The promotional single ' Visiting Hours' was released alongside the announcement. To him, the album was a 'really personal record and one that means a lot to me', citing changes in his life, including marriage, the birth of his daughter and experienced losses. He described the album as his ' coming-of-age' record. On 19 August, he announced the album and its release date of 29 October on his social media accounts. On 18 August 2021, Sheeran said there would be a 'big announcement' the following day. The album sold 1.3 million copies worldwide in 2021, becoming the fifth best-selling album of that year. A limited edition includes a DVD of the FNAC Live 2021 concert. This version contains 'Peru', a remix of '2step' featuring Leto, ' Bam Bam' by Camila Cabello featuring Sheeran, and a new single 'Call on Me' by Vianney featuring Sheeran. Ī French version of the album was released on 4 November 2022. A second remix of '2step' is also included in the reissue in several countries. The reissue also contains the 2020 single ' Afterglow', the single version of ' The Joker and the Queen' featuring American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, the single version of ' 2step' featuring American rapper Lil Baby, a remix of ' Bad Habits' featuring British rock band Bring Me the Horizon, and his collaboration with Nigerian singer Fireboy DML, ' Peru'. It contains his two songs from the 2019 film Yesterday, 'One Life' and 'Penguins', and two new songs, 'I Will Remember You' and 'Welcome to the World'. The tour edition of the album was released on. It contained a sole guest appearance from fellow English singer-songwriter Elton John on the song ' Merry Christmas', while the standard edition does not have any guest appearances. The Christmas edition of the album was released on 3 December 2021, although it was removed later on. The album reached number one in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Upon release, = received generally mixed reviews from music critics, who appreciated Sheeran's emerging sonic experimentation while criticising its production. The song ' Visiting Hours' was released as a promotional single. The album was supported by five singles: ' Bad Habits', ' Shivers', ' Overpass Graffiti', ' The Joker and the Queen', and ' 2step'.

It was released on 29 October 2021 through Asylum and Atlantic Records.

Programming: FRED assistant engineer: Will Reynolds ( engineer) engineer: Graham Archer, FRED and Johnny McDaid additional producer: PARISI producer: Graham Archer (task: vocal), FRED, Johnny McDaid and Ed Sheeran ( UK singer-songwriter, “Shape of You”) assistant mixer: Kieran Beardmorre, Charlie Holmes ( UK mix engineer / producer) and Matt Wolach mixer: Mark “Spike” Stent ( producer, engineer) acoustic guitar: Johnny McDaid and Ed Sheeran ( UK singer-songwriter, “Shape of You”) bass guitar, drums (drum set), guitar, keyboard and piano: FRED percussion: Ed Sheeran ( UK singer-songwriter, “Shape of You”) slide guitar: Iain Archer background vocals: FRED and Ed Sheeran ( UK singer-songwriter, “Shape of You”) vocals: Ed Sheeran ( UK singer-songwriter, “Shape of You”) phonographic copyright (℗) by: Warner Music UK Limited ( not for release label use!) (in 2021) recorded at: Decoy Studios ( Woodbridge UK) in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, Fieldwork Studio in London ( Greater London), England, United Kingdom, Fieldwork Studio in Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, Gold Valley Studios, Promised Land Music Studios in London ( Greater London), England, United Kingdom, Stamford Street in London ( Greater London), England, United Kingdom and The Tree House ( Suffolk, England) in Suffolk, England, United Kingdom mixed at: The Mixsuite in Los Angeles, California, United States recording of: Bad Habits writer: Fred Gibson, Johnny McDaid and Ed Sheeran ( UK singer-songwriter, “Shape of You”) publisher: Ed Sheeran Limited, Promised Land Music Ltd.= (' Equals') is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.

Ed sheeran bad habits album cover