Ed Sheeran Earns RIAA Gold for "Azizam"

English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's single "Azizam" has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The certification, dated October 3, 2025, recognizes 500,000 units sold in the United States. The pop single was released by Atlantic Records on April 4, 2025.

"Azizam" serves as the lead single from Sheeran's eighth studio album, titled Play. The song's title is a Persian term of endearment meaning "my dear" or "my beloved." Its creation was inspired by Persian culture, a suggestion from producer Ilya Salmanzadeh, who co-wrote and co-produced the track with Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, and Savan Kotecha. Following its initial release, a Persian version featuring Iranian singer Googoosh was issued on April 18, 2025. Physical CD and 7-inch singles, which included the exclusive bonus track "Crashing," were released on May 2, 2025. The song achieved significant international chart success, debuting at number three on the UK Singles Chart and becoming Sheeran's 42nd top-10 hit in his home country. It also reached number one in Belgium and the Netherlands and secured top-10 positions in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark.

Edward Christopher Sheeran, born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, began writing songs around the age of eleven and gained initial recognition with his independent 2011 EP, No. 5 Collaborations Project. He signed with Asylum Records that same year, releasing his debut album, + ("Plus"), which topped the UK Albums Chart. His subsequent albums, including the worldwide chart-toppers × ("Multiply") and ÷ ("Divide"), established him as a global superstar. Sheeran has sold over 200 million records worldwide and has earned numerous accolades, including multiple Brit and Grammy Awards. In 2017, he was named the world's best-selling artist, and his ÷ Tour became the highest-grossing concert tour of all time in August 2019.