<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 17, 2015</p><p>ED SHEERAN ACHIEVES RARE RIAA DOUBLE PLATINUM SUCCESS</p><p>BRITISH SUPERSTAR’S “X” IS ONE OF ONLY FOUR ALBUMS TO SCORE MULTI-PLATINUM STATUS </p><p>SINCE 2014</p><p>5X MULTI-PLATINUM CERTIFIED SMASH “THINKING OUT LOUD” RECEIVES </p><p>MULTIPLE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS INCLUDING “SONG OF THE YEAR” AND “RECORD OF THE YEAR”</p><p>Photo Credit: Daniel Swartz / Revamp.com Ed Sheeran receives his RIAA 2X multi-Platinum award for “x”, one of only four albums released since 2014 to achieve RIAA multi-Platinum status, and Ed’s first multi-Platinum album. L to R: Jonathan Lamy, EVP, Communications and Marketing, RIAA; Ed Sheeran, Liz Kennedy, Director, Communications and Gold & Platinum Program, RIAA </p><p>Photo Credit: Daniel Swartz / Revamp.com Ed Sheeran admires his RIAA 2X multi-Platinum award for “x”, one of only four albums released since 2014 to achieve RIAA multi-Platinum status, and Ed’s first multi-Platinum album.</p><p>Atlantic recording artist Ed Sheeran’s acclaimed album “x” has been certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA, commemorating sales of 2 million in the United States alone. This remarkable achievement makes “x” one of only 4 albums to achieve multiplatinum success since 2014, joining Taylor Swift’s “1989,” Sam Smith’s “In The Lonely Hour,” and Adele’s “25.” </p><p>Sheeran’s second full length album, “x” (pronounced “multiply”), proved a global sensation upon its initial release, reaching #1 on album charts in 14 countries around the world before achieving 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 now exceeding 10 million, “x” is highlighted by its four consecutive, platinum singles: “Sing,” “Don’t,” “Photograph”, and the 5x RIAA platinum certified “Thinking Out Loud,” Sheeran’s first #1 single in the U.S. and his biggest overall hit to date. “Thinking Out Loud” is also currently nominated for a trio of highly coveted GRAMMY Awards in categories of “Record Of The Year,” “Song Of The Year,” and “Best Pop Solo Performance.”</p><p>One of the planet’s most popular live performers, Sheeran just wrapped up his massive “x” tour which saw him perform sold out headline shows at some of the biggest venues around the world - including Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, three nights at London’s Wembley Stadium, and most recently Suncorp Stadium in Sydney – over the last 2 years. This year also saw the launch of his own record label, Gingerbread Man Records, with the signing of fellow British singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson – who’s self-titled album debuted at #1 in the UK – and Irish troubadour Foy Vance whose label debut is set for release in 2016. Sheeran was recently named both the most talked about entertainer of the year on Facebook and the most streamed artist of all time on Spotify with over 3 billion streams to date.</p><p>* * * * *</p><p>British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is a genuine global phenomenon. The 24-year-old artist has earned a truly stunning assortment of awards and nominations, including three nods – among them, the prestigious “Album of the Year” for “x” – at the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards, an event that saw his performance of “Thinking Out Loud” receive one of the biggest ovations of the night. In addition to his 10 total GRAMMY® nominations, Sheeran has accrued an array of other honors, among them four BRIT Awards (including 2015’s “Best British Album” and “Best British Male”), 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 both “Favorite Album” and “Favorite Artist” at the 2015 People’s Choice Awards. As if all of that weren’t enough, Sheeran was also named Spotify’s most streamed artist in the world in 2014.</p><p>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. For additional news and information, please see www.edsheeran.com, www.twitter.com/EdSheeran (@EdSheeran), www.facebook.com/EdSheeranMusic and www.atlanticrecords.com. </p><p>For press material, please see http://press.atlanticrecords.com/ed-sheeran</p><p>Contacts: Glenn Fukushima (National) 818.238.6833 [email protected]</p><p>Jason Davis (Tour/Online) 212.707.2055 [email protected]</p>