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Ed Sheeran stretches into radio-friendly territory

By WTOP Staff

SANDY COHEN
AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Promoting an album kills creativity, says Ed Sheeran, preferring to watch a World Cup game rather than talk about “X,” the anticipated follow-up to his 2011 debut, “+.”

The 23-year-old singer-songwriter is drained and distracted from talking up the new album, out Monday, across the country.

“It has to be done,” he shrugs, one ear on the U.S.-Ghana game.

The English performer prefers the other parts of his job, writing songs and playing live. He created more than 100 songs to get the 12 tracks on “X,” which he pronounces “multiply.” He also worked with a handful of hit-making producers — Pharrell, Benny Blanco, Jeff Bhasker and Rick Rubin — to craft a broader, more radio-friendly sound.

“It’s weird, because they’re more polished producers but it’s a more raw sound,” Sheeran said, “so I think they brought an element of rawness to it.”

It’s also funkier than his folksy debut, which has sold more than 800,000 units and earned him a pair of Grammy nominations. A clear example is the Pharrell-produced Top 15 single, “Sing,” which has earned comparisons to Justin Timberlake for its dance beat and falsetto vocals. Sheeran appreciates the association.

“He’s a very talented person and I’ve listened to ‘Justified’ a lot,” Sheeran said in an interview last week. “I definitely took influence from that.”

Suddenly, a cheer erupts from his colleagues who are still watching the game.

“Oh, you won,” Sheeran tells an American reporter. “Congratulations.”

Though Sheeran presents a sweet, almost cherubic image, with his mussed red hair and low-key fashion sense, a hardness shows through, and not in the form of his sleeves of tattoos.

Success is everything he hoped it would be, and he misses nothing from his pre-fame life. “It wasn’t that fun,” he said.

He’s picky about his process and partners. He wouldn’t feature just anyone on his songs, though he has written for One Direction and his BFF, Taylor Swift.

“The people that (I’d) want to collaborate with aren’t the type to collaborate,” he said. “For instance, if I just decided tomorrow that I wanted to do a song with Jay Z, it’s not going to happen just like that. I think he has to have the idea. … It’s like that with me.”

Note to potential collaborators: Wait until the World Cup ends.

___

Online:

http://www.edsheeran.com/splash/multiply

___

Follow Sandy Cohen at twitter.com/APSandy .

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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