GRAMMY®-Nominated Tunesmith Unveils Packed Schedule, With Wide Range of Live TV Performances Including Billboard Music Awards 2013, the Ellen Degeneres Show, and NBC’S TODAY; “Lego House” Ascending at Hot AC and CHR/TOP 40; British Singer/Songwriter Traveling Now as Special Guest on Taylor Swift’s Epic “Red” Tour; Arena and Stadium Dates Continue Through September
NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwired – May 16, 2013) – Elektra recording artist Ed Sheeran is poised for an exceedingly eventful spring and summer, with a wide array of TV appearances slated for the coming months.
The GRAMMY®-nominated singer/songwriter will first be seen performing “Lego House,” on the upcoming Billboard Music Awards 2013, airing live on ABC from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Arena, this Sunday, May 19(th) at 8 p.m. ET (check local listings). Sheeran will then make a return visit to the nationally syndicated Ellen DeGeneres Show, set for Tuesday, May 21st. On Friday, July 12(th) , the British troubadour will hit New York City’s famed Rockefeller Plaza for NBC’s TODAY, presented as part of the annual Toyota Concert Series.
Last, but most certainly not least, Sheeran’s breathtaking installment of Live From The Artists Den will begin airing on public television stations nationwide in late July. An exclusive preview of the intimate concert — filmed last month at the historic New York Society for Ethical Culture — can be seen now exclusively at http://theartistsden.com/edsheeran.
The upcoming schedule continues Sheeran’s ever-increasing string of nationally televised performances, following prior appearances on CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman and CBS This Morning, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, NBC’s TODAY, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and Last Call with Carson Daly, TBS’ Conan, CNN’s Piers Morgan Live, and the nationally syndicated Ellen DeGeneres Show, LIVE with Kelly & Michael, and Katie. In addition, the talented tunesmith stole the show at this year’s 55(th) Annual GRAMMY Awards, performing his GRAMMY(R)-nominated international smash, “The A Team,” accompanied on piano by Sir Elton John.
Sheeran’s busy itinerary comes as “Lego House” — the latest single from his RIAA gold certified debut album, “+” — begins to explode at multi-format radio outlets across the country. The track is currently climbing towards the top 10 at Hot AC while also ascending to the top 25 at CHR/Pop outlets nationwide.
Furthermore, the “Lego House” companion video is now receiving heavy rotation at MTV, VH1, and FUSE, while simultaneously blowing up the internet with a stunning 48.5 million views at Sheeran’s official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/edsheeran. As if that weren’t enough, a remarkable “Lego Version” of the clip recreating the video entirely in Lego is streaming now at www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEqY0eY1_vQ.
Sheeran is currently traveling North America as special guest on Taylor Swift’s epic “Red Tour,” hitting arenas and stadiums across the continent through mid-September. “Everything Has Changed (Feat. Ed Sheeran)” — co-written by Swift and Sheeran, and featured on Swift’s blockbuster “RED,” — proved an immediate sensation, debuting at #1 on the iTunes “Top Singles” chart upon its initial release late last year. The prolific Sheeran has also contributed a number of his distinctive songs to fellow British exports One Direction, including “Moments” (found on 2012′s worldwide #1 debut, “UP ALL NIGHT”) as well as two top tracks — “Over Again” and the U.K. #1 hit, “Little Things” — on the million-selling, chart-topping “TAKE ME HOME.”
The “Red Tour” comes hot on the heels of Sheeran’s own recent headline trek, a hugely successful run which featured sold out dates at such renowned venues as New York’s world famous Radio City Music Hall, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, and Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium. For up-to-the-minute news and ticket information regarding all live dates, please see http://edsheeran.com/live.htm.
Masterfully blending soulful vocals with organic folk introspection and irresistible hip-hop hooks, Sheeran is a genuine phenomenon. Inspired by such diverse artists as James Morrison, Damien Rice, and Jay-Z, the gifted tunesmith’s major label debut single, “The A Team,” proved an unqualified sensation upon its 2011 arrival, entering among the top 3 on the U.K. Singles Chart. The track spent 11 consecutive weeks in the U.K. Top 10, making history as 2011′s highest charting, biggest selling debut single. Sheeran’s full-length debut, “+,” soon followed, entering the U.K. Albums Chart at #1 with the highest opening sales figures for a debut male solo artist ever and is now certified 5x platinum.
In addition to their popular success, Sheeran and “+” received extensive acclaim, including the prestigious “Breakthrough Artist” trophy at the Q Awards 2011. Even greater accolades came in early 2012 as Sheeran emerged victorious with a pair of top 2011 Brit Awards — including “Best Male Artist” and “Best Breakthrough Artist” — after having led the field with a remarkable four total nods. Furthermore, “The A Team” received the high honor of a 2012 Ivor Novello Award in the “Best Song Musically and Lyrically” category.
By now a full-fledged U.K. superstar, Sheeran was among the top artists performing at last year’s Royal Diamond Jubilee Concert, where he celebrated the 60(th) anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign by sharing the stage with such rock royalty as Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, and Sir Tom Jones. After maintaining a virtually non-stop touring schedule that included countless main stage festival appearances around the globe, Sheeran closed his incredible summer with a memorable performance of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” (alongside Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, Genesis’ Mike Rutherford, and Richard Jones of The Feeling) at the London 2012 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony.
Here in the United States, “+”entered the SoundScan/Billboard 200 at #5 upon its release in June 2012, scoring the highest debut for a British solo artist’s first full-length album since 2009. “The A Team” soon catapulted the gifted Sheeran to the forefront of modern pop, earning him a prestigious “Song of the Year” nomination for the 55(th) Annual GRAMMY Awards. The critically acclaimed, platinum certified single ultimately reached the top 10 at CHR/Top 40 and Hot AC radio outlets across the country, while also rising to the top 20 on Billboard’s all-encompassing “Hot 100.”
Along with its multi-format radio success, “The A Team” proved equally popular at MTV and VH1, where it earlier reached #1 on the network’s Top 20 Countdown. The latter channel also named Sheeran as one of their “You Oughta Know” artists — a list that has previously elevated such top stars as Bruno Mars, Adele, and Mumford & Sons — followed by his headlining last fall’s sold out “VH1 You Oughta Know” U.S. tour. What’s more, “The A Team” companion video clip was a true internet blockbuster, drawing close to 60 million individual views at Sheeran’s official YouTube channel, www.YouTube.com/EdSheeran.
By year’s end, Sheeran had officially taken North America by storm. Every date on his first-ever North American headline tour sold out, with many shows upgraded to larger venues in order to accommodate an increasingly fervent fanbase. Rolling Stone applauded the 21-year-old singer/songwriter in their coverage of Z100′s annual Jingle Ball extravaganza at New York’s Madison Square Garden, writing that his “imprint was felt throughout the night… Screams greeted every mention of his name; his time on stage was accompanied by much yelling as well.” USA Today and People both heralded Sheeran as one of the new year’s brightest lights, while Billboard officially declared him to be “the breakout star of 2013,” noting that “his distinct live shows… have helped him build a loyal audience — not to mention earn screams loud enough to rival Bieber’s and One Direction’s.”
Source: WSJ
