Megastar Ed Sheeran has launched an artistic business venture with music industry pal Johnny McDaid from Snow Patrol.

Suffolk singer/songwriter Ed has been working on new music during the coronavirus pandemic, releasing his single Afterglow just before Christmas.

It turns out Ed, who grew up in Framlingham and lives near the town, was also busy in the run-up to Christmas preparing for the launch of his new business, McShaid Limited.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ed Sheeran performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2017Ed Sheeran performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2017 (Image: PA)

Described on Companies House as an 'artistic creation', the firm has two directors, Ed and John McDaid.

John, or Johnny, is the guitarist in the Scottish-Northern Irish rock band Snow Patrol and boyfriend of actress Courtney Cox.

East Anglian Daily Times: Johnny McDaid from Snow PatrolJohnny McDaid from Snow Patrol (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

We are yet to find out more about this business collaboration, but when Ed and Johnny have partnered up musically they have seen huge success.

Johnny co-wrote several of the songs on Ed's X album - which won the Brit Award for British Album of the Year in 2015 - including hits Photograph and Bloodstream.

East Anglian Daily Times: Johnny McDaid, Gary Lightbody and Nathan Connolly of Snow PatrolJohnny McDaid, Gary Lightbody and Nathan Connolly of Snow Patrol (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Ed and Johnny also worked together on the song Shape of You, which was number one in the UK for four weeks.

In December, Ed also said he is working on a new album after taking a break from his career over the course of 2020.

The musician and his wife Cherry Seaborn celebrated the birth of their baby Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran in August, 2020.