[WEEKLY SALES] Ed Sheeran’s ‘Divide’ Bows at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart With 2017’s Biggest Debut

James Donio, President of the Music Business Association (Music Biz), commented on this week’s sales numbers issued by Nielsen (published in Billboard) and BuzzAngle Music (published in HITS Daily Double):

“Ed Sheeran kicked 2017 into overdrive this week with his new album, ÷ (Divide), which topped both the Nielsen and BuzzAngle Music charts with the largest ​tallies recorded so far this year. Divide moved about 450,000 album equivalent units according to both Nielsen and BuzzAngle, the best week for any album since J. Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only last December. It also achieved a solid mix of sales and Streaming Equivalent Albums (SEA). Also, 19-year-old R&B singer Khalid debuted strongly with his first album, American Teen, landing at #9 on both charts, while Metallica jumped to #2 on both charts with Hardwired… to Self-Destruct thanks to a new concert ticket/album bundle. Next week, we’ll see whether Sheeran can hold off the soundtrack to Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast film as well as new albums from The Shins and Josh Turner.”