photo credit: Christie Goodwin

Atlantic recording artist Ed Sheeran has announced the release of his hugely anticipated new single. “Sing” is available now on the iTunes Store – where it has already rocketed to #3 on their singles chart – and other leading digital retailers. “Sing” is the lead single from the 3x-GRAMMY Award®-nominated artist’s forthcoming second album, “x,” (pronounced ‘multiply’) slated to arrive June 23.

Produced and co-written by multiple GRAMMY Award®-winner Pharrell Williams, “Sing” had its exclusive global premiere last night on BBC Radio 1’s Zane Lowe Show and is streaming now at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z7h6L4vBCU. Currently starring on the cover of Billboard (view at http://bit.ly/1g3W8n2), Sheeran will celebrate “Sing” by appearing as musical guest alongside host Seth Rogan on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, set for this Saturday, April 12th (check local listings).

“x” is the follow-up to Sheeran’s breakthrough debut album “+” and finds the British singer-songwriter collaborating with a stellar list of producers, including multiple GRAMMY Award®-winners Rick Rubin and Jeff Bhasker, multiple GRAMMY Award®-nominee Benny Blanco, Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid, and BRIT-Award nominee and “+” collaborator Jake Gosling.

Sheeran’s first US performance since his sold out, 3-night headline run at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden at the close of 2013 will be among the superstars of pop radio topping the bill at the upcoming 102.7 KIISFM Wango Tango 2014, scheduled for May 10th at Carson, California’s StubHub Center. From there, the British singer/songwriter will head off for a series of mainstage festival performances around the globe, with announced highlights including Portugal’s Rock In Rio Lisboa (May 31st), the Netherlands’ Pinkpop (June 8th), England’s Glastonbury Festival (June 25th-29th), and a co-headline appearance at Scotland’s legendary T In The Park (July 11th).

In addition to a massively awaited European headline tour – with stops slated for Amsterdam, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, Stuttgart, Munich, Frankfurt, Zurich, Milan, Lyon, Barcelona, Madrid, and Paris – Sheeran has also announced an arena tour of the UK, highlighted by a 4-night stand at London’s O2 Arena. Details for a North American tour will be unveiled soon – please log on to www.edsheeran.com for regularly updated news and information.

Blending soulful vocals with organic folk introspection and irresistible hip-hop hooks, Ed Sheeran is a genuine global phenomenon. The 23-year old British singer/songwriter’s masterful 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.

Here in the US, “The A-Team,” proved a blockbuster, earning 2x platinum certification from the RIAA as well as a GRAMMY® Award nomination as “Song Of The Year.” Along with his three GRAMMY® nods – including the prestigious “Best New Artist” – Sheeran has accrued an array of international honors, spanning two BRIT Awards, a 2012 Ivor Novello Award (for “Best Song Musically and Lyrically”), and Teen Choice Awards’ “Choice Breakout Artist.”

Long acclaimed as a captivating and creative live performer, Sheeran spent much of the past two years traversing North America on back-to-back sold-out headline tours, the latter of which including a stop at the renowned Radio City Music Hall which sold out in a matter of minutes. Following a main support role on Taylor Swift’s massively successful “RED Tour,” Sheeran returned to New York City for a trio of sold-out headline shows at the legendary Madison Square Garden to close out his incredible 2013.

Sheeran’s honest songwriting and incredible live show has also connected with millions through the small screen with countless high profile television appearances including the 55th Annual GRAMMY® Awards (performing “The A Team” accompanied by Sir Elton John), the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, NBC’s The Voice (as one of Team Christina’s mentors) and Today (where he pulled in one of last summer’s largest audiences into NYC’s Rockefeller Plaza for the show’s annual outdoor concert series), and, most recently, among the star-studded lineup on CBS’ special “The Beatles: The Night That Changed America – A GRAMMY® Salute.”

For additional news and information, please see www.edsheeran.com, www.twitter.com/EdSheeran (@EdSheeran), www.facebook.com/EdSheeranMusic and www.elektra.com