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Coldplay won't be coming back to Abu Dhabi in a hurry if they see that the city's local press writes articles such as the one published online in The National (.ae) today:   Great news! Mercury Rev are playing in Abu Dhabi. The downside is that it costs Dh300 and if you don’t leave as soon as they’ve finished, you might get some Coldplay on you. I joke, I joke.   Yet for many, ragging on Chris Martin and chums is no laughing matter. From all the pained, po-faced column inches proclaiming this po

It would be a pretty hipster thing to say that the Coldplay show at Austin City Limits Music Festival on Friday was cheesy and overly sincere. But you won't actually hear that. Because all the hipsters were on the other end of the Zilker Park with Kanye West, writes the Dallas Observer music blog.   Sure, Coldplay's music expertly draws out the emotional side of college co-eds, but, aside from popular hipster belief, there is more to the band than aiming to pull at the heartstrings of fans. None

The relationship between rich western celebrities and poor Africans highlights a hard challenge to the orthodoxies of aid policy, says Michael Holman. More than twenty years ago Bob Geldof and I shared what turned out to be a case of wishful thinking.   We believed that the millions of pounds raised by Band Aid in a response to the famine that was wracking Ethiopia would go towards ensuring that never again would we look at our television screens and see emaciated figures, the consequence of fam

Richard Boote, owner and managing director of Strongroom recording studios today announces the purchase of AIR Studios, the world class recording facilities established and chaired by legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin, from Chrysalis Group PLC and Pioneer GB Limited.   Artists who have recently recorded in AIR's music studios include Coldplay, U2, Robbie Williams, Blackeyed Peas, George Michael and Sir Paul McCartney.   Sir George Martin established AIR Studios in Central London in 19

It would be hard to believe that anyone on the Coldplaying Boards did not know the name of Albie. In fact to some, the very thought of the name sends shivers down their spine.   Albie, or Goat Boy to some, a multiple-time banned member has somewhat recently rejoined the boards for a new spell, much to the dislike of many other members. However, with annoyance can come entertainment... and this has come in the form of The Albie Flash Program, with the intention of bringing light hearted amusement

While many of the nominees reinforce what we’ve come to expect, the 51st Grammy Awards roundup managed a few surprises with both the artists selected and the ones seemingly snubbed. Grammy’s former darling Alicia Keys is notably absent in key categories, and there’s a bare minimum of former “American Idol” contestants clogging up the works.   Last year’s Amy Winehouse sweep cleared the way for Duffy and Adele, each with her own unique set of retro pipes that rock the lush ’60s sound. Meanwhile,

No Coldplay at Glastonbury this year, but its still fun and games. Click here to read the informative article from the BBC as typical British downpours turn the festival into a mudbath.

A '60s spirit is afloat as diverse music makers pop up in every corner of Britain. Will America catch the drift?   Down the five decades of rock 'n' roll, musical Brits have had the cheeky habit of periodically bestriding the world as if we owned it.   In 2005, it was Live 8 that commanded global attention (admittedly fronted by Irishmen Bob Geldof and Bono); a huge gig in Hyde Park, London, it formed the centerpiece of a multinational, all-day show seen on TV and online by a potential audience

Thus spoke Coldplay frontman Chris Martin Sunday night as he looked over the soaking crowd on the final evening of the second edition of All Points West Music and Arts Festival in Jersey City, "This has to be the strangest-smelling but best concert we've ever played," writes New Jersey News.   Martin was referring to the odorous mixture of mud, rain water, mulch and swampland into which Liberty State Park was transformed over the past three days, and the audience roared in acknowledgement, as if

The survey was put together by the book of British Hit Singles and Albums and NME.com with votes coming in from the around the world, reports the telegraph.co.uk.   David Roberts, British Hit Singles and Albums editor, said the survey showed diversity and longevity. "Usually these polls are full of records that people have only just bought because they are freshest in the mind," Mr Roberts said.   "But this poll shows that the truly great albums always have longevity. Only two albums in the Top

The survey was put together by the book of British Hit Singles and Albums and NME.com with votes coming in from the around the world, reports the telegraph.co.uk.   David Roberts, British Hit Singles and Albums editor, said the survey showed diversity and longevity. "Usually these polls are full of records that people have only just bought because they are freshest in the mind," Mr Roberts said.   "But this poll shows that the truly great albums always have longevity. Only two albums in the Top

How Does The Chart Work?   The chart has been compiled using a pro-rata points formula based on a No. 1 album receiving 100 points for each week at the top. Points for all other positions vary based on the size of the chart for a particular week. Bonus points are also given for each week an album is at number one. The chart compilation and points formula calculation are ©2004-2006   1. Queen - ‘Greatest Hits’ 2. Meat Loaf - ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ 3. Simon And Garfunkel - ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’

How Does The Chart Work?   The chart has been compiled using a pro-rata points formula based on a No. 1 album receiving 100 points for each week at the top. Points for all other positions vary based on the size of the chart for a particular week. Bonus points are also given for each week an album is at number one. The chart compilation and points formula calculation are ©2004-2006   1. Queen - ‘Greatest Hits’ 2. Meat Loaf - ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ 3. Simon And Garfunkel - ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’

There were rounds of thunderous applause, brightly painted signs covered in hearts and piercing screams from flustered girls who were practically crying in delight: The AllNighters' spring concert was Hopkins' version of a `90's boy band show.   The all-male a cappella group performed their annual spring concert this past Saturday to a rowdy crowd in Mudd Auditorium. The 16 strapping young men in their signature ties and vests were soaked up the energy from the audience.   Freshman Alejandro De

There were rounds of thunderous applause, brightly painted signs covered in hearts and piercing screams from flustered girls who were practically crying in delight: The AllNighters' spring concert was Hopkins' version of a `90's boy band show.   The all-male a cappella group performed their annual spring concert this past Saturday to a rowdy crowd in Mudd Auditorium. The 16 strapping young men in their signature ties and vests were soaked up the energy from the audience.   Freshman Alejandro De

Seemingly another unnecessary release by a record label in order to simply cash in; 'Prospekt's March' does little to dissuade from this statement with three of it's eight tracks having featured on the 'Viva La Vida..' album albeit in a slightly different guise, report Altsounds.   Firstly we get 'Life In Technicolor ii' which is simply the lead track on the latest album which was instrumental but this time we get Chris Martin crooning over the top 'I can hear it coming/I can hear the siren soun

The American Music Awards just got a bit more British, adding Coldplay and Leona Lewis to its performance line-up, according to Billboard. The two join a bevy of previously announced performers, including Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, the Pussycat Dolls, Taylor Swift and Annie Lennox.   The fan-voted extravaganza, as previously reported, is set for Nov. 23, and will be broadcast live for the East Coast from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Voting is underway now at the AMA website, a

Online retail giant Amazon.com has launched a DRM-free music store with 2 million songs from 180,000 artists and 20,000 labels.   The music is encoded in 256Kbit/s MP3 format, and Amazon says most songs are priced from US89 cents to US99 cents ($AU1.02 to $AU1.14), with more than 1 million of the 2 million songs priced at 89 cents.   The top 100 best-selling songs are 89 cents, while most albums are priced from $5.99 to $9.99 ($AU6.89 to $AU11.49). The top 100 best-selling albums are $8.99 ($A

Online retailer Amazon.com is launching an online music store this year featuring millions of songs without copying limitations.   The company said it had a deal with British-based music publisher EMI Music to include its music catalogue as well as those from 12,000 other music labels. The move comes amid increased interest in freeing up online music from so-called digital rights management (DRM) that limits how a user may copy or transfer a song after downloading.   The announcement did not in

As Americans we tend to recycle our music but are rarely swept into a mania. Sometimes, it takes a while for us to feel any sort of mania that may be happening throughout the rest of the world, especially in England.   It took us almost a year and a half to catch on to the Beatles and the British invasion. We signed on to Coldplay far after “Yellow” was released throughout the rest of the world. It took a “Wonderwall” to breakdown the door to those quirky Gallagher brothers of Oasis. So who the

As Americans we tend to recycle our music but are rarely swept into a mania. Sometimes, it takes a while for us to feel any sort of mania that may be happening throughout the rest of the world, especially in England.   It took us almost a year and a half to catch on to the Beatles and the British invasion. We signed on to Coldplay far after “Yellow” was released throughout the rest of the world. It took a “Wonderwall” to breakdown the door to those quirky Gallagher brothers of Oasis. So who the

Having children changes your life in many ways. For American rocker Ed Kowalczyk from the band Live, having two daughters, Ana Sophia and Natasha, has turned him into a Kelly Clarkson fan.   "One of my current guilty pleasures that I feel like I have to confess, I really do like that Walk Away song by Kelly Clarkson and I can't get it out of my head," Ed says with a laugh.   "My four-year-old is such a huge Kelly Clarkson fan and I am now, by osmosis, becoming one, too." In town with his band to

With 10 concerts booked for this summer, The Amphitheater at Clark County will at least match last year in terms of the number of events. More shows could be added as the season plays out, though, and chief executive officer Dan Braun says he's optimistic the 18,000-seat venue finally is on an upswing.   "Based on 365 days ago, I feel better about the future," Braun says. "I like the acts (coming this year). It's a good selection, with some pretty big marquee names."   Nine Inch Nails, an indu

With 10 concerts booked for this summer, The Amphitheater at Clark County will at least match last year in terms of the number of events. More shows could be added as the season plays out, though, and chief executive officer Dan Braun says he's optimistic the 18,000-seat venue finally is on an upswing.   "Based on 365 days ago, I feel better about the future," Braun says. "I like the acts (coming this year). It's a good selection, with some pretty big marquee names."   Nine Inch Nails, an indu

Amy Macdonald checked in with fans on her blog at MySpace on Wednesday (January 21), offering supporting words for one of her musical peers. The Scottish singer songwriter tells readers:   I’ve just been watching ‘Big Chef Takes on Little Chef’ on channel 4 and towards the end they played my favorite Coldplay song from their current album. The song is called ‘Life in Technicolor’ and the minute I heard it I fell in love. The only thing that dissapointed was that I was dying for Chris Martin to s