Overview

Ed Sheeran’s third studio album ÷ (Divide) released March 3, 2017, debuting at #1 with 672,000 units. The album became the best-selling album of 2017 globally, selling 6.1 million copies and spawning the biggest song of 2017, “Shape of You” (3.9 billion Spotify streams).

”Shape of You” Dominance

“Shape of You” spent 12 weeks at #1 on Billboard Hot 100 and became Spotify’s most-streamed song of all time (before being surpassed by “Blinding Lights”). The marimba-driven pop track (originally written for Rihanna) went 11x Platinum (Diamond+). It topped charts in 44 countries.

Dual Lead Singles

Ed released two singles simultaneously (January 2017):

• “Shape of You” (#1 for 12 weeks) - Pop crossover
• “Castle on the Hill” (#6) - Nostalgic rock ballad about hometown

The strategy created #1 and #6 debuts, rare chart dominance.

”Perfect” Wedding Phenomenon

“Perfect” (#1 for 5 weeks, December 2017) became the decade’s defining wedding song. The Beyoncé duet version (“Perfect Duet”) and Andrea Bocelli version (“Perfect Symphony”) extended its reach. The song went 8x Platinum.

Chart Records

÷ achieved unprecedented streaming dominance:

• All 16 tracks charted on Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously
• 9 tracks in top 20 simultaneously (record)
• Ed held #1 and #2 on Hot 100 for multiple weeks
• First artist with two songs surpassing 2 billion Spotify streams

Critical Reception

Despite commercial success, critics gave ÷ mixed reviews (61 Metacritic). Many found it formulaic and overly radio-friendly compared to × (2014). Commercial appeal didn’t translate to critical acclaim.

÷ Tour

The Divide Tour (2017-2019) became the highest-grossing tour of all time, earning $776.2 million from 260 shows. Ed performed solo with a loop pedal, proving intimate performances could scale to stadiums.

Irish/Celtic Influences

Tracks like “Galway Girl” (#53) and “Nancy Mulligan” showcased Ed’s Irish heritage, blending folk with pop. “Galway Girl” became an Irish pub standard.

Cultural Impact

÷ dominated 2017-2018 playlists, radio, and weddings. Ed’s everyman appeal made him relatable despite massive success. #ShapeOfYou and #Perfect generated 95M+ combined social media posts.

Backlash & Hiatus

Ed’s ubiquity led to backlash. He took an 18-month hiatus after the tour, returning with No.6 Collaborations Project (2019) and = (2021).

Legacy

÷ proved singer-songwriters could achieve pop-star-level commercial success. Its streaming records demonstrated Ed’s global appeal.

Source: Billboard Chart History