What Is Ed Sheeran's New Song Called
Ed Sheeran's newest single is called "Sapphire," released as the lead track from his sixth studio album Subtract. The song arrived in early 2025 as part of a deliberate return to stripped-back songwriting after his 2023 album Subtract. "Sapphire" follows the singles "Eyes Closed" and "Boat" and marks his first full pop release since the 2023 campaign. The track is co-written by Ed Sheeran and produced by Aaron Dessner of The National.
Release Date, Label, and Chart Performance
"Sapphire" was officially released on May 2, 2025, under Gingerbread Man Records and Atlantic Records. The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart and reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 in its first tracking week. In its opening week, "Sapphire" accumulated over 45 million global streams across Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.
Global Streaming and Sales Figures
Within 48 hours of release, "Sapphire" topped the Spotify Global Daily Chart with more than 12 million daily streams. The official audio on YouTube surpassed 15 million views in the first week. Physical CD and vinyl pre-orders placed the single in the top position on the Official Charts Company midweek sales list.
Album Context and Songwriting Credits
"Sapphire" is the fourth track on Ed Sheeran's 2025 album "Subtract," which features 14 songs and runs just under 45 minutes. The album credits list Ed Sheeran, Aaron Dessner, and Bryce Dessner as core songwriters, with string arrangements by Rob Moose. Lyrically, the song addresses themes of personal loss and rebuilding, consistent with the album's reflective tone.
Production Style and Musical Key
The track is set in the key of B major with a tempo of 82 beats per minute. Production layers include piano, minimal percussion, and a single prominent guitar riff recorded live in the studio. The arrangement avoids heavy electronic production, favoring an acoustic and organic sound aligned with Ed Sheeran's earlier folk-pop work.