Ed Sheeran’s ‘Divide’: Everything We Know About New Album Including Release Date And Tour

After releasing the album “x” (pronounced “multiply”) in 2014, Ed Sheeran is finally making his return to music. Following a brief hiatus, Sheeran has returned with two singles, “Castle on the Hill” and “Shape of You,” which will be featured on his third studio album, “÷” (pronounced “divide”). Ahead of the album’s March release, check out everything we know about the project.

1. The album releases on March 3. After not having released any new music since 2014, Sheeran returned in January with two singles and announced his new album would be available on Friday, March 3.

2. The tracklist features 12 songs. The standard edition of “Divide” will feature 12 songs including “Castle on the Hill” and “Shape of You.” A deluxe edition of the album will include four more songs, bringing the total to 16.

3. “Shape of You” was supposed to be for Rihanna. Although “Shape of You” is quickly becoming a hit for Sheeran, the English singer revealed he wrote the song with the Barbadian star in mind. “‘Shape of You’ is actually a really random one because I went in to write songs for other people… I was like, ‘this would really work for Rihanna.’”

4. He will be touring for the album. On Thursday, Sheeran announced he would hit the road in March in support of the album. The “Don’t” singer has revealed dates for the United Kingdom, Europe and Latin America. No word on if he will tour in North America.

5. He’s released one music video for the album so far. With two singles currently out, “Castle on the Hill” was the first to get a music video. Like the song itself, the video focuses on Sheeran’s life growing up Framlingham, England, but includes a Sheeran lookalike. The man in the video went to the same high school as Sheeran.

6. Ryan Tedder, Jessie Ware, Benny Blanco and more worked on the album. While most of the production seems to have been handled by Sheeran and Blanco, who also serves as executive producer, Sheeran got some songwriting help from Ryan Tedder, Julia Michaels, Jessie Ware and Ammar Malik.