Ed Sheeran appears on NBC News’ “Today” show.As part of Billboard’s Fan Army Face-Off 2015, we’ve asked people to write about what being part of the fandom means to them. Read below for an essay from an Ed Sheeran fan, who are called the Sheerios. 

Ed Sheeran’s fans, the Sheerios, isn’t just a group of talented, smart and amazing individuals but it is also a family. We were brought together by Ed Sheeran’s music; the beautiful lyrics and rhythm, but we stay because of who he is as a person; a lovable, talented and great role model. Ed helps us personally, inspiring us and helping us overcome our problems. He also helps us create long lasting friendships, with people from different backgrounds and countries; local and international, and even some people from different group of fandoms.

The fandom grew since Ed’s first album + and it is quite evident, with sold out concerts and millions of CD’s sold around the world, but we welcome everyone with open arms. Like Ed once tweeted:

“If you have been a fan of my music for 5 years or a fan of my music for 1 hour it doesn’t matter, what matters is that you’re a fan.”And that’s why the Sheerio fandom is special. We don’t have seniority or superiority by knowing Ed the longest or anything, because we are all the same, a fan. A fan who gets excited when Ed drops another amazing single. A fan who sing their heart out at his concert. A fan who would smile when their favourite café, restaurant or radio station greets them with one of Ed’s tracks. We’re all a Sheerio since the day we can’t get “The A Team” or “Photograph” out of our head, and we’ll be a Sheerio till the very end.