Ed Sheeran scores second No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with “Divide”

Ed Sheeran scores second No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with “Divide”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Ed Sheeran's "Divide (division sign)" cruises to the top of Billboard 200 chart. The album sold 451,000 equivalent album units in the week ending March 10, AceShowbiz reports citing Nielsen Music. "Divide" becomes the biggest selling album of 2017 so far since J. Cole's "4 Your Eyez Only", which debuted at No. 1 with 492,000 units on the December 31, 2016-dated list.

In its first week of release, "Divide" sold 322,000 units in traditional album sales and 90,000 streaming equivalent album units, marking the biggest selling album since "4 Your Eyez Only". The new record marks Sheeran's second No. 1 album on the chart, following his 2014 effort "x". His debut album "+", meanwhile, peaked at No. 5 on the chart back in 2011.

Additionally, "Divide" is the third fastest-selling album and the highest opening sale for a male artist according to the Official Charts Company. With every song from the album being on the top 20 of the U.K.'s Official Singles chart, Sheeran becomes the first musician ever to accomplish the achievement. In addition, he is currently having nine songs on the top 10 of the chart.

"I never expected to have nine songs in the top 10 ever in my life," the British heartthrob responded to Radio 1 over his chart history-making. "I don't know if something has gone wrong, but I'm definitely very happy about it."

At No. 2 on this week's Billboard 200 is Metallica's "Hardwired...To Self-Destruct", which vaults 12 spots to the runner-up slot with 81,000 units. The record's sales numbers were likely boosted by the band's stadium tour, which includes the album for every purchased ticket. Bruno Mars' "24K Magic" rounds out the new top 3 with 65,000 units.

Future's two albums, "Future" and "HNDRXX", fall to No. 4 and No. 5 with 52,000 units and 49,000 units respectively. Migos' "Culture" and The Weeknd's "Starboy", meanwhile, hold steady at No. 6 and No. 7 with 44,000 units and 42,000 units respectively. The "Moana" soundtrack is also a non-mover at No. 8 with 39,000 units.

Khalid's debut album, "American Teen", arrives at No. 9 with 37,000 units. Laced with 15 songs in total, the record is supported by the lead single "Location" which is currently peaking at No. 44 on Billboard Hot 100. Rounding out the new top 10 is the "Trolls" soundtrack, which descends five slots with 36,000 units.

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