Primary Songwriter and Official Credits
Ed Sheeran is the primary songwriter of "Thinking Out Loud," which he co-wrote with Amy Wadge. The track was released as part of Sheeran's second studio album, ×, in 2014. Sheeran and Wadge are the only credited composers on the official songwriting registration, and their joint ownership structure has defined the song's publishing and royalty flow ever since.
The song's composition credits are publicly documented in performing rights organization databases and liner notes for the album ×. Sheeran has consistently named Wadge as a co-writer in interviews and legal filings, confirming that the melody and lyric development were a collaborative process completed before the album's release.
Copyright Ownership and Publishing Structure
Copyright for "Thinking Out Loud" is held jointly by Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge, with publishing rights administered by their respective music publishing entities. The song's mechanical and performance royalties are split according to the writers' agreement, and major digital platforms report streaming data directly to these rights holders.
In 2023, Ed Sheeran's publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing remained in effect, handling a large share of his songwriting royalties globally. The structure means that when "Thinking Out Loud" is streamed or played on radio, payments flow through Sony Music Publishing and the designated sub-publishers for Amy Wadge's share.
Legal Disputes and Recent Court Outcomes
In 2023, a U.S. federal jury ruled that Ed Sheeran did not copy "Thinking Out Loud" from Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," ending a high-profile copyright infringement lawsuit. The jury found no substantial similarity between the two songs, and the ruling was widely cited as a significant outcome for songwriters facing similar claims.
Following the verdict, industry analysts noted that the decision reinforced the importance of independent creation evidence in copyright cases. Ed Sheeran's legal team presented deposition testimony and musicological analysis showing that the chord progression and melody in "Thinking Out Loud" were common building blocks in popular music long before "Let's Get It On."