= (album) explained

=
Type:	studio
Artist:	Ed Sheeran
Cover:	Ed Sheeran - Equals.png
Recorded:	June 2017 – July 2021^[1]
Genre:	Pop
Length:	48:23
Label:	Asylum Atlantic
Producer:	Ed Sheeran Johnny McDaid Fred Elvira Anderfjärd Foy Vance Joe Rubel Romans Steve Mac Andrew Watt Louis Bell
Prev Title:	No.6 Collaborations Project
Prev Year:	2019
Next Title:	−
Next Year:	2023

= ("Equals") is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.^{[2] [3]} It was released on 29 October 2021 through Asylum and Atlantic Records.^[4] The album was supported by five singles: "Bad Habits", "Shivers", "Overpass Graffiti", "The Joker and the Queen", and "2step". The song "Visiting Hours" was released as a promotional single.

Upon release, = received generally mixed reviews from music critics, who appreciated Sheeran's emerging sonic experimentation while criticising its production. 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.

The Christmas edition of the album was released on 3 December 2021, although it was removed later 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 tour edition of the album was released on 27 May 2022. 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 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". A second remix of "2step" is also included in the reissue in several countries.

A French version of the album was released on 4 November 2022. 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.^[5] A limited edition includes a DVD of the FNAC Live 2021 concert.^[6] The album sold 1.3 million copies worldwide in 2021, becoming the fifth best-selling album of that year.^[7]

Background

On 18 August 2021, Sheeran said there would be a "big announcement" the following day.^[8] On 19 August, he announced the album and its release date of 29 October on his social media accounts.^[9] He described the album as his "coming-of-age" record.^[10] 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.^[11] The promotional single "Visiting Hours" was released alongside the announcement.^[12]

In an interview with Capital FM on 27 June 2021, Sheeran also stated that he would like to see the songs he made for the film Yesterday appear on a repackaged version of the album before he goes on tour for the record.^[13]

Singles

"Bad Habits" was released on 25 June 2021 as the album's lead single.^[14] "Bad Habits" reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[15]

"Shivers" was released on 10 September 2021 as the album's second single.^[16] "Shivers" reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[17]

"Overpass Graffiti" was released alongside the album on 29 October 2021 as the third single.^{[18] [19]} "Overpass Graffiti" reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sheeran performed the song for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series on 26 October.^[20]

A remix of "The Joker and the Queen" featuring Taylor Swift was released as the album's fourth single on 11 February 2022. "The Joker and the Queen" reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.

A remix of "2step" featuring Lil Baby was released as the album's fifth single on 22 April 2022. "2step" reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Promotional singles

"Visiting Hours" was released on 19 August 2021 as the sole promotional single. It reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception

= received mixed reviews from critics. On Metacritic, the album has a weighted average score of 59 out of 100 based on 13 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that "Sheeran's melodies are soft yet insistent, and the production glistens with fair borrowed from younger, hipper artists who mine a similar blend of retro new wave and modern R&B, but he knows how to turn this stylish sound into something cozy and reassuring, which therefore "is the surest sign that Ed Sheeran has indeed grown up: he's not chasing trends, he's making music for people who have aged out of the clubs but have yet to wallow in nostalgia". Writing for Clash, Robin Murray rated the album 6 out of 10, explaining that the album "follows his mathematically minded opening trilogy, and it puts you in mind of completion, resolution, and conclusion. The album itself, however, offers little in the way of those things, thriving instead on a series of dichotomies – between the everyman and the star, the guitarist and the producer, between the humble pop savant and the brash stadium-filling star". David Smyth from Evening Standard wrote that "although there are a few quiet songs among the 14 here, and more than a few lyrics about the humble joy of staying home with his wife Cherry and their one-year-old daughter Lyra, this is no Taylor Swift-style slice of lockdown restraint".

Commercial performance

= debuted at number one in the United Kingdom, selling 139,000 units in its first week, outperforming the rest of the week's Top 30 combined. It achieved the 3rd biggest opening week for an album of 2021 in the UK and the 2nd fastest selling album of 2021, behind Adele's 30.^[21] It later became the second best-selling album of 2021 in the UK with 432,000 sales.^[22]

The album debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart, becoming Sheeran's fourth chart-topping album in the United States. It opened with 118,000 album-equivalent units, of which 68,000 were pure sales.^[23]

Track listing

Note

Personnel

Musicians

• Ed Sheeran – vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (1, 4–6, 8, 10, 11, 14), bass (1, 10, 11), boy soprano, drums (1); guitar (1, 2, 9), pizzicato violin (2), acoustic guitar (4, 5, 11, 12), percussion (4, 11), keyboards (10), ukulele (13)
• Foy Vance – piano (1, 10), backing vocals, guitar (1)
• Joe Rubel – drum programming, guitar (1, 10); programming (1, 10, 11); bass, piano (1); additional programming (2), strings programming (3, 6), keyboards (10, 11), acoustic guitar, percussion (11)
• Johnny McDaid – piano (1, 11–13), guitar (2), acoustic guitar (4, 11, 14), backing vocals (5, 8, 11, 12, 14), bass (5, 8, 12), electric guitar (5, 8, 12, 14), keyboards (5, 8, 11–13), programming (5, 11–13), percussion (8), drums (11), glockenspiel, marimba (13)
• Matt Glasbey – programming (1, 10)
• Fred – bass (2–8, 10, 14), drums (2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14), guitar (2, 4), keyboards (2, 4–8, 10, 14), programming (2, 4, 5, 14), piano (3, 4, 7, 11), backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 10, 11), acoustic guitar (5), string arrangement (6)
• Chris Laws – drums, programming (2)
• Steve Mac – keyboards (2)
• Parisi – additional strings (3)
• Ashok Klouda – cello (3, 6)
• Tim Lowe – cello (3, 6)
• Victoria Harrild – cello (3, 6)
• Leon Bosch – double bass (3, 6)
• Matthew Sheeran – string arrangement (3, 6), programming (6)
• Eoin Schmidt-Martin – viola (3)
• Laurie Anderson – viola (3)
• Rebecca Lowe – viola (3)
• Gary Pomeroy – viola (3)
• Meghan Cassidy – viola (3)
• Ann Bielby – viola (3)
• Kirsty Mangan – violin (3)
• Kathy Gowers – violin (3)
• Thomas Gould – violin (3)
• Michael Jones – violin (3)
• Marije Johnston – violin (3)
• Jan Regulski – violin (3)
• Anna Blackmur – violin (3)
• Antonia Kesel – violin (3)
• Beatrix Lovejoy – violin (3)
• Warren Zielinksi – violin (3)
• Samantha Wickramasinghe – violin (3)
• Ciaran McCabe – violin (3)
• Matthew Denton – violin (3)
• Martyn Jackson – violin (3)
• Iain Archer – slide guitar (4)
• Hal Ritson – additional vocals, additional programming, bass, keyboards (5); programming (8)
• Richard Adlam – additional programming, percussion (8)
• Louise Clare Marshall – additional vocals (5)
• Sam Roman – guitar, piano (6)
• Elvira Anderfjärd – backing vocals, bass, drums, keyboards, programming (7)
• Graham Archer – backing vocals (8)
• Will Reynolds – backing vocals (8), keyboards (8, 11, 12) acoustic guitar (11), programming (11, 12), electric guitar (12)
• Benjy – drums (8)
• Louis Bell – drums, keyboards, programming (9)
• Andrew Watt – guitar, keyboards, programming (9)
• Giampaolo Parisi – drums (11), programming (11, 14), sound effects (14)
• Marco Parisi – keyboards, piano (11, 12); horn (12), strings (14)
• Aine McDaid – backing vocals (12), flute (13)
• Jimmy Barnes – backing vocals (12)
• Jimmy Carr – backing vocals (12)
• Josh McDaid – backing vocals (12)
• Kylie Minogue – backing vocals (12)
• Maev McDaid – backing vocals (12), harp (13)
• Pauline McDaid – backing vocals (12)
• Jack Parisi – programming (12)
• Michael Peter Olsen – cello (13)
• Owen Pallett – string arrangement, viola, violin (13)

Technical

• Ed Sheeran – executive production
• Johnny McDaid – executive production, engineering (2, 4–6, 8, 11–14)
• Fred – executive production, engineering (4–8, 11, 14)
• Stuart Hawkes – mastering
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
• Joe Rubel – engineering (1, 2, 10, 11), recording (2), string engineering (3, 6)
• Matt Glasbey – engineering (1, 3, 6, 10, 11)
• Robert Sellens – engineering (1, 10, 11)
• Chris Laws – engineering, recording (2)
• Dan Pursey – engineering, recording, vocal production (2)
• Graham Archer – engineering (2, 4–8, 10–14), vocal production (2–6, 8, 10–14)
• Paul LaMalfa – engineering (9)
• Aine McDaid – recording (13)
• Kylie Minogue – vocal engineering, additional vocal recording (12)
• Steve Mac – vocal production (2)
• Matt Wolach – mixing assistance
• Kieran Beardmore – mixing assistance (1–3, 5–14)
• Charlie Holmes – mixing assistance (1–3, 5–14)
• Camden Clarke – engineering assistance (1, 10, 11)
• Marta Di Nozzi – engineering assistance (3, 6)
• Neil Dawes – engineering assistance (3, 6)
• Will Reynolds – engineering assistance (4–6, 8, 11–13)
• Hal Ritson – additional engineering (5)
• Kevin Shirley – additional vocal engineering (12)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2021–2022)! scope="col"

Peak position
Greek Albums (IFPI)^[24]	9
Icelandic Albums (Plötutíðindi)^[25]	3
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)^[26]	4
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)^[27]	1
Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI)^[28]	1
Uruguayan Albums (CUD)^[29]	20

Year-end charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"

Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[30]	6
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[31]	7
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[32]	14
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[33]	16
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[34]	26
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[35]	9
French Albums (SNEP)^[36]	22
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[37]	11
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)^[38]	13
Irish Albums (IRMA)^[39]	5
Italian Albums (FIMI)^[40]	42
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[41]	18
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[42]	36
Polish Albums (ZPAV)^[43]	60
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)^[44]	33
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[45]	23
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[46]	4
UK Albums (OCC)^[47]	2

Chart (2022)! scope="col"

Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[48]	5
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[49]	4
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[50]	9
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[51]	23
Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[52]	2
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[53]	4
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[54]	2
French Albums (SNEP)^[55]	13
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[56]	8
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)^[57]	71
Italian Albums (FIMI)^[58]	35
Japanese Download Albums (Billboard Japan)^[59]	63
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)^[60]	16
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[61]	6
Portuguese Albums (AFP)^[62]	98
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)^[63]	39
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[64]	3
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[65]	8
UK Albums (OCC)^[66]	2
US Billboard 200^[67]	15

Chart (2023)! scope="col"

Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[68]	39
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[69]	75
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[70]	167
Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[71]	18
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[72]	41
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[73]	35
French Albums (SNEP)^[74]	26
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[75]	26
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[76]	51
UK Albums (OCC)^[77]	19
US Billboard 200^[78]	72

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format(s)	Label
Various	29 October 2021			^[79]

Notes and References

1. Me and Johnny started this album June 2017 in Los Angeles, and finished it July 2021. . CVqUQjUIwoE . 30 April 2022 . 30 October 2021 . teddysphotos . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/teddysphotos/2696056425295317508 . 3 October 2023 . live.
2. Web site: Beaumont-Thomas. Ben. 19 August 2021. Ed Sheeran announces new album, =. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819141152/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/aug/19/ed-sheeran-announces-new-album-equals. 19 August 2021. 19 August 2021. The Guardian.
3. Web site: White. Jack. 19 August 2021. Ed Sheeran announces new album =. live. 6 November 2021. Official Charts. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819145957/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ed-sheeran-announces-fifth-studio-album-__33843/ . 19 August 2021 .
4. Web site: Ed Sheeran to Complete the Equation With New Album =. Curto. Justin. Vulture. 19 August 2021. 19 August 2021. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819141349/https://www.vulture.com/2021/08/ed-sheeran-album-equals-song-visiting-hours.html. live.
5. News: Pineau . Marine . Ed Sheeran dévoile l'édition française de Equals ! . 15 November 2022 . . 5 November 2022 . fr-FR . 15 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221115142302/https://www.virginradio.fr/musique/ed-sheeran-devoile-ledition-francaise-de-equals-102695.html . live .
6. News: Muratore . Lisa . Ed Sheeran va sortir une réédition d'Equals avec deux titres français . 15 November 2022 . L'Éclaireur Fnac . 18 October 2022 . fr . 15 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221115142304/https://leclaireur.fnac.com/article/176593-ed-sheeran-va-sortir-une-reedition-dequals-avec-deux-titres-francais/ . live .
7. Web site: IFPI Global Music Report 2022. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. 15 January 2023. 4 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220404115052/https://www.ifpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IFPI_Global_Music_Report_2022-State_of_the_Industry.pdf. dead.
8. Web site: Ed Sheeran Teases "Big" Announcement. Sam. That Grape Juice. 18 August 2021. 19 August 2021. 18 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818170825/https://thatgrapejuice.net/2021/08/sheeran-teases-big-announcement/. live.
9. Ed Sheeran Announces Another Impossible-to-Google Album. Shaffer. Claire. Rolling Stone. 19 August 2021. 19 August 2021. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819141349/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ed-sheeran-equals-album-1214127/. live.
10. Ed Sheeran Announces New Album '=': 'I See It as My Coming-of-Age Record'. Brandle. Lars. Billboard. 19 August 2021. 19 August 2021. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819135813/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9616838/ed-sheeran-new-album-equals/. live.
11. Web site: Ed Sheeran's New Album, '=,' Due October 29; Hear the Single, 'Visiting Hours'. Aswad. Jem. Variety. 19 August 2021. 19 August 2021. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819140804/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/ed-sheeran-new-album-equals-1235044310/. live.
12. Web site: Ed Sheeran Announces Album and Shares New Song "Visiting Hours". Price. Joe. Complex. 19 August 2021. 19 August 2021. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819141350/https://www.complex.com/music/ed-sheeran-announces-equals-album-visiting-hours. live.
13. Web site: Ed Sheeran And Taylor Swift Have Already Recorded 'Everything Has Changed – Taylor's Version'. Capital FM. 27 June 2021. 21 August 2021. 21 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210821051402/https://www.capitalfm.com/news/ed-sheeran-taylor-swift-everything-has-changed-red-album/. live.
14. Web site: Ed Sheeran: Fatherhood made me change my bad habits . . 25 June 2021 . 29 October 2021 . Savage, Mark . https://web.archive.org/web/20210625085706/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-57608153 . 25 June 2021 . live.
15. The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber's 'Stay' leads Hot 100 for third week, Lizzo & Cardi B's 'Rumors' bows in top five . . 23 August 2021 . 27 October 2021 . Trust, Gary . 23 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210823175534/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9618390/kid-laroi-justin-bieber-stay-number-one-third-week-hot-100/ . live .
16. Ed Sheeran announces new single 'Shivers': 'I bloody love it' . . 2 September 2021 . 29 October 2021 . Bowenbank, Starr . https://web.archive.org/web/20210902183008/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9623935/ed-sheeran-shivers-single-announcement/ . 2 September 2021 . live.
17. The Hot 100. Billboard. 15 January 2022. 3 February 2022. 13 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220113191555/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2022-01-15/. live.
18. Web site: Ed Sheeran lanceert nieuwe single 'Overpass Graffiti', op de ochtend van zijn album release . Dutch . Ed Sheeran releases new single 'Overpass Graffiti', on the morning of his album release . . 29 October 2021 . 29 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211029081555/https://wixx.com/2021/10/27/ed-sheeran-teases-new-music-video-for-overpass-graffiti/ . 29 October 2021 . live.
19. Web site: Ed Sheeran teases new music video for "Overpass Graffiti" . Wixx 101 . 27 October 2021 . 29 October 2021 . Martensen, Dan . https://web.archive.org/web/20211029081337/https://www.hln.be/muziek/ed-sheeran-lanceert-nieuwe-single-overpass-graffiti-op-de-ochtend-van-zijn-albumrelease~a9254453/ . 29 October 2021 . live.
20. Web site: Watch Ed Sheeran perform new track 'Overpass Graffiti' on NPR's Tiny Desk . . 26 October 2021 . 29 October 2021 . Skinner, Tom . https://web.archive.org/web/20211027130231/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/ed-sheeran-performs-new-track-overpass-graffiti-on-nprs-tiny-desk-3080158/ . 27 October 2021 . live.
21. Web site: Ed Sheeran scores fifth Number 1 album with Equals: "Thank you for listening". 6 November 2021. www.officialcharts.com. en. 6 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211106000729/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ed-sheeran-scores-fifth-number-1-on-official-albums-chart-with-equals-thank-you-for-listening-__34388/. live.
22. Web site: The Official Top 40 biggest albums of 2021. 5 January 2022. www.officialcharts.com. en. 6 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220106154336/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-biggest-albums-of-2021__34858/. live.
23. Ed Sheeran Scores Fourth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With '='. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. 7 November 2021. 8 November 2021. 16 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211116121625/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9656431/ed-sheeran-fourth-number-one-album-equals-billboard-200/. live.
24. Web site: Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Combined) – Week 47/2021. IFPI Greece. https://archive.today/20211206133925/http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_en.html. 6 December 2021. 13 December 2021.
25. Web site: Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 44 – 2021. Plötutíðindi. is. The Music - Albums - Week 44 - 2021. 21 November 2021. 6 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211106223741/https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/. live.
26. News: Hot Albums [2021/11/03 公開] ]. 3 November 2021 . . 3 November 2021 . ja . 3 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211103042313/https://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2021&month=11&day=08 . live .
27. Web site: 2021 44-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). AGATA. Lithuanian. 5 November 2021. 5 November 2021. 5 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211105084906/https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/44s/. live.
28. Web site: Slovak Albums – Top 100.. ČNS IFPI. 9 November 2021. 6 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190506182715/http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/. live. Note: On the chart page, select SK - Albums - Top 100 under the left field and "202144" on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data.
29. Web site: Rankings (Febrero 2022). Cámara Uruguaya del Disco. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20220329060540/https://cudisco.org/. 29 March 2022. 24 September 2022.
30. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2021. Australian Recording Industry Association. 13 January 2022. 12 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220112223805/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2021/albums-chart. live.
31. Web site: Ö3-Austria Top40 Longplay-Jahrescharts 2021. 8 November 2019 . Ö3 Austria Top 40. 2 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220101195807/https://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/3020714/. 1 January 2022.
32. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2021. Ultratop. 4 January 2022. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104110928/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2021&cat=a. live.
33. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2021. Ultratop. 4 January 2022. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104091938/https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2021&cat=a. live.
34. Web site: Album Top-100 2021. Hitlisten. 6 January 2022. 6 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220106042835/http://hitlisten.nu/top2021.asp. live.
35. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 2021. dutchcharts.nl. nl. 4 January 2022. 3 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220103144437/https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2021&cat=a. live.
36. Web site: Top de l'année Top Albums 2021. SNEP. fr. 15 April 2022. 15 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220415062553/https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2021. live.
37. Web site: Jahrescharts 2021 Album. GfK Entertainment charts. 15 December 2021. 15 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211215134553/https://www.mtv.de/info/jsskvt/jahrescharts-2021-album. live.
38. Web site: Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista - eladási darabszám alapján - 2021. Mahasz. hu. 1 February 2022. 24 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220124154029/https://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/album_db/2021. live.
39. Web site: Ireland's official biggest albums of 2021. Official Charts Company. Griffiths. George. 9 January 2022. 9 January 2022. 9 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220109080448/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/irelands-official-biggest-singles-of-2021-revealed__34917/. live.
40. Web site: Classifica annuale 2021. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. 8 January 2022. 15 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191115194712/https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/11/2021/0. live.
41. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 2021. Recorded Music NZ. 24 January 2022. 24 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220124051930/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=5267. live.
42. Web site: Topplista – årsliste – Album 2021. 3 December 2019 . IFPI Norway. no. 31 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220131175008/https://ifpi.no/topplista/. 31 January 2022.
43. Web site: sanah podbija sprzedaż fizyczną w Polsce. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. pl. 1 February 2022. 1 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220201145112/http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/aktualnosci.php?idaktualnosci=2008. live.
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45. Web site: Årslista Album, 2021. Sverigetopplistan. 14 January 2022. 15 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220115034935/https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83?dspy=2021&dspp=1. live.
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79. = release formats:
    1. Web site: Ed Sheeran – = (Equals) CD. 19 August 2023. Discogs. 29 October 2021. 19 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230819175807/https://www.discogs.com/release/20769265-Ed-Sheeran--Equals. live.
    2. Web site: Equals by Ed Sheeran on Apple Music. 19 August 2023. music.apple.com. 29 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210829212432/https://music.apple.com/us/album/1581087024. live.
    3. Web site: Ed Sheeran – = (Equals) Vinyl. 19 August 2023. Discogs. 29 October 2021. 19 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230819175808/https://www.discogs.com/release/20771563-Ed-Sheeran--Equals. live.
    4. Web site: Ed Sheeran – = (Equals) Cassette. 19 August 2023. Discogs. 29 October 2021. 19 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230819175810/https://www.discogs.com/release/20775403-Ed-Sheeran--Equals. live.