Ed Sheeran
Folk, Pop • Halifax, United Kingdom
Ed Sheeran
Edward Christopher Sheeran is an English singer-songwriter born on February 17, 1991, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk. He began writing songs at age eleven and showed early musical promise, learning guitar at eleven and being voted "most likely to be famous" by his classmates. After independently releasing the EP No. 5 Collaborations Project in early 2011, Sheeran signed with Asylum Records and launched a career that would make him one of the world's best-selling music artists.
Sheeran's breakthrough came with his debut album + ("Plus") in September 2011, which topped the UK Albums Chart and featured the hit single "The A Team." His second album × ("Multiply") in 2014 achieved massive international success, with "Thinking Out Loud" earning him Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance in 2016. His third album ÷ ("Divide") in 2017 became the best-selling album worldwide that year, with singles "Shape of You" and "Perfect" achieving unprecedented chart success and breaking multiple records simultaneously.
Musically, Sheeran's style blends pop, folk-pop, soft rock, and rap influences, drawing inspiration from artists like Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, and Eminem. His songwriting approach creates universally resonant narratives that soundtrack life's major moments. Beyond solo work, Sheeran has established himself as a prolific collaborator, contributing to albums by Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, One Direction, and numerous other artists. His fourth album No.6 Collaborations Project (2019) spawned three UK number-one singles.
With over 200 million records sold worldwide and 119 million RIAA-certified units in the US, Sheeran has achieved remarkable commercial success. He holds the record for the highest-grossing tour of all time with his ÷ Tour and was named the Official Charts Company's Artist of the Decade for 2010-2019. As of 2024, he ranks as the third most-followed artist on Spotify. Sheeran continues to release albums, including = ("Equals") in 2021, − ("Subtract") in 2023, and Autumn Variations in 2023, while operating his own record label, Gingerbread Man Records, and engaging in significant charitable work throughout his native Suffolk.
Quotes
“He's the reason I started playing guitar”
“I was eleven when I saw Eric Clapton play at the Queen's Golden Jubilee concert in June 2002. I remember him walking on stage with this rainbow-coloured Stratocaster and playing the first riff of 'Layla'. I was hooked. Two days later I bought a black Stratocaster copy for £30 that came with an amp. All I did for the next month was try to play that 'Layla' riff”
“It's good to show insight that these people are real people with real emotions and they deserve the same charity work as anyone else”
“He is one of the reasons I started writing songs, and was such a pleasure to work with him”
“I would not be doing what I'm doing now if he'd been a jerk”
“I sang on Eric Clapton's album I Still Do. It's one thing having him on mine, but being on his, that's an honour that you can't ever pinpoint on how great that is”
Career Timeline
Time 100 Influential People
Listed as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2025, cementing his status as global cultural icon.
Spotify Ranking
Ranked as third most followed artist on Spotify as of July 2024, following massive streaming success with over 200 million records sold worldwide.
Two Albums in One Year
Released − ("Subtract") in May 2023 and Autumn Variations in September 2023, with latter being his first album through his own Gingerbread Man Records label with full copyright ownership.
UK Number One Record
With 'Bad Habits' achieving 52 weeks at number one across his catalogue in UK, became first British solo artist to reach this milestone, with only Elvis Presley (80 weeks) and The Beatles (69 weeks) achieving more.
Fifth Album Success
Released = ("Equals") in October 2021, topping charts in most major markets. Album cover painted by Sheeran during COVID-19 lockdown, reflecting personal life changes including marriage and fatherhood.
Artist of the Decade
Named Artist of the Decade by Official Charts Company in December 2019 for most combined success in UK album and singles charts during 2010s, with eight of his songs in the decade's chart.
Highest-Grossing Tour
÷ Tour became the highest-grossing tour of all time in August 2019, wrapping with 260 shows in August after six years, including record-breaking performances in Australia and New Zealand.
Historic Chart Achievement
Released ÷ ("Divide") in March 2017, best-selling album of the year worldwide. Singles 'Shape of You' and 'Castle on the Hill' debuted at number one and two simultaneously on UK, German, and Australian charts—unprecedented achievement.
US Chart Records
Became first artist to debut two songs simultaneously in US top 10, and first artist to have ten top-10 UK singles from one album, breaking Calvin Harris's previous record of nine.
Global Artist of the Year
Named the world's best-selling artist of 2017 by IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), receiving Global Recording Artist of the Year accolade.
Record Label Launch
Launched Gingerbread Man Records in partnership with Warner Music Group, signing artists including Jamie Lawson and Foy Vance.
Grammy and Songwriting Awards
'Thinking Out Loud' earned Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at 2016 ceremony. Won Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year from British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Second Album Success
Released × ("Multiply") in June 2014, which topped charts worldwide and was named second-best-selling album of 2015. Wrote over 120 songs for the album over three years.
Brit Awards Recognition
Won two Brit Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act at the 2012 Brit Awards, establishing himself as a major force in British music.
Debut Album and Record Deal
Released debut album + ("Plus") in September 2011, which topped UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 102,000 copies. Signed to Asylum Records and achieved immediate critical and commercial success.
