U2 knocks Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ off Billboard top spot




FILE- In this Sept. 23, 2016, file photo, The Edge, from left, Bono and Adam Clayton of the music group U2 perform at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Day 1 in Las Vegas. In a lawsuit filed Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Manhattan federal court, Paul Rose says U2 lifted elements of his song “Nae Slappin” for their song “The Fly” while they were looking for new inspiration. (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP, File)
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“Songs of Experience” sold more than 185,000 units in its first week, according to Nielsen Music data released on Monday.

Billboard said it was the biggest sales week for a rock album in 2017 in an industry where hip hop and R&B music are now the biggest genres.

Country singer Chris Stapleton’s “From a Room: Volume 2” debuted in second place with more than 124,000 units sold.

The two new releases pushed Swift’s “Reputation” into third place after three weeks at No. 1

The Billboard 200 chart tallies units from album sales, song sales (10 songs equal one album) and streaming activity (1,500 streams equal one album).

On the Digital Songs chart, which measures online single sales, Ed Sheeran’s love song “Perfect” held steady in the top spot with a 200 percent increase in sales to 180,000 for the week, thanks to a newly released collaboration with Beyonce.