Ed Sheeran launches 'artistic creation' business with friend and Snow Patrol guitarist Johnny McDaid after penning hits such as Galway Girl together

Ed Sheeran has launched an 'artistic creation' business with his friend and Snow Patrol guitarist Johnny McDaid.

The singer, 29, and musician, 44, have already worked together for years penning hit songs such Galway Girl, Barcelona, Photograph and Eraser.

And now the talented duo have started a new venture, with them both being listed as directors for McShaid Limited on Companies House.  

Not much information is listed for the business, with it simply being referred to as 'artistic creation' something which covers songwriting and composing. 

As well as working on Ed's music, the talented duo have also written for stars such as Alicia Keys (song Underdog) and James Blunt (Make Me Better). 

A source told The Sun: 'Ed and Johnny are great friends, but this seems to suggest they are starting to focus their songwriting efforts together as a proper business as well as something they love.

'They've both had massive success independently and as a duo, so it makes sense to put things in place to properly handle that revenue.'

MailOnline has contacted Johnny and Ed's representatives for a comment.

Irish star Johnny is engaged to Friends actress Courteney Cox, 56, with the pair being reunited in Derry in December after nine months apart amid the pandemic.

The news also comes after Ed, who welcomed his first child Lyra Antarctica in 2020, made a rare appearance in public as he helped to promote a giveaway for guitar company Lowden via their YouTube channel on Saturday.

The singer was in great spirits as he marked his two-year partnership with the company by signing two guitars that would be part of the competition. 

Detailing how much he loves the brand with its founder George Lowden, Ed said: 'I've actually got a Lowden guitar in every single room of the house.

'They're scattered around, because it's just nice to walk into a room and have a beautiful instrument there that you can pick up and play. 

'It was important for the 13-year-old in me being able to get the quality of a Lowden guitar but also it not be an unachievable feat. I personally think it's better than anything else in its price bracket.'

Ed has used both guitars which are being given away, playing them during recording sessions and even used one in his music video for new track Afterglow.

It comes after Ed earned nearly £70 million in 2019 despite taking a break from recording music, thanks to the record-breaking success of his tour. 

The hitmaker was netting the equivalent of £200,000 a day, after taking to the road for his worldwide Divide tour throughout 2019. 

According to The Sun, documents filed by Ed's company Nathan Cable Touring reveal a £70 million turnover and profits of £37 million, equalling around £200,000 a day to the year ending 31 March 2020.  

Companies House documents also reveal his firm Ed Sheeran Ltd, which handle the money made from the writing, recording and production of his music, also made a £29 million profit last year.

Ed's Divide Tour, which ended in his hometown of Ipswich in August 2019, became the highest-grossing music tour ever, earning £607 million over 255 shows. 

MailOnline contacted representatives for Ed Sheeran for comment at the time.