Ed Sheeran has been named as the highest-earning solo artist, taking in an estimated £83m last year.

The singer-songwriter earned more than fellow pop stars Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, according to Forbe's new World's Highest-Paid Celebrities "rich list".

It means Sheeran has jumped 62 places from last year, placing ninth on the full list of top-earning celebrities such as Coldplay and U2, along with football stars Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo. 

He was the most-streamed artist of last year thanks to his third album Divide, which was powered by hits including lead single "Shape of You", "Castle on the Hill", "Galway Girl" and "Perfect".

Sheeran was recently criticised after he won planning permission to build "anti-homeless railings outside his £8m home in London. 

The singer, who has often spoken about his experiences of sleeping rough when he was trying to make it as an artist, was given the green light to install pedestrian gates and cast iron railings outside his home in Kensington and Chelsea. 

According to a document submitted by his planning agent, the gates and railings will "prevent opportunities for rough sleeping".

Source: The Independent

BDST: 1329 HRS, JUL 18, 2018
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