For a few days in early September 2025, Ed Sheeran’s fans on both sides of the Atlantic were abuzz with rumors: Was the British pop superstar truly packing up and moving to America? The speculation began after Sheeran appeared on "The 2 Johnnies Podcast" on September 7 and declared, “I’m just about to move to America.” He explained, “I’m going on tour there for a while and I have a family, so I can’t dip in and out. We’re going and settling there.” According to People, this offhand comment quickly ignited headlines, with media outlets reporting that Sheeran was making a major life change—one that would see him swapping his Suffolk home for a new life stateside.
But just as the story caught fire, Sheeran himself stepped in to douse the flames. On September 10, he took to Instagram to set the record straight. “I’m not moving, I’m going on tour with my family and relocating to the continent I’m touring on, don’t wanna commute from London to San Diego obvz,” he wrote, as reported by Billboard. In other words, Sheeran’s move is more practical than permanent—simply a matter of logistics for a working musician with a family in tow. As of September 11, his official website listed only one North American tour date: a festival appearance in Las Vegas on September 20. But with a new album on the horizon, more dates could be imminent.
The real news, it turns out, wasn’t about Sheeran’s address, but about his music. On September 12, 2025, Sheeran released his much-anticipated eighth album, Play—a record that marks the beginning of a bold new chapter in his career. For longtime fans, Play also signals the end of an era: the completion of Sheeran’s now-iconic series of mathematically themed albums. Over the past decade-plus, Sheeran has released + (plus) in 2011, x (multiply) in 2014, ÷ (divide) in 2017, = (equals) in 2021, and - (subtract) in 2023. This sequence, as fans and music journalists alike have noted, has been a defining feature of Sheeran’s brand and a clever marketing strategy.
But why the math symbols in the first place? According to a statement on Medium and fan discussions cited by The Mirror, Sheeran’s choice was both practical and personal. The album names are easy to remember, and the colorful, symbol-driven artwork stands out on streaming platforms. “The point was for his albums to be easily recognisable. You see a billboard of a red Equal sign; you go, ‘Oh, Ed’s releasing an album,’” the statement explained. Sheeran himself reportedly made a plan at age 18 to release a series of five albums with five symbols, each representing a concept for those records. Some fans have speculated that the symbols have deeper meanings—one Reddit user suggested, “Plus is the addition to his old songs. Multiply well multiplied them. Divide was a whole new thing. Equals was a mix of all of them. Subtract was stripped down.” Others, however, chalk it up to Sheeran’s desire for memorable, marketable branding.
With Play, Sheeran isn’t just closing the book on his mathematical era—he’s opening a new one. The album’s artwork features a solid pink background and a simple play button, signaling a fresh start. According to the album’s description, “After closing the chapter on his Mathematics series, Ed Sheeran is finally back and stepping boldly into a fresh new phase for 2025. By exploring the common threads of scale, rhythm, and melody that connect musical traditions throughout history, Sheeran has crafted a collection of songs that seamlessly blend these influences into a bold, pop-driven sound.”
But there’s more: fans are already theorizing about the next phase of Sheeran’s career. Rumors swirled online that the new album would kick off a sequence of symbol-themed albums named play, pause, stop, rewind, and fast-forward. Sheeran confirmed this speculation on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, even sharing that he’s already tattooed the next five symbols on his arm. And in a move that’s equal parts enigmatic and poetic, Sheeran revealed plans to release an album of unreleased songs—titled Eject—on the day of his death. It’s a dramatic gesture, one that underscores Sheeran’s penchant for both showmanship and long-term planning.
The release of Play has also been deeply personal for Sheeran. In a May 1 Instagram post, he described the album as “a direct response to the darkest period” in his life. “Coming out of all of that I just wanted to create joy and technicolour, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring,” he wrote. “It’s a real rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, it encapsulates everything that I love about music, and the fun in it, but also where I am in life as a human, a partner, a father. ... The older I get the more I just want to enjoy things, and savour the moments that are mad and chaotic.”
To celebrate the album’s release, Sheeran performed a special Tiny Desk concert streamed live from NPR offices at 10 a.m. MT on September 12. According to Suraya Mohamed, NPR Music’s executive producer, “The Tiny Desk concerts that regularly publish are meticulously post-produced by our talented audio and video producers. We are excited to share a live, raw version of a Tiny Desk concert with our audience—something we haven’t done since 2019.” After the livestream, the concert became available on both Sheeran’s and NPR Music’s official YouTube channels, giving fans around the globe a front-row seat to his new material.
While Sheeran’s tour schedule for North America remains sparse for now, the buzz around Play and the promise of future albums have kept fans eagerly anticipating what’s next. The artist’s willingness to share both his struggles and his creative evolution has only deepened the connection with his audience. Whether he’s in London, Las Vegas, or somewhere in between, Ed Sheeran seems determined to keep moving forward—one symbol at a time.
With Play, Ed Sheeran has signaled not just a new musical direction, but a fresh approach to life and artistry, inviting listeners to join him on the journey—wherever it may lead.
