 2017 and became the best-selling album worldwide of that year. Its first two singles, "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill," debuted in the top two positions of the charts in several countries. Sheeran became the first artist to have two songs debut in the U.S. top 10 in the same week. By March 2017, he had ten top-10 singles from ÷ on the UK Singles Chart, a record for the most from one album. The album's fourth single, "Perfect," reached number one in the U.S., Australia, and the UK, where it was the Christmas number one in 2017. Sheeran was named the Global Recording Artist of the Year for 2017. His accompanying ÷ Tour became the highest-grossing concert tour of all time in August 2019.

Sheeran released his first collaborative album, No.6 Collaborations Project, in 2019. It debuted at number one in most major markets and produced three UK number-one singles: "I Don't Care," "Beautiful People," and "Take Me Back to London." His fifth studio album, = ("Equals"), arrived in 2021 and also topped charts in most major markets. He followed this with two albums in 2023: his sixth album, − ("Subtract"), was released on May 5, and his seventh, Autumn Variations, was released on September 29 under his own label, Gingerbread Man Records. Sheeran has sold 200 million records worldwide and has 119 million RIAA-certified units in the U.S. In December 2019, the Official Charts Company named him its artist of the decade for his combined success in the UK charts in the 2010s.

Style and influences

Ed Sheeran's music is primarily categorized as pop, soft pop, folk, and soft rock. His style is characterized by his singer-songwriter approach, often blending acoustic elements with pop sensibilities. In live performances, he is known for creating multi-layered arrangements by himself using a loop pedal and a custom acoustic guitar.

Sheeran began writing songs around the age of eleven and received the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year in 2015. His early work, particularly on his debut album`+`(2011), was rooted in acoustic folk-pop. He expanded his sound on subsequent albums, incorporating more polished pop production on`×`(2014) and exploring a wider range of genres on`÷`(2017), which included the tropical house-influenced"Shape of You"alongside the folk-rock of"Castle on the Hill."His 2019 album,`No.6 Collaborations Project`, was a departure that focused on collaborations with artists from the hip-hop and R&B genres. His 2023 albums,`−`("Subtract") and`Autumn Variations`, saw a return to more introspective, acoustic-driven songwriting. His continued sonic exploration is evident in the 2025 single"Azizam,"which was inspired by Persian culture.

Throughout his career, Sheeran has worked with a wide array of collaborators. His key songwriting partners include Johnny McDaid, Steve Mac, Savan Kotecha, and Ilya Salmanzadeh. The album`No.6 Collaborations Project`featured guest appearances from artists such as Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Chris Stapleton, Travis Scott, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Cardi B. He has also recorded duets with Beyoncé on"Perfect Duet"and Andrea Bocelli on"Perfect Symphony,"and has worked multiple times with Taylor Swift. Other notable collaborations include"River"with Eminem,"Life Goes On"with Luke Combs, and a Persian-language version of"Azizam"with Googoosh.

Sheeran has cited several artists as influences on his music, particularly on his early development as a songwriter. Among his most significant influences are Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice, as well as Bob Dylan and Van Morrison.

Recent highlights

Ed Sheeran released his eighth studio album,"Play,"on September 12, 2025. The album was preceded by the lead single"Azizam,"which was released on April 4, 2025, on Gingerbread Man Records and Atlantic Records. Inspired by Persian culture, the song's title translates to"my dear"or"my beloved."It was written and produced by Sheeran, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Johnny McDaid, and Savan Kotecha. The single debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Sheeran's 42nd top 10 hit in his home country. It also topped the charts in Belgium and the Netherlands and reached the top 10 in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark. A Persian version of the song featuring Iranian singer Googoosh was released on April 18, 2025. Other singles from the album include"Old Phone,""Sapphire,"and"A Little More."

Recognition and awards

Ed Sheeran has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 2012, he won the Brit Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act. His second album, × ("Multiply"), won Album of the Year at the 2015 Brit Awards. The same year, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors gave him the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year. A single from ×,"Thinking Out Loud,"earned Sheeran two Grammy Awards in 2016 for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.

Sheeran's commercial success has also led to significant recognition. He has sold 200 million records worldwide and has 119 million RIAA-certified units in the United States. Two of his albums are among the best-selling in UK chart history. Following the success of his album ÷ ("Divide"), he was named the Global Recording Artist of the Year for 2017. In December 2019, the Official Charts Company named him its artist of the decade for his combined success on the UK album and singles charts in the 2010s. Time magazine has also listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Similar artists

Ed Sheeran's musical peers and comparable artists include a range of pop singer-songwriters and global acts. Among them are Bruno Mars, Adele, Shawn Mendes, Sam Smith, Charlie Puth, John Legend, Lewis Capaldi, Camila Cabello, Sia, and Miley Cyrus. His contemporaries also include bands such as Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5, The Chainsmokers, and OneRepublic, as well as artists like Marshmello, Anne-Marie, Benson Boone, Calum Scott, and Alex Warren.