U.K. MIDWEEKS: CAN SHEERAN HIT 1M IN A FORTNIGHT?

Guess who’s #1 on the midweek Official Albums Chart in the U.K.? Ed Sheeran! ÷ (Atlantic) has made 158k combined sales since Friday, averaging at 53k per day. If it carries on at that rate for the next four days, the album will have notched up over 1m sales across two weeks.

Rag’n’Bone Man is also still seeing strong sales as Human (Columbia) looks set to stay at #2 for a second consecutive week. British folk singer/songwriter Laura Marling is the highest new entry with Semper Femina (Kobalt) at #3; Sheeran is also at #4 with X. Stormzy completes the Top 5 with Gang Signs and Prayer (Merky).

Other high climbers are Soft Cell/Marc Almond's Hits and Pieces: The Best Of (UMC) starting at #7, while Circa Waves are on course for a new personal best with their second album, Different Creatures (Virgin EMI), at #8.

Over on the Official Singles midweeks, Sheeran continues to rule the Top 5. “Shape of You” is at #1, followed by “Galway Girl” at #2 and “Castle on the Hill” at #3. A further three of his new tracks are still inside the Top 10, while the remaining 10 are scattered across the Top 40.

The Chainsmokers & Coldplay are #4 with “Something Just Like This” (RCA), while DJ Martin Jensen is on track for his first Top 10 hit with “Solo Dance” (3beat) so far up 15 places to #10.

The comeback single from ‘90s pop group Steps, “Scared Of The Dark” (Absolute), is the highest new entry, opening at #11.