HispanicBusiness

Ed Sheeran (Image: Photo Credit Christie Goodwin)

NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 01/14/13 -- Elektra recording artist Ed Sheeran is shaping up as the first true star of the new year as his GRAMMY®-nominated single, "The A Team," ascends to #10 at CHR/Top 40 radio outlets across the country. What's more, the track -- featured on the British singer/songwriter's acclaimed debut album, "+" -- is a multi-format favorite, currently up to #6 at Hot AC outlets (where the song has remained on the chart for a format-leading 38 weeks), as well as a top 20 smash on Billboard's all-encompassing "Hot 100."

With sales now in excess of 1.2 million, "The A Team" has proven an undeniable phenomenon, catapulting the gifted Sheeran to the forefront of modern pop. A critical and popular sensation both here and in Sheeran's native United Kingdom, the single was recently honored with a prestigious "Song of the Year" nomination for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards, set to be presented Sunday, February 10th at Los Angeles' Staples Center and broadcast live on CBS from 8-11:30 pm (ET/PT).

Along with its multi-format radio success, "The A Team" is 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. As if that weren't enough, "The A Team" companion video clip continues to light up the Internet, earning nearly 52 million individual views at Sheeran's official YouTube channel, www.YouTube.com/EdSheeran.

Sheeran has also managed to find time to collaborate with a number of his chart-topping contemporaries, including Taylor Swift, with whom he co-wrote and recorded the extraordinary duet, "Everything Has Changed (Feat. Ed Sheeran)." The track -- which is featured on Swift's blockbuster new album, "RED" -- was an immediate sensation, debuting #1 on the iTunes "Top Singles" chart upon its release last year. Furthermore, Sheeran's fellow British exports One Direction have recorded a number of his distinctive songs, 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 new release "TAKE ME HOME."

Sheeran is currently poised to begin his biggest U.S. headline tour to date. The 2013 trek gets underway January 17th at Houston's House of Blues and then continues through mid-February. Only a handful of tickets remain with most shows long sold out, including 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 complete details and remaining ticket information, please see http://edsheeran.com/live.htm. Following his headlining tour, Sheeran will support the aforementioned Taylor Swift on her hugely anticipated "The RED Tour." The trek gets underway March 13th and 14th with a two-night stand in Omaha, Nebraska, and then continues through mid-September, hitting arenas and stadiums across North America (see itinerary below).