Coldplay Single May Be Most Downloaded Ever

Coldplay's newest single, Speed of Sound, looks set to be the most downloaded track in iTunes history, according to EMI Music.

The track, released on the iTunes Music Store last week, currently ranks at the top of the chart in every international market, writes Digital Music News.

The single is currently only available in digital format. According to Digital Music News the decision to release the track online rather than as a CD-single "confused" EMI Music UK & Ireland chairman Tony Wadsworth, however, he is happy to have a product in the market alongside radio play, noting that "fans want to be able to buy the music they hear on the radio instantly, and the beauty of digital is that we can now deliver that".Digital Music News opines that it may become standard practice to position a paid download alongside a radio premier, since most music fans are now accustomed to instant gratification. "Many labels have released to radio prior to having any product available on the market, often leading consumers to grab free downloads on P2P services," the report suggests.

Speed of Sound is the first release from Coldplay's third album, 'X + Y'. The album is set for release on June 6.