Ed Sheeran’s ÷ broke just about every record in sight on its way to becoming the fastest selling male solo album of all time last week. But as ever with pop albums of this magnitude, it’s not all about the artist. With sales and streams at such levels, plus no doubt a lot of sync income to come, there is also big money to be made by the songwriters and music publishers lucky enough to get some cuts on the album. Here, we take a look at the publishing and songwriter breakdown of what has already become one of the biggest album releases of the decade...
While the mammoth sales figures garnered by ÷ have understandably been the talk of the industry since its release just over a week ago, the record has also provided a significant boost at publishing level. Indeed, the No.1 single Shape Of You has helped guide Sony/ATV to a full, uninterrupted year as the publisher or co-publisher of the No.1 song on the official UK singles chart.
Sheeran has also helped boutique publisher BDi find a home at the top of the albums chart this week. Part of the Bucks Music Group, BDi Music has worldwide publishing agreements with both Amy Wadge and Jake Gosling, who have been significant Sheeran collaborators during his recording career. Both were introduced to Sheeran by BDi Music MD Sarah Liversedge in 2009. Gosling produced the majority of Sheeran’s +, as well as co-writing nine tracks across the standard and deluxe version, including Drunk and Lego House. Wadge, meanwhile, co-wrote Gold Rush with Sheeran, which appears on the deluxe version of + and X’s smash hit single Thinking Out Loud and Even My Dad Does Sometimes, which features on the deluxe version of the album.
On ÷, Amy Wadge has a co-writing credit on Galway Girl, which secured the No.3 spot on the singles chart this week, and looks set to be the album's next runaway hit. She also co-wrote Barcelona, Nancy Mulligan and Save Myself, which feature on the deluxe version of ÷ and appear at No.12, 13 and 19 respectively on the singles chart.
Meanwhile, songwriter and Snow Patrol member Johnny McDaid, who is published by Spirit B-Unique/Polar Patrol, appears on six of the 12 tracks on the standard release of ÷.
But who else is set to benefit from the year’s biggest album to date? Below we have provided a complete rundown of the numerous publishers and songwriters that feature on the biggest album of 2017...
1 Eraser
Written by Ed Sheeran and Johhny McDaid
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV and Spirit B-Unique/Polar Patrol
2 Castle On The Hill
Written by Ed Sheeran and Benjamin Levin
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV and Please Don’t Forget To Pay Me Music
3 Dive
Written by Ed Sheeran, Benjamin Levin and Julia Michaels
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV, Please Don’t Forget To Pay Me Music, Warner-Tamerlane and Thanks For The Songs Richard
4 Shape Of You
Written by Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid and Steve Mac
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV, Spirit B-Unique/Polar Patrol and Rokstone Music
5 Perfect
Written by Ed Sheeran
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV
6 Galway Girl
Written by Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance, Johnny McDaid, Amy Wadge, Eamon Murray, Niamh Dunne, Liam Bradley, Damian McKee and Sean Graham
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV, Foy Vance Songs/Primary Wave Vance Music, Spirit B-Unique/Polar Patrol, BDi Music and Copyright Control
7 Happier
Written by Ed Sheeran, Benjamin Levin and Ryan Tedder
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV, Please Don’t Forget To Pay Me Music and Write Me A Song Publishing
8 New Man
Written by Ed Sheeran, Benjamin Levin, Jessie Ware and Ammar Malik
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV, Please Don’t Forget To Pay Me Music and Maru Cha Cha/Lotzah Balls Soup/Where Da Kasz At?
9 Hearts Don’t Break Around Here
Written by Ed Sheeran and Johnny McDaid
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV and Spirit B-Unique/Polar Patrol
10 What Do I Know?
Written by Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance and Johnny McDaid
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV, Foy Vance Songs/Primary Wave Vance Music and Spirit B-Unique/Polar Patrol
11 How Would You Feel (Paean)
Written by Ed Sheeran
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV
12 Supermarket Flowers
Written by Ed Sheeran, Benjamin Levin and Johnny McDaid
Published by Ed Sheeran Limited, Sony/ATV, Please Don’t Forget To Pay Me Music and Spirit B-Unique/Polar Patrol
