Ed Sheeran will be honored with the Artist of the Year Award at this year's Music Biz 2018 Conference, it was announced today (April 5). The event, which advances and promotes music commerce, is recognizing Sheeran's accomplishments as songwriter of hits like Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself," as well as his own record-breaking success behind recent album ÷ , including multiple platinum certified singles, high streaming numbers and a sold-out tour.
"Ed Sheeran has had a remarkable year that few artists will ever achieve, helping to push streaming even further into the mainstream with the record-breaking success of ‘÷’ on these platforms, while also making history on the Billboard Hot 100," said James Donio, president of Music Biz. "While he has been a strong presence in the industry for several years, 2017 proved to be extraordinary. We are thrilled to have him join the ranks of previous Music Biz Artist of the Year winners Adele, Little Big Town, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Green Day."
Added Sheeran, "This past year has been absolutely unbelievable, and I really appreciate this amazing recognition from Music Biz. Of course, none of it would be possible without all of my incredible fans and the fantastic team behind me."