Ed Sheeran retains grip on U.K. charts

Ed Sheeran has maintained his position at the top of Britain's album and singles charts.

The 26-year-old kept up his strong chart showing, with four of the top five songs in Friday's (17Mar17) singles rundown coming from Ed's new album ÷ (divide).

His track Shape of You remained at number one for the tenth week in a row, ahead of his Irish influenced ditty Galway Girl at two and Castle on the Hill at three.

Coldplay and The Chainsmokers collaboration Something Just Like This was at four, while Ed was also at number five with Perfect.

Unsurprisingly ÷ (divide) topped the U.K. album rundown, with Rag'n'Bone Man's Human at two and grime star Stormzy's debut Gang Signs & Prayer at three.

Ed popped up again at four with his 2014 album x (multiply) and the only change to last week's top five was British singer-songwriter Laura Marling's album Semper Femina entry at five in its first week of release.

The British musician's success comes after he stunned compilers at Britain's Official Charts Company last week (end12Mar17) by having 16 tracks in the top 20 of the singles rundown. All 16 tracks remain in the U.K.'s top 40 this week (end19Mar17).

His domination of the chart has caused many to call on bosses at the Official Charts Company to alter the way they compile the chart, currently 150 streaming plays of a song counts as one ordinary sale.