Star Image: Ed Sheeran

Start image is extremely important to artists as this creates and builds them their fan-base, this is either clothing, advertising, personality, promotes, hobbies & interests. I have to talk about Ed Sheeran's star image and motifs, as I feel he has a very interesting image which is different to other artists today.

Ed Sheeran is known for his iconic ‘scruffy’ appearance of his ginger hair, hoodies and guitar, which all creates his star image motif. His iconic appearance represents him as ‘down to earth’ and by wearing this type of clothing his audiences can relate to, unlike other artists who wear expensive clothes and jewellery.

From his star image motif's he is represented to his audience as a calm, relaxed, but different artist, this is shown through his music videos, genres and slow pace of his music. I have said he is represented different when compared to other artist today, this is shown through his iconic album covers and lyrics of his personal songs. However, I feel this is specifically constructed appearance to target his fan-base. This is so his audience can feel a connection and relate to him through his personality, appearance and character.

Ed Sheeran - Advertisement, promotions & building a fan-base

In his early career he played at small venues such as small pubs, these were free gigs which he slowly created a small fan base. By performing in such places as London and around Suffolk he is seen as an artist who purely performs because of his love for music and not for the money and fame.

He then went onto appearing on the ITV show Britannia High to audience, this led to him being seen and noticed on national T.V. This helped him because he got his music and self out into the music industry through the T.V show.

Last year in May 2012 he has helped was involved in raising money for a charity which helped street sex workers for the charity One25. The gig which he performed at was in Bristol and raised just over £40’000.

He has also recently auctioned off some of his personal items, including his collection of Lego. Although he is giving all the money raised to charity it benefits for him as he is presented as someone who cares for others, but also by selling his Lego it promotes his record and music video ‘Lego House’. Helping raising the money then betrays him as selfless and wanting to help others. He can then benefit from this by creating a larger fan-base.

In his early career he performed at free gigs, this helped him slowly get his name out there and created a fan-base. By performing free he is not seen as doing it for the fame or money, he is seen as doing it purely because of his love of music which he can then benefit from.

He also performed for Nokia to promote the release of their new smartphone, Nokia Lumia, at a private concert in New York. This then links him with the smartphone which both advertise him and the smartphone, which he can benefit from by Nokia being such a large company.

He will also be performing at the free music day in Ipswich, Christchurch Park. As this is a free gig for people and fans to watch, which he also performed at the same day in 2010. This again presents him for someone who performs for his love of music, this promotes and advertise his records and merchandise, which he will then benefit from.