Ed Sheeran: I don’t stream anything ever

Billboard spends 24 hours with Ed Sheeran in today's cover story. During the time spent with Sheeran, he opens up about his upcoming third album, and what Jay Z thinks of it. He also opens up about his current dating life, his friendship with Taylor Swift, and why he doesn't "get" streaming music.

On his upcoming third album:
"So this is my little baby," he says in a vulnerable tone, one mate to another in the neighborhood pub. "Normally I don't care much about what people think of my music. If you love it, awesome; if you don't, go and listen to something else.' But this time is different. This project is a lot more dear to me. I'm nervous about how it's going to be received."

Jay Z's reaction to a preview of Sheeran's third album...
"He made me play it four times in a row and called me an alien," says Sheeran. "That was promising."

When asked if he gets to hangout with Taylor Swift's girl squad:
"Of course," he says, cracking up. "It's not a vaginas-only club."

On if he is currently dating anyone:
"I just never want to be public. It always, always backfires. I really wish I could disappear at moments that I'm with a significant other. It's none of anyone's f---ing business."

Sheeran never streams music, and has never heard a Radiohead album:
"I don't stream anything ever," he says. "I don't even really get it. I buy everything off iTunes or physically." Which also explains how there's lots of celebrated music that he still hasn't encountered. "I've never listened to aRadiohead album, to be honest. I didn't hear a Bruce Springsteen song until like two years ago, and now I f---ing love Springsteen. I didn't hear Michael Jacksonsongs till I was 14. I like discovering things on my own. I want to have that moment of 'holy shit,' the moment of the epiphany."