Chris Martin went a bit over-the-top while out in New York with his daughter Apple recently.

We know it’s hard to resist when a cute toddler points and asks for something, but surely one balloon would have been enough?

With that much helium at hand, Chris, you’re in serious danger of floating up, up and away…

More on this here

Tickets for this year's Isle of Wight Festival have sold out. The event takes place on the island between 10th and 11th June, and is set to include performances from the likes of Foo Fighters and Coldplay.

A statement from event organisers Solo reads: "We’re absolutely thrilled. Every year, the line up gets stronger and the tickets sell out faster. Now in our 5th year, we’re regarded as one of the biggest and best UK festivals, with many bands choosing to perform at The Isle of Wight Festival over any other. As always, we would like to thank everyone involved for their help in getting the Isle of Wight firmly on the festival map again."

Other bands performing include The Rakes, Dirty Pretty Things, The Kooks and Maxïmo Park.

WHAT: British songstress Natasha Bedingfield heats up Clear Channel Online Music & Radio’s stripped(TM )as the latest artist to join the exclusive in-studio performance series. Performing songs from her debut album, “Unwritten,” Natasha gets raw and real on the title track, as well as on “I Bruise Easily,” “These Words,” “Single” and a cover of Coldplay’s “The Scientist.” Her performance will be available exclusively on over 100 Clear Channel Radio station Web station sites.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 14, 2006

WHY: Check out an exclusive performance by Natasha Bedingfield

online and on-demand!

WHERE: Log on to strippedmusic.com to view live performances and

exclusive artist interviews of Natasha Bedingfield and other

stripped performers.

WHO: Clear Channel Online Music & Radio

Pictures from Coldplay's last performance of the recent leg of the US tour have been posted.

You can see Coldplay at Ford Pavillion, Tampa, FL here

[Thanks clockpolitiks]

As reported two days ago, the official Coldplay site has confirmed that EMI Music Canada and Rogers Wireless have connected to offer Canadians exclusive access to Coldplay ring tunes. From March 1st - April 15th, Rogers Wireless is the exclusive carrier for RealTrax ring tunes from X&Y.

In addition, fans who purchase these ring tunes will be automatically entered into a draw for a chance to win an all expenses paid trip to Sydney, Australia to see the band live in concert on June 26th. Rogers customers simply need to text COLDPLAY to 2222 to get the tunes.

The band has three more sold-out Canadian shows in March, and a highly anticipated JUNO performance in Halifax on April 2nd, airing on CTV.

After bringing the likes of Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Madonna and Elton John to Australia, promoter Michael Chugg has himself become a star.

Chugg's upcoming tours include Yellowcard, Coldplay, Beth Orton, Korn, Hothouse Flowers and Martha Wainright. He is rumoured to be close to finalising Robbie Williams' next tour and this week has met with agents for other big name acts. "We are talking to a few people," he said.

Chugg, who founded the Sydney-based Chugg Entertainment, today became the first Australian to be voted the world's best promoter at the 18th annual International Live Music Conference (ILMC) in London. "Australia's very hot right now, there's definitely a vibe there," Chugg said from London after winning the award."I'm really humbled by this award from a group of my peers I respect immensely."

More than 2500 industry professionals attending the ILMC voted Chugg the 2006 Promoter's Promoter. Many had worked with the Australian over the past 40 years. This is the first year non-Europeans were included in the awards.

"It gives credibility," he said of the award. "This is now the major music industry convention in the world. It is the heart and soul of the industry."

Chugg started in the music industry running dance parties in Tasmania before moving to Melbourne to work at the Consolidated Rock Agency. He went on to co-found the Frontier Touring Company with Michael Gudinski, working there for 25 years. In 2000, he opened Chugg Entertainment and has brought many of the world's biggest name music acts to Australia.

Over the years Chugg has been named International Promoter of the Year in 1997 by Performance Magazine, and Promoter of the Year in 2000 by Pollstar. In Billboard Magazine last year, Chugg Entertainment was polled as the world's fifth biggest promoter and was the only Australian outfit to make the list. Chugg said Australia was as popular a destination for touring artists as anywhere in the world.

"We have as many tours, international and Australian, on the road as they have in the UK," he said. "We have a lot of acts coming through."

While album sales were on the decline, Chugg said the live music sector was thriving. "Right now the live music industry has never been healthier, I can honestly say that," he said.

Source: theaustralian.news.com.au

Format: 12"

Price: £3.99

Release date: 6-4-2006

Availability: available for pre-order from hmv.co.uk

Number of Discs: 1

Catalogue Number: 12R6687

Label: PARLOPHONE

More on this here [thanks dsba05]

Nine UK acts nominated for the MTV Asia Awards 2006 in Thailand…

Franz Ferdinand and James Blunt are leading the British nominations charge at the MTV Asia Awards 2006 with two nods each.

In the international categories, the Scottish art-rockers are up for best rock act and best video (for Do You Want To) and Blunty has been nominated for best male and best breakthrough artist. It’s a good year for the UK contingent, picking up nine nominations in all.

Robbie Williams will compete with James in best male – although they’re up against Eminem, Kanye West and Ricky Martin. And Franz are joined by Coldplay and Oasis in the best rock category, with the Yanks represented by Green Day and My Chemical Romance.

Sadly no British women are up for best female artist, but in best pop Gorillaz are in the running and Simon Webbe joins James Blunt in the breakthrough artist field.

The MTV Asia Awards 2006 will be held in Bangkok’s state-of-the-art Siam Paragon entertainment complex on May 6.

German music awards also for Robbie Williams, Madonna and Bob Geldof

Madonna, who didn't attend the event, won the best female artist award with Williams taking the male version. In a recorded video message Williams saluted his fans and looked forward to this summer's football World Cup which Germany will host. British rock group Coldplay, also absent, won the best international group award.

Among the other laureates were US metal group System of a Down and Argentinian singer Semino Rossi. Geldof, a tireless campaigner for third world poverty relief and organiser of the Live Aid and Live 8 charity shows, received a lengthy ovation as he picked up his special prize. "When the representatives of industrialised nations meet next year at the G8 conference in Germany, it will be your turn," to support impoverished African nations, he told the assembled German artists.

The Echo prize for the best music DVD went to veteran Australian rockers AC/DC for "Family Jewels". Tokyo Hotel, a young German band took the new artists prize. Billy, Tom, Georg and Gustav, all aged 16-17, caused brief hysteria among the young girls in the audience when they took to the stage.

More on Coldplay's win here

Wednesday 25 January saw the second leg of Coldplay’s USA tour begin. But with the band due to play the Grammys in Los Angeles on 5 February this caused logistical problems with the equipment. So, to help out Hiwatt was called upon by the band’s British based management team to provide another bass rig for Guy Berryman. According to his guitar tech, Hoppy, Guy wants to use nothing else but his Hiwatts.

A similar problem also occurred when the band performed at the Brits held in Earl’s Court Arena on 15 February. But, Hiwatt was on hand to help out once again. Coldplay won two awards at the Brits.

Said Hiwatt Managing Director Richard Harrison: ‘To have a band as big as Coldplay using one of our bass rigs is extremely complimentary.’

Source: hiwatt.com

EMI Music Canada and Rogers Wireless have connected to offer Canadians exclusive access to Coldplay ring tunes. From March 1 to April 15, Rogers Wireless is the exclusive carrier for RealTrax ring tunes from Coldplay’s multi-platinum X&Y album.

In addition, fans who purchase these ring tunes will be automatically entered into a draw for a chance to win an all expense paid trip to Sydney, Australia to see Coldplay live in concert on June 26. Rogers customers simply need to text COLDPLAY to 2222 to get the tunes.

“Through this unique offer our customers can now personalize their MP3 cellphones with exclusive chart-topping hits by Coldplay,“ says John Boynton, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Wireless. “Rogers Wireless makes it easy for friends to Live out Loud with the latest innovations for your mobile life. This offer is the latest in a long line of exciting new offers and products from Rogers Wireless including Caller Ring Trax, RealTrax ring tunes and Podcasts.” “Taking Coldplay’s music to new platforms while giving their fans an exciting opportunity is a cornerstone of our strategy for the band.Supported by wireless, interactive, street, print and broadcast media, this innovative partnership promotes X&Y ringtunes and a high value contest via the nation’s largest wireless carrier,” says Andres Mendoza, Director of Marketing, Capitol/Virgin Music Canada. Coldplay’s current single “Talk” is a multi-format smash and was recently #1 at Rock Radio (according to Mediabase) for seven straight weeks. In February the band received a JUNO Nomination for Best International Album and won two Brit Awards for Best British Album (X&Y) and Best British Single (”Speed Of Sound”).

Still to come - Coldplay has three more sold-out Canadian shows in March, two in Toronto which they will be filming; and a highly anticipated JUNO performance in Halifax on April 2, airing on CTV. About EMI Music CanadaEMI Music Canada is a unit of EMI Music and one of the top global recorded music companies. As an owner of digital music content, EMI is extremely well positioned to capitalize on the rapid growth of digital music.

EMI artists span all musical tastes and genres, and owns one of the finest catalogues of recorded music ever assembled. The current roster features many important domestic and international artists, including some of the biggest names in the recorded music industry: Beastie Boys, Sarah Brightman, Coldplay, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Gorillaz, Iron Maiden, Janet Jackson, Norah Jones, Nigel Kennedy, k-os, Paul McCartney, Anne Murray, Nickelback, the Rolling Stones, Shaye, Stabilo, Joss Stone and Keith Urban. EMI Music Canada’s world-famous labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Nashville, EMI, EMI Classics, EMI CMG, Mute, Narada, Parlophone and Virgin. EMI Music Canada also boasts a strong Associated Labels division with labels such as: Aquarius Records, Arts & Crafts, Curb Records, Eagle Rock Entertainment, Marquis, Sanctuary Records Group and Warcon.

About Rogers WirelessRogers Wireless Inc. is Canada’s largest wireless voice and data communications services provider with offices in Canadian cities across the country, more than 5.9 million customers, and two powerful brands: Rogers Wireless and Fido. Rogers Wireless, which operates Canada’s largest integrated wireless voice and data network, providing advanced voice and wireless data solutions to customers from coast to coast, is Canada’s only carrier operating on the GSM/GPRS technology platform, the world standard for wireless communications technology. Rogers Wireless is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RG), a diversified Canadian communications and media company. For further information, please visit www.rogers.com.

Source: http://www.capitolmusic.ca

Coldplay (Music)

Starting: 08:00 on Sunday 12th March. Duration: 15 minutes

Showing on Q.

Top 10 (Music)

Starting: 10:00 on Tuesday 14th March. Duration: 1 hour

Showing on VH2.

Coldplay: MTV Live (Music)

Starting: 22:00 on Wednesday 15th March. Duration: 1 hour

Showing on MTV Hits.

Coldplay (Music)

Starting: 14:00 on Thursday 16th March. Duration: 1 hour

Showing on VH2.

Radio 1’s Chart Show with JK and Joel (Music)

JK and Joel count down the official chart, revealing the top twenty albums, the top ten downloads and the new official UK number one. In the Retro, a chance to see Coldplay live in Canada is up for grabs.

Starting: 16:00 on Sunday 19th March. Duration: 3 hours

Showing on BBC Radio One.

Coldplay: From The Beginning (Music)

Starting: 18:00 on Sunday 19th March. Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Showing on VH2.

Coldplay (Music)

Starting: 19:30 on Sunday 19th March. Duration: 30 minutes

Showing on VH2.

Coldplay (Music)

Starting: 20:00 on Sunday 19th March. Duration: 1 hour

Showing on VH2.

Coldplay Live (Music)

Starting: 21:00 on Sunday 19th March. Duration: 1 hour

Showing on VH2.

Coldplay: From The Beginning (Music)

Starting: 22:00 on Sunday 19th March. Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Showing on VH2.

- play an additional b-side towards the beginning, like Pour Me or Proof

- for a nice moment to add to the DVD, they should play the original version of Talk

- of course, can't close the DVD show without Life is for Living

--------------------------------------------------------------

In:

Shiver, Trouble (electric), Rush Of Blood, Amsterdam, Low

Out:

X&Y, How You See The World, Ring Of Fire, Green Eyes/Trouble in acoustic set, just have Til Kingdom Come, Swallowed/Hardest Part (Please!)

--------------------------------------------------------------

I HIGHLY doubt there'll be any changes for the DVD. It's supposed to represent the tour as a whole. The set hasn't changed THAT much, really, so they won't do anything special just for the DVD. At least I don't think...

--------------------------------------------------------------

Add your wishlist here

Coldplay gave an exclusive performance of 'What If', pre-recorded for CD:UK, which was shown on UK television earlier today.

You can download an audio [video to follow] of the performance here

Ashley Best has made a dance remix of Chris Martins 'Cornflake Door' as sung last month on the Radio 1 show.

I got a house with some cheese windows...

Full details and download links here

Good news for UK fans, the video for 'The Hardest Part', as filmed in St Petersburg, will be shown on Wednesday 22nd March at 11:05 on Channel 4 [uK].

Other Coldplay TV listings:

Gonzo with Zane Lowe [featuring Coldplay]

Fri 10. March 2006 19.00 on MTV 2

CD:UK (Music)

Starting: 12:30 on Saturday 11th March. Duration: 1 hour

Showing on all ITV Regions/Scottish.

Coldplay have pre-recorded ‘What If’ for ITV’s CD:UK and it will be transmitted on Saturday 11th March. Please note that the show is on at the later time of 12.30pm this coming Saturday (March 11th) - not the usual time of 11.30am.

VH1 - Saturday, March 11 - "Storytellers Mini-Block"

From Coldplay to Bruce Springsteen, check out your favorite artists live

and unplugged. (Begins at 9:00 p.m.)

More on this here

N.B. Coldplay Sunday Mar. 12 12/11c AM

British rock star Chris Martin leapt onto the Washington stage, driving screaming fans wild as he belted out one crowd-pleasing hit after another.

As dazzling lights and glitter burst around the charismatic Coldplay frontman, captivated fans could have been forgiven for missing the "Make Trade Fair" logo inscribed on the singer's piano at the concert.

But if the hundreds of signatures collected by Oxfam volunteers during the Washington show this month were any measure, the message was not lost.While using celebrities to front charitable campaigns is not new -- the 1985 "Live Aid" concerts for Ethiopian famine victims made it cool to care -- putting famous faces to work on dry-as-dust trade issues is a fresh idea.

Movie stars Brad Pitt and Heath Ledger are among those who have expressed an interest in trade and the developing world.

And with global trade talks going down to the wire before a year-end deadline for a deal, the big names may multiply.

"Having Chris Martin and Coldplay be frontmen for 'Make Trade Fair' has elevated the trade debate (and) piqued people's interest. Politicians realize the world is watching," said Oxfam spokeswoman Lyndsay Cruz.

The current Doha round of trade talks between nearly 150 member countries of the World Trade Organization has limped along for 4 1/2 years.

So far, little progress has been made on a pact to lift millions out of poverty and boost the world economy by slashing subsidies and tariffs that hobble international trade.

But now there is new urgency: in mid-2007, U.S. President George W. Bush is due to lose his power to approve trade deals with minimal congressional involvement, which would make any eventual deal agreed after then harder to ratify.

So the world's trade ministers are hastily scheduling extra meetings and urging their peers to take action. Meanwhile, development agencies are pressing celebrities into service.

In the past month, lobbyists in Washington have been abuzz with talk that Irish rocker Bono -- fresh from a successful campaign to urge world leaders to cut developing world debt -- would take on the WTO, adding his voice to numerous agencies pushing rich nations to make more concessions and cut a deal.

Jamie Drummond, executive director for Bono's lobby organization DATA -- Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa -- said the group was planning a "lot of stuff," but gave no details.

"Sometimes it's when you get celebrities to get engaged in the details of what is normally considered boring ... and the public get engaged -- and you can actually make change happen," Drummond said.

"When even a celebrity can get some arcane part of trade policy legislation, then the congressmen and the Brussels-based bureaucrats had better get it too," he added, referring to the European Union headquarters.

But not everyone is convinced that bringing famous faces into the debate is the best way to get fast results for the world's poorest countries.

EXPLOITING FAME?

The WTO deal being discussed is a complex tangle of formulas and trade-offs, with countries at different stages of development bringing their own domestic pressures to the mix. Reducing it to a catchy sound-bite that an actor or singer can trot out does the process an injustice, some say.

"These stars are extremely well intentioned and think charities must have exactly the right attitudes -- but the charities are exploiting them," said Jagdish Bhagwati, professor of economics and law at Colombia University and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Bhagwati also accused some aid groups of over-simplifying the trade debate and singled out Oxfam, which he said was wrong to ask rich nations to liberalize while insisting developing countries should not have to.

"When they say that subsidies should be removed, they do not distinguish between those which don't distort trade (and those which do). So they are muddying up the debate," he added.

Nonetheless, marketing experts say that in today's celebrity-obsessed world, endorsement of a simple message by someone who appears regularly in People magazine is vital. And the message need just be enough to start the public thinking.

"You have to distill and reduce your message to the point that it becomes a good headline. On the basis of that good headline, you hope that people will be intrigued to dig further," said John Barker, president of New York advertising firm DZP Marketing Communications.

"Without a famous face to front their cause, these organizations lack media attention, glamour and, with the more everyday contributor, credibility."

Source: washingtonpost.com

From Coldplay's latest gig at the Ford Pavilion, Tampa, FL - (rescheduled date for postponed 14th September 2005 concert), watch a 10 minute clip featuring all the gig favourites, including Yellow, The Scientist, Talk, Swallowed In The Sea, Clocks, Politik, Square One, Fix You and more... here

[Thanks ISawSparks06]

With her supporting run on Coldplay's current tour recently wrapped, Fiona Apple has begun rolling out dates for another headlining tour, with three shows announced thus far. The dates are:

May 6th in West Palm Beach, Florida

May 7th in Orlando, Florida

May 9th in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Read more general music news here

In case any of you havent heard this yet, they filmed the video last friday in the Florida city of St Petersburg. I live in st pete, and I work only blocks away from where they filmed it. If ony I knew they were there last friday. I would have tried to see them.

Tour Journal: "Hardest Part" Video Shoot.

"Making the Video"

"Hardest Part Video Shoot"

3rdMarch, 2006

The guys are making the video for "The Hardest Part" today. We arrive at the shoot early in the afternoon. The "Talk" video was shot in a grey warehouse in West London. Todays shoot, is far more glam, being located in a yacht marina in downtown St Petersburg. Its a more performance based video than the last one, but, without giving too much away, there's a pretty major twist...

Read the full story here [thanks clockpolitiks]

The sensitive rockers from the other side of the pond are playing March 19th at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Even if school starts up the next day, don’t worry about a late night. Remember, this is Coldplay we’re talking about. The concert should be pretty chill, and songs like “Clocks” and “The Scientist” will help ease you back into a scholastic frame of mind.

Seats still are available, but they could go quick if you don’t get some friends together pronto. Tickets are $37.50 to $77.50, plus fees, and available through Ticketmaster at 920-731-5000, www.ticketmaster.com, Marshall Field’s in the Fox River Mall and Piggly Wiggly store on Northland Avenue in Appleton.

Cost guesstimate: Depends on where you sit, but figure between $150 and $250 for a group’s worth of tickets, gas, and parking.

Source: postcrescent.com

The Pub that launched rock sensations Coldplay and Suede is set to be turned into flats - to the dismay of local residents.

The Falcon Pub, Royal College Street, Camden, which had held rock gigs on its premises since the early 1970s, closed down three years ago to make way for a community centre - but locals had hoped that it would one day be reverted back to its former glory.

Coldplay had their breakthrough there on December 7 1998, after being spotted by record producer Simon Williams and Radio One DJ Steve Lamacq, who launched them into the spotlight.Now, if planning permission is given to engineering company Robert Wynter and Partners LTD, the building will be converted into three new apartments. The Falcon is associated with a number of famous names who would use the pub's stage as a testing ground for their material.

On a tour of universities in 1992, a little-known band called Suede stopped off in Camden to entertain punters at the Falcon. A year later their self-titled debut album became the fastest selling album in UK history.

Builder Tommy Squires, 47, who used to drink at the Falcon, said: "It was originally a theatre pub but the started getting heavy metal bands in there about 30 years ago. "Camden has always been a place for live music and by turning pubs into flats you're changing the social structure of the area. Local pubs are being replaced by big chains and can't afford the growing beer prices. It breaks down the community because residents don't have anywhere to socialise. There are only a few locals left now and it's happening so rapidly. Soon there won't be any left.

Source: camdenchronicle.co.uk

Halifax native Buck 65, R&B newcomer Divine Brown and indie soul star Massari are the final acts announced for the April 2nd Junos in Halifax.

The group joins previously announced performers Coldplay, Black Eyed Peas, Bryan Adams, Michael Buble, Nickelback, Bedouin Soundclash, Broken Social Scene and Hedley.

The Junos will be broadcast (7-9 p.m., CTV) from the Halifax Metro Centre with Pamela Anderson as host. There is also an eTalk red carpet pre-show beginning at 6:30 p.m.

More on this here

Festival fever is already setting in as our summer diaries start to fill up, report mirror.co.uk.

The line-up for Carling 24 in London on April 28 and 29 was announced yesterday with Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, Ordinary Boys, Dir ty Pretty Things and Ian Brown already confirmed. Log on to carling.com at 10am next Tuesday for tickets.

Meanwhile, Coldplay have announced they will play their only live show in Europe this summer at the Isle of Wight Festival on June 11, with the Foo Fighters headlining on June 10. Now, where are those wellies...

Music show debut to be highlight of expanded festival

One of the highlights of next month’s Red Stick International Animation Festival will be the debut of SonicVision, a groundbreaking digitally animated alternative music show featuring music from Radiohead, U2, David Bowie and Coldplay, at the Louisiana Art and Science Museum.

A video-game segment will target gaming enthusiasts and those looking to develop careers or businesses in animation. Panels of experts in both animation and video games will discuss the future of animation on April 20 at the Shaw Center’s Manship Theatre.Other events include:

Family oriented Cartoon-A-Palooza at 10 a.m. April 22, at the Louisiana Art and Science Museum. Children can watch Saturday morning cartoons in their pajamas while eating a continental breakfast donated by IHOP. Cartoon-A-Palooza is free and open to the public. No advance registration is necessary.

The Red Stick Animation Awards ceremony at 7 p.m. April 22. The ceremony will showcase some of the best animation at the festival. All nominated short films will be screened, and awards will be presented in student and professional competitions in the categories of 3D animation, 2D animation, abstract animation and animation for games.

Scientific visualization and animation on April 20. Much of today’s research in biology, genetics, physics and astronomy is dependent on animation and supercomputer-rendered modeling, the same type of technology used to create animated films such as “Shrek.”

For information, registration, speaker bios and a detailed version of the schedule of events visit http://www.redstickfestival.org, or call (225) 578-8903.

Source: www.2theadvocate.com