Ed Sheeran’s new album “x” debuted at the high end of sales expectations to achieve a dominant first place on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
The album’s opening week sales tally of 210,000 exceeds that of predecessor “+” (42,000) by a multiple of 5.
Trailing only Coldplay’s “Ghost Stories” (383,000), Eric Church’s “The Outsiders” (288,000) and Brantley Gilbert’s “Just as I Am” (211,000), it ranks as the 2014’s fourth-best debut sales total. It is the best for a pop release.
Among albums released by solo British male acts, “x” scores the best debut week since Rod Stewart’s “Stardust … The Great American Songbook Vol. III” moved 240,000 in 2004.
Down only 60% from its debut count, Sam Smith’s “In the Lonely Hour” holds at #2 on the weekly Billboard 200. It moved 67,000 copies this past week.
G-Eazy claims third on the Billboard 200 with “These Things Happen.” The album garnered 46,000 purchases in its first week.
Lana Del Rey’s “Ultraviolence” follows at #4 with 44,000 in its second week, while the “Frozen” soundtrack scores another week in the top 5 (#5 with 38,000 sales).
The full top ten follows:
1) Ed Sheeran – x – 210K
2) Sam Smith – In the Lonely Hour – 67K
3) G-Eazy – These Things Happen – 46K
4) Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence – 44K
5) Frozen Soundtrack – 38K
6) Mastodon – Once More ‘Round the Sun – 34K
7) Phish – Fuego – 32K
8) Miranda Lambert – Platinum – 29K
9) Linkin Park – The Hunting Party – 29K
10) NOW 50 – 22K
