− (album)
− ("Subtract") is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 5 May 2023 through Asylum and Atlantic Records. A mostly acoustic album, production was handled by Aaron Dessner on every track, alongside Fred Again, Max Martin and Shellback, who all joined him to help produce lead single "Eyes Closed"; while "Boat" and "Life Goes On" served as the respective second and third singles of the album. It was also released as a visual album, with videos for twelve of the album's fourteen tracks ("Eyes Closed" and "Boat"'s videos were already released prior to −) premiering on the album's release date. The album serves as the follow-up to Sheeran's previous album, = (2021), and is his final mathematical-themed album.
−
The album received generally positive reviews from critics. It debuted at number one in Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It also reached the top ten in eleven other countries including United States, Canada, Italy and Spain.
Background[edit]
Ed Sheeran announced the album title, tracklist and release date on 1 March 2023 through all social media platforms.[2][3][4] He also announced a mini-European tour from 23 March to 2 April, to complement the release of the album's lead single. It was produced and co-written by Aaron Dessner of the indie rock band the National, who also produced Taylor Swift's albums, Folklore and Evermore, both released in 2020. Sheeran and Dessner wrote over thirty songs together during a month-long studio session, which was eventually cut down to the album's fourteen tracks.[5][6] − serves as the final mathematical-themed album by Sheeran. On 29 April 2023, Sheeran announced a series of private shows in North America as part of a mini tour for the album.[7]
Commercial performance[edit]
In the UK, − debuted as Sheeran's sixth number one on the UK Albums Chart with 76,000 chart units, becoming the fastest-selling album of 2023 until then. Physical sales constituted 71% of the figure, and it was also the best-selling album on the vinyl format during the week.[23] The album entered at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 112,000 album-equivalent units, including 81,000 pure sales, during its first week. The sales figure outdid any sales week of Sheeran's last two albums and, at the time, marked the 10th-largest sales week of 2023 for any album.[24] In Canada, it peaked at number two.[25]
The album reached number one in Australia.[26] In New Zealand, the album charted at number one.[27] Elsewhere, it peaked at number one in Austria,[28] Belgium,[29] France,[30] Germany,[31] Ireland,[32] the Netherlands,[33] Poland,[34] Scotland,[35] Sweden,[36] and Switzerland.[37]
Awards and nominations[edit]
The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.[38]