{
  "id": 8055706,
  "title": "Guitar Center’s Contest To Open For Ed Sheeran Is Real",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/guitar-centers-contest-to-open-for-ed-sheeran-is-real",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-17T16:19:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Stereogum",
    "slug": "stereogum",
    "url": "https://stereogum.com/2511757/guitar-centers-contest-to-open-for-ed-sheeran-is-real/news/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Guitar Center has launched a contest to determine who will open for Ed Sheeran on his upcoming LOOP Tour. The prize is the chance to perform at Sheeran's show in Mexico City, set for December 12. The contest is part of the company's new Open For Legends program, which aims to discover and elevate amateur, unsigned, and independent singer-songwriters. Guitar Center has been selling Sheeran's signature PRS and Lowden guitars, and they partnered on his Orange Outload ES amps over the summer. Despite initial speculation that the contest might be fake, it is authentic. The deadline to submit is October 7, coinciding with the anniversary of Hamas's attacks on Israel. The timing of the contest's announcement has raised questions, but it appears to be a legitimate promotional effort. The winning contestant will perform at Sheeran's show after a day's cancellation in Philadelphia.",
  "summary": "What a time to launch a contest where the prize is opening for Ed Sheeran. The post Guitar Center’s Contest To Open For Ed Sheeran Is Real appeared first on Stereogum .",
  "key_points": [
    "Guitar Center launches contest for Ed Sheeran opening act.",
    "Contest part of Open For Legends program to discover singers.",
    "Deadline for submissions is October 7, 2023."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}