# Ed Sheeran discography

Sheeran began as an indie artist, selling music on his own label from 2005 and releasing nine extended plays while building a public and critical following.

## Independent beginnings and + (2005–2012)

His first major-label single, "The A Team", arrived five months later on 12 June 2011. It debuted at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart on first-week sales of 57,607 copies and reached the top ten internationally, peaking at No. 2 in Australia and No. 3 in New Zealand.

**The debut album +** was released on 9 September 2011 and debuted at No. 1 on the [UK Albums Chart](https://www.edgepedia.org/uk-albums-chart), selling over 100,000 copies in its first week. The [British Phonographic Industry](https://www.edgepedia.org/british-phonographic-industry) later certified it 7× Platinum for sales of 2.1 million copies, and the RIAA certified it 3× Platinum in the United States.<sup>[1](https://grokipedia.com/page/Ed_Sheeran_discography)</sup>

## × and international breakthrough (2014–2016)

The second studio album, × (Multiply), released in 2014, peaked at No. 1 in the UK, Ireland, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, and Norway. It was Sheeran's first US No. 1 album.<sup>[1](https://grokipedia.com/page/Ed_Sheeran_discography)</sup>

Five singles came from the album: "Sing", "Don't", "Thinking Out Loud", "Bloodstream" (a collaboration with [Rudimental](https://www.edgepedia.org/rudimental)), and "Photograph". "Thinking Out Loud" was later certified 18× Platinum by the RIAA.<sup>[1](https://grokipedia.com/page/Ed_Sheeran_discography)</sup>

## ÷ and chart records (2017–2018)

On 6 January 2017 Sheeran released two singles, "[Shape of You](https://www.edgepedia.org/shape-of-you)" and "Castle on the Hill", his first solo material in two years.

**The UK opening of ÷** set records: 672,000 first-week units made it the fastest-selling album by a male solo artist in the UK and the third-highest opening ever there, behind Adele's *25* and Oasis' *[Be Here Now](https://www.edgepedia.org/be-here-now-album)*. In the week of the album's release, every track on it reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, driven mainly by streaming, and Sheeran surpassed [Calvin Harris](https://www.edgepedia.org/calvin-harris)' record for top-10 hits from one album.

## Collaborations and later albums (2019–2025)

Sheeran announced his fourth studio album, *[No.6 Collaborations Project](https://www.edgepedia.org/no-6-collaborations-project)*, through an Instagram post on 23 May 2019.

On 6 May 2021, alongside announcing that he would sponsor the shirt of Ipswich Town Football Club, Sheeran revealed the title of his fifth studio album, = (Equals).

## References

1. [Ed Sheeran discography - Grokipedia](https://grokipedia.com/page/Ed_Sheeran_discography)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Albums and recorded releases › Artist discographies and song lists*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Sep 30, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license