Ed Sheeran made a surprise appearance at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool on May 24, 2025, where he performed his new song 'Old Phone' for the first time.

The song was inspired by his recent $100 million copyright trial, during which he revisited memories on an old phone, reflecting on past relationships.

Sheeran described the copyright allegations he faced as frustrating and baseless, emphasizing their threat to the creative process in music.

The event also underscored ongoing issues of copyright infringement in the music industry, referencing notable cases throughout history.

Humorously acknowledging a mistake with his famous loop, he remarked, 'that’s how you know I’m playing live', further endearing himself to the crowd.

He shared that the trial prompted him to reflect on old messages and photos, which ultimately inspired the writing of 'Old Phone'.

After the verdict of his trial, Sheeran expressed relief, stating he would have retired from music if found guilty, highlighting the importance of creative freedom.

He was previously cleared of copyright infringement in March 2023, after being accused of copying Marvin Gaye's song 'Let's Get It On'.

This followed a prior victory in a plagiarism case over his hit 'Shape of You', where he was accused of copying Sami Chokri's 2015 song 'Oh Why'.

During his performance, Sheeran played several fan favorites, including 'Castle on the Hill', 'Shivers', 'The A-Team', and closed with 'Bad Habits'.

The audience reacted enthusiastically, swarming the stage and creating an energetic atmosphere as he engaged with them for nearly an hour.

Sheeran's surprise performance was well-received, marking his first appearance on the New Music Stage at the festival.