PURPLEIZED3121 said:

Yes, Ed is well liked in the industry and has worked with many artists. I’m not a huge fan, as most of his music sounds the same to me. Just my opinion. I think he has mastered the art of crafting the “pop” song that appeals to the masses and Top 40 listeners. He’s written many hits for other artists.
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I think Prince meant exactly what he said. He was extremely annoyed with radio stations using only the same small playlist (which would have included Ed Sheeran and Katy Perry) all the time and refusing to play other new or different music. He even met with 2 guys who ran an alternative station to get his music played (I think it was his Planet Earth release) and they happily played the entire record. He wrote about it in his book - mentioning IHeart Radio (that used to be Clear Stream) which controls all or most of the radio stations in the US.
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Watch “Before The Music Dies”. Great little docu released in 2006 which explains the changes in the music industry in a very informative and entertaining way. Lots of great artists contributed to the film. It’s on YT in sections. That is where I watched it.
[Edited 11/16/19 7:18am]
[Edited 11/16/19 7:19am]

SquirrelMeat said:

MotownSubdivision said:

SquirrelMeat said: Prince was right about the industry overexposing and constantly forcing the same handful of acts on the general public. Yeah, we have more outlets for music listening than before but his point still stands about radio and how the mainstream music scene operates. I'm not an Ed Sheeran fan at all. He may be talented but his music is bland, insipid and unmoving. I look at him as a modern day Phil Collins but with none of the edge, fun or catchiness or really, any of the good qualities that Phil as an artist possessed. Katy Perry is to music what fast food is to gastronomy. She's made some catchy songs herself, songs far more vibrant than almost aything Ed has ever put out but she's still a processed pre-packaged LCD name that's received more attention than she is worth.

Fine, but that's just your opinion. It's bland to you, just as Prince's music is bland to others.

Ed is an absolute talent. I don't think there would be many professionals who disagree.

I absolutely love some of his work, but quite a lot does nothing for me. He is unquestionably is a talent.

Having watched Yesterday, he can act as well.

RJP1205 said:

And that's why streaming is so popular now.

But the most popular streaming artists are the ones on the radio like Taylor Swift, Cardi B, Post Malone, Justin Beiber, DJ Khaled, Normani, Lil Nas X, Drake, Bruno Mars, etc. or whoever is doing songs for Disney movies.