Edward Christopher Sheeran, MBE (born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. In early 2011, Sheeran independently released the extended play, No. 5 Collaborations Project. After signing with Asylum Records, his debut album, + (pronounced "plus"), was released in September 2011. It topped the UK and Australian charts, reached number five in the US, and has since been certified eight-times platinum in the UK.
The album contains the single "The A Team", which earned him the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. In 2012, Sheeran won the Brit Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act. "The A Team" was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2013 Grammy Awards, where he performed the song with Elton John.
Ed Sheeran backs Music Venue Trust’s ‘Own Our Venues’ campaign
nme.comEd Sheeran has backed the Music Venue Trust’s (MVT) ‘Own Our Venues’ campaign, which highlights the need for ownership in the UK’s grassroots music venues.The initiative was first announced in May, following the news that legendary venues North London’s Nambucca and Sheffield’s Leadmill were closing their doors or under threat, respectively.The ‘Own Our Venues’ campaign is built on the Community Share model, which has previously formed a successful way of protecting local pubs, post offices and sports grounds.
The MVT has identified nine venues to be involved in a pilot project, with further venue freeholds to be secured as and when they become available.Once venues have been purchased, an immediate rent reduction will be offered, while help will also be given towards building repairs and insurance.
The aim is currently to complete the purchase of the nine initial music venues by the end of 2022.Now, Ed Sheeran has pledged his support to the initiative, saying: “’Own Our Venues’ is an initiative I’m really passionate about getting behind.
Small, independent venues are so, so important to the music community, and I’ve played some of my favourite gigs of my career in these rooms.
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