Latest news with #MathematicsTour
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ed Sheeran launches unexpected new career as artist with first-ever painting collection
Ed Sheeran is swapping guitar strings for paintbrushes with the release of his first-ever art collection. The singer's Cosmic Carpark Paintings, a vibrant series of original canvases and unique prints, are set to go on sale later this week. It marks the first time Sheeran's artwork will be available to the public, with proceeds going to his charitable Ed Sheeran Foundation. The foundation aims to provide accessible, high-quality music education to children across the UK, funding grassroots projects, schools, and instruments. Inspired by celestial forms and his signature splash painting style, the Cosmic Carpark Paintings were created in a disused London car park during breaks in Sheeran's Mathematics Tour. The singer-songwriter, who took up painting in 2019 after finishing his record-breaking Divide tour, used the creative process as a form of artistic expression between music releases. 'I started painting at the end of my Divide Tour in 2019 and it's something that I've used as a creative outlet ever since,' Sheeran explained. 'When I was growing up, both of my parents worked in art, so I've naturally always been interested in it, and I always enjoyed studying art at school. 'I was back and forth on tour last year, and I used a lot of my downtime in the UK to paint. I'd run to a disused carpark in Soho each morning, paint, then run home and I'd do that daily until I headed back out on tour again.' Adding: 'I told my good friends Damien Hirst and Joe Hage about the paintings, and they encouraged me to put on my own thing, so I decided I'd use it as a way of raising funds for my Ed Sheeran Foundation, which supports music education in the UK and helps fund grassroot music projects, schools and equipment, so all kids have access to music. 'I want to thank Damien and Joe for everything they've done for me on this exhibition and I'm delighted to be putting it on.' The exhibition will be on view at London's HENI Gallery throughout the drop period, with 50% of proceeds from original artwork sales and £300 ($400) from each print going directly to the Ed Sheeran Foundation. Original works will be available by application via HENI Primary, while prints can be purchased through HENI Editions from 10 July to 1 August 2025.
Tatler Asia
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
The rise of concert tourism: How live music is shaping global travel trends
Live music is driving a new wave of tourism. Here, we look into how major music events and concerts such as Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour are starting travel trends Concert tourism is booming, transforming live music from a cultural experience into a powerful driver of travel and economic growth. From Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour to Coldplay's multi-night spectacles, live concerts are no longer just events—they are catalysts that shake up everything from airline bookings to restaurant reservations. Across Asia, cities like Singapore and Bangkok are becoming live music capitals, leveraging mega tours as a tourism strategy. This new wave of concert tourism is transforming the way we travel: fans fly in, spend big and leave with memories that last longer than the merchandise. Read more: 6 futuristic music venues transforming the concert experience Above Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour at the Singapore National Stadium () Singapore Tourism Board's director of leisure events, Guo Teyi highlights the significant economic impact of major concerts with international visitors typically making up 25 to 30 per cent of attendees. For example, Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour concert in Singapore back in 2024 saw over 300,000 tickets sold, with a significant number of fans travelling into Singapore from other countries. While the Singapore Tourism Board does not track the economic impact of individual concerts, Guo notes that such live entertainment events generate positive returns for Singapore, with spillover benefits for retail, dining and other tourism-related industries. The trend is reflected in traveller behaviour as well. According to Momentum 2025: Travel's Next Big Trends report, 66 per cent of travellers now plan trips around live events. Singapore's general manager Edmund Ong observes: 'When international artists announce Singapore concert dates, we typically observe exceptionally strong booking patterns.' For one, Lady Gaga's latest concert in Singapore from May 18 to 24 saw hotel reservations spike 200 per cent. Above Sabrina Carpenter opens for Taylor Swift () The impact of concert tourism is not limited to established destinations. In January 24, 2025, Ed Sheeran kicked off the 2025 leg of his iconic Mathematics Tour in Bhutan's Changlimithang Stadium, marking the country's first-ever major international concert. Department of Tourism Bhutan's chief marketing officer Carissa Nimah shares how the concert was a 'milestone moment' which alined with the country's 50 years of tourism celebrations. 'Bringing Ed Sheeran to Bhutan was not just about hosting a superstar. It was a strategic step to diversify our tourism offerings and demonstrate our ability to stage world-class sustainable events,' she continues, highlighting how sustainability was built into every step of the planning process. A defining moment for Bhutan, the concert allowed Bhutanese to see a world-class artist live. Internationally, the concert redefined perceptions of the country. 'We are not only a destination for hiking, monasteries and mountains. We're also a creative, connected society capable of staging events that leave a deep emotional impact,' Nimah explains. Above Bhutan's Changlimithang Stadium () Above Ed Sheeran performs in Bhutan (Photo: Department of Tourism Bhutan) Staging such a large-scale event in Bhutan came with unique challenges, from repurposing the Changlimithang Stadium to managing logistics for 23,000 attendees. Sheeran's team transported over 45 trucks of equipment and meticulous planning was required for infrastructure, security and crown management. Despite these hurdles, the concert's success showcased Bhutan's capacity for cultural innovation and high-value, low-impact tourism. The ripple effects were felt across the country. 'We heard from young musicians who said it renewed their passion. From business owners who saw increased footfall. And from elders who, while unfamiliar with Ed's music, were moved by the way the event brought people together,' Nimah shares. Above Ed Sheeran performs in Bhutan to 23,000 attendees (Photo: Department of Tourism Bhutan) Ong notes that travellers are increasingly seeking immersive and meaningful experiences beyond attending main concert events, turning their concert trips into full vacation experiences. 'Rather than flying in just for the performance, fans typically extend their trips by several days to explore the destination,' he adds. Beyond concerts, Ong shares how movies and TV series are increasingly shaping travel decisions. 'Following the premiere of The White Lotus Season Two, social media chatter about Thailand surged 60 per cent, driving increased interest in the destination,' Ong continues. As concert tourism continues to surge, it's clear that live music is no longer just about the show. Rather, it's shaping travel and economies across Asia, with these cities benefiting far beyond the final encore.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local firm is new shirt sponsor for Ipswich Town
The new deal will run for the next three seasons [Ipswich Town FC] A Suffolk software company has been announced as Ipswich Town's new shirt sponsor, in what the club says is the biggest sponsorship deal in its history. Stowmarket-based Halo will be replacing the previous sponsor - Suffolk musician Ed Sheeran. Advertisement Sheeran's logo for a recent tour had been on the shirts for the last four seasons and the singer is a minority shareholder in the club. Ipswich chairman Mark Ashton called the new contract a "record shirt sponsorship deal for the club". He added that, unlike many other top clubs, Ipswich had "no intention of moving towards a gambling sponsor". "We're proud to be working so closely with another Suffolk business which shares many of our values," he said. A £2m deal in 2018, under Town's previous owner, with an online gambling site angered some fans. Figures for the new deal have not been made public. Ed Sheeran's Mathematics Tour has been advertised on the kit [Mike Egerton/PA Wire] The sponsorship covers both the men's and women's first-team kits and will run for three years. Advertisement On the new sponsorship, Sheeran said: "We wanted to keep it Suffolk; we wanted to keep in local." Halo's chief executive Paul Hamilton said: "It's an honour to follow Ed Sheeran as front-of-shirt sponsor, having been sleeve sponsor during the last two seasons." The business provides workflow management software and calls itself a "privately owned, founder-led team". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More stories like this
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'We wanted to keep it Suffolk' - Sheeran on Halo becoming Town's new shirt sponsors
Minority owner Ed Sheeran stressed that Ipswich Town's new front-of-shirt sponsor should not be a gambling website (Image: PA) Ipswich Town minority shareholder Ed Sheeran is delighted to see local company Halo take over the club's front-of-shirt sponsorship. Sheeran's 'Mathematics Tour' had been on the front of the kits for four years, with the Blues earning promotion from League One to the Premier League in that time. Advertisement However, it was revealed last season that Sheeran would step back from the commitment from the 2025/26 campaign, with the pop sensation stressing that his replacement should not be a gambling website. Town stuck to that, agreeing a deal with Halo that the club say is the 'biggest in the club's history', running for the next three seasons. "I have sponsored the Ipswich kit for the last three years," Sheeran said about the switch. "We were talking about passing the torch over now. READ MORE: Suffolk company 'Halo' announced as Ed Sheeran shirt sponsor replacement Advertisement "I've known the Halo guys for a while, obviously they have done the arm [sleeve sponsorship]. I was very, very clear to everyone at Ipswich that we didn't want another betting company on the shirt, but we also wanted to keep it Suffolk, keep it local. "I'm a big fan of what Halo are doing for young people locally, and they are also a massive disruptor in the tech industry. It's just good to have a great Suffolk brand on it, and going from the Mathematic Tour onto Halo. "Thank you so much for taking the sponsorship." "From our point of view, it's been amazing to be involved in the football club," Halo founder and CEO Paul Hamilton replied to Sheeran. "To have you involved as well is obviously fantastic. Advertisement "There's a lot of similarities. I guess you don't know too much about the DNA of Halo, but we're massive disruptors. We've basically turned the industry on its head, we've ripped up the rulebook and done it our own way. "Very much like what you've done with the loop pedal - nobody does that to the scale you do. The number of collabs you've done, how ecletic you are, every genre. You see with Azizam, the Persian influence. Old Phone, the Celtic. "What you've done, there are so many similarities."
The National
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Ed Sheeran sings in Punjabi in new song Sapphire
Ed Sheeran has paid tribute to India in his new song, singing a line in Punjabi. In Sapphire, the English singer breaks into Punjabi for one line in the chorus, which translates to 'they sparkle just like stars'. Sheeran has collaborated with Indian playback singer Arijit Singh on the new single, a collaboration he described as the 'final jigsaw piece' in recording the track. Singh also plays the sitar on the track. The video for the song is filmed in various locations around India, and was shot earlier this year while Sheeran was on tour in the country. ' Sapphire was the first song I finished for Play that made me know where the album was heading,' Sheeran wrote about his new single in an Instagram caption. 'It's why I finished the recording process in Goa surrounded by some of the best musicians in India.' Speaking of filming the video in India, he wrote: 'We wanted to showcase the beauty and breadth of the country and its culture.' He added that the song is his favourite on the album and he has recorded a version entirely in Punjabi with Singh, which he promises 'will come out in the next few weeks'. Sheeran took his +−=÷× Tour (said The Mathematics Tour) to India in January and February this year, performing seven dates in six locations, last year he also performed a standalone night in Mumbai. Sheeran's upcoming album, Play, is set to be released in September. He has already released singles Old Phone and Azizam, as well as Sapphire. Azizam is heavily influenced by the region. The song was co-written by Swedish–Iranian songwriter Ilya Salmanzadeh. Discussing the single on Instagram, Sheeran said the track draws on Iranian musical influences, which he found echoes aspects of traditional Irish folk. 'I wrote Azizam after Ilya suggested trying out music inspired by his Persian heritage and culture,' he said. 'I love learning about music and different cultures the more I travel and connect with people. It was like opening a door to a completely new and exciting world. 'I loved how a lot of the rhythms, scales, melodies and instruments were different but similar to the Irish trad music I grew up with. It showed me that music connects us all – it really is a universal language. This whole album is about being playful, explorative and celebratory.' In March, a large heart-shaped balloon was put on display in at Bla Bla beach club and dining venue in Dubai's JBR district to promote the single.
