- in Entertainment News by Mike
Over A Million Catch Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph”
ED SHEERAN KICKS OFF EPIC SUMMER WITH “5”
GRAMMY® NOMINATED SUPERSTAR UNVEILS COLLECTION OF HIS HISTORIC SELF-RELEASED EPS
DIGITAL RELEASE AVAILABLE NOW INDIVIDUALLY AND IN BUNDLE
VIA GINGERBREAD MAN/ATLANTIC RECORDS
NEW SINGLE “PHOTOGRAPH” HERALDED BY INCREDIBLE COMPANION VIDEO RELEASED YESTERDAY, AMASSING 1.5 MILLION VIEWS IN ITS FIRST 24 HOURS
FIRST EVER US TV PERFORMANCE OF “BLOODSTREAM” SET FOR THIS SUNDAY’S
2015 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS
NORTH AMERICAN ARENA/STADIUM TOUR JUST UNDERWAY,
WITH HIGHLGHTS INCLUDING SOLD OUT TWO NIGHT STANDS
IN NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, AND DENVER
FALL ARENA/STADIUM TOUR ON SALE NOW
Atlantic recording artist Ed Sheeran has announced a major flurry of spring activity, highlighted by “5,” the first-ever US release of five legendary EPs originally self-released by the GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer/songwriter himself, available both individually and collectively, as a special bundle via http://smarturl.it/edsheeran5.
“5” – released via Atlantic & Gingerbread Man Records, Sheeran’s own recently launched label imprint – includes 2009’s “YOU NEED ME,” 2010’s “LOOSE CHANGE,” “SONGS I WROTE WITH AMY” (featuring collaborations with Welsh songstress Amy Wadge, co-writer with Sheeran of the worldwide smash single, “Thinking Out Loud”), and “LIVE AT THE BEDFORD,” as well as 2011’s breakthrough “NO. 5 COLLABORATION PROJECT.” Among the five EPs are classic songs later re-recorded for Sheeran’s history-making debut album, 2011’s RIAA platinum certified “+,” including “Wake Me Up,” “The City,” and “You Need Me, I Need You” (see attached tracklisting).
Meanwhile, Sheeran is among the superstars set to appear live on the 2015 Billboard Music Awards, performing his hit single, “Bloodstream,” for the first time on US television. The singer/songwriter is also among the event’s top nominees, with nods for “Top Male Artist,” “Top Billboard 200 Artist,” “Top Radio Songs Artist,” “Top Digital Songs Artist,” and “Top Billboard 200 Album” (for 2014’s chart-topping, RIAA platinum certified “x”). The 2015 Billboard Music Awards air live from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena on ABC, this Sunday, May 17th, at 8 PM (ET/PT) (check local listings).
“Bloodstream” – originally found on the blockbuster “x” – has proven an international sensation, with its retooled version featuring Rudimental marking Sheeran’s eighth UK top 10 hit. The track’s companion video – directed by Emil Nava (Calvin Harris, Jessie J) and initially created for the 2015 YouTube Music Awards – is also a popular favorite, with total views now in excess of 12 million at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orq_75kFi8I.
Just in time for Mother’s Day, this past Saturday night saw Sheeran release the stunning Emil Nava-directed companion video for “Photograph,” the latest single from the globally successful “x”. The captivating clip – which features never-before-seen childhood footage of Sheeran himself – has already amassed nearly 3 million views in the first 48 hours and is streaming at Sheeran’s YouTube page at https://youtu.be/nSDgHBxUbVQ. What’s more, Ed recently performed acoustic versions of “Photograph” and “Thinking Out Loud” on a special live episode of NBC’s hit comedy series Undateable, with different versions presented on the East and West Coasts. Both performances are streaming now at www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxLSvSlJJAo and www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6odNU26fD4.
One of the planet’s most popular and electrifying live performers, Sheeran will spend his summer on tour, with the current sold out North American leg, which kicked off last week with a sold out show at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. The dates are highlighted by a blockbuster four sold out New York area shows; two nights at the famed Forest Hills Stadium (May 28th and 29th) followed by one night each, at the Prudential Center (May 30th) and the Barclays Center (May 31st). In addition to this, the trek includes a pair of sold out shows at both Los Angeles’ iconic Hollywood Bowl (June 24th and 25th), and Denver’s iconic Red Rock Amphitheatre (June 29th and 30th). Other highlights include top-billed performances at Las Vegas’ Rock In Rio USA on May 15th and Milwaukee’s Summerfest on July 3rd.
From there Sheeran returns home for five colossal stadium dates, all completely sold out, including three nights at London’s Wembley Stadium (July 10th, 11th, and 12th) and two at Dublin, Ireland’s Croke Park (July 24th and 25th). In September, he returns to North America for a second leg of shows, beginning with two of his biggest-ever US performances at Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium on September 3rd and Dallas’s Toyota Stadium on September 5th and then closing September 25th at Foxboro, MA’s Gillette Stadium. An additional series of stadium concerts are slated for Australia and New Zealand in late November. For a complete tour itinerary, remaining ticket information, and regular updates, please visit www.edsheeran.com/live.htm.
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Blending soulful vocals with organic folk introspection and irresistible hip-hop hooks, Ed Sheeran is a genuine global phenomenon. The 24-year-old artist’s acclaimed second full length album “x” (pronounced “multiply”) went to #1 on the album charts in 14 countries around the world, and has since achieved platinum sales in 18 countries including the United States and his native United Kingdom, where it was the biggest selling album of 2014. With worldwide sales exceeding 7 million, “x” is highlighted by a trio of smash singles – “Sing”, “Don’t” and his biggest hit to date- “Thinking Out Loud” which marks Sheeran’s first #1 single in the U.S. In February, Sheeran received one of the biggest ovations of the night for his performance of “Thinking Out Loud” at the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards, where he was nominated for 3 awards, including the prestigious “Album of the Year” for “x”. Later that month, he took home the awards for “Best British Album” and “Best British Male” at the 2015 BRIT Awards. An acclaimed live performer, Sheeran has played countless sold-out shows across the globe, including a 3-night stand at New York City’s Madison Square Garden and 4 nights at London’s O2 Arena.
This summer will see him perform his biggest headlining shows to date, including his just-announced, first NFL stadium show at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, and 3 sold-out nights at London’s Wembley Stadium. Along with his six GRAMMY nominations and four BRIT Awards, Sheeran has accrued an array of distinguished honors including the 2012 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for “The A Team”, as well as trophies for Best Male Video at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards and Favorite Album and Favorite Artist at the 2015 People’s Choice Awards. Sheeran is also a 5x finalist at this year’s Billboard Music Awards in May. As if all of that weren’t enough, Sheeran was also named Spotify’s most streamed artist in the world in 2014. Sheeran’s 2012 breakthrough debut album, “+,” entered the UK Albums Chart at #1 with the highest opening sales figures for a debut male solo artist ever and is now certified 6x-platinum. Fueled by international hit singles like “The A Team” and “Lego House,” “+” has enjoyed multi-platinum, platinum, and gold sales in nine countries around the world.