Ed Sheeran's business model

Ed Sheeran's business-model:
- Use of the loopboard to cut costs on workforce, that is, band members. DIY policy. Revenue sources are quite similar to those who operate in the music industry, expenses are much lower.

Setting the target-audience precisely:

“There's no key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.”

Vertical integration takes precedence over outsourcing (when possible):

- Autonomy to build things on his own

- Limited outsourcing of supporting activities

- Recording contracts carefully written to preserve the fingerprint that he wishes to lend to his music.

- Logistics costs dramatically cut down because he is a one man-show. He can schedule more dates in his worldwide tours due to the fact that  his entourage is relatively small. 

Coherent career path:
1st studio album named +, read as plus
2nd studio album named x, read as multiply
3rd studio album named /, read as divide 

forthcoming album name? -, read as minus or subtract? We'll see.

He is smart, isn't he?

Additional reading, FT article: https://www.ft.com/content/0b124842-856a-11e4-ab4e-00144feabdc0