Charts: Mumford makes everyone their Sons for a third straight week, Macklemore debuts high

Three is the magic number for Mumford & Sons, as the folksy Brits remain at No. 1 for a third week on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart. The group’s “Babel” sold 96,000 copies its third week in stores, according to Nielsen SoundScan, bringing its three-week total to 865,000. It will likely hit platinum status by the end of the month.

Seattle rapper (and graduate of XXL’s 2012 Freshman 10) Macklemore makes a huge splash at No. 2 with his album “The Heist,” credited to himself and producer Ryan Lewis. The independent album sold 78,000 copies its first week, making good on Macklemore’s massive online presence and cult following.

Macklemore’s success has to come as a surprise to rock warriors Kiss, who debut at No. 3 with their latest album “Monster.” The album sold 56,000 copies, so Gene Simmons is probably on the phone with Ryan Lewis right now.

Bad Boy Ohio rapper MGK starts off at No. 4 — when was the last time two white rappers were in the Top 5? — with “Laces Up,” which sold 51,000 copies its first week in stores. In a heavy week for debuts, Coheed and Cambria (No. 5), All Time Low (No. 6), Barbra Streisand (No. 7) and Ellie Goulding (No. 9) also make Top 10 debuts.

Next week, Mumford & Sons’ chart dominance will likely come to an end as Jason Aldean looks to debut big with his latest, “Night Train.” And there’s only one more week until Taylor Swift annihilates everyone when she drops the “Red” bomb on the world. Kaboom!

Billboard’s Top 10 albums (sales in parentheses, figures according to Nielsen SoundScan)

1. Mumford & Sons, Babel (96,000)

2. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, The Heist (78,000)

3. Kiss, Monster (56,000)

4. MGK, Laces Up (51,000)

5. Coheed and Cambria, Afterman: Ascension (49,000)

6. All Time Low, Don’t Panic (48,000)

7. Barbra Streisand, Release Me (44,000)

8. Pink, The Truth About Love (36,000)

9. Ellie Goulding, Halcyon (34,000)

10. Muse, The 2nd Law (31,000)