Coldplay's X&Y has been certified triple-platinum for selling more than 300,000 copies in Canada since last year, but the British band have a lot more in store for Canadian fans in 2006.

You can now visit the Canadian iTunes Music Store to download any or all of the six songs that the group performed on the PBS television program Austin City Limits in December. "Square One" and "X&Y," which didn't make it to the TV show, are also available.

Coldplay's current single, "Talk," has hit #1 on the Canadian rock and modern rock radio charts. Three new mixes of the song from The Thin White Duke, Francois K and Junkie XL will be made available at the iTunes store on February 7.Coldplay performed two sold-out shows in Vancouver last month and will have three more sellouts on their hands in Ottawa and Toronto next month. After warming up with televised performances at the Grammy and Brit Awards shows this month, Coldplay will appear on CTV's Juno Awards broadcast on April 2.

The British pop-rockers have built a strong Canadian fan base this decade. Their Parachutes debut went double-platinum, 2002's A Rush Of Blood To The Head was certified quadruple-platinum and their Live 2003 DVD has sold more than 80,000 units.

Here are Coldplay's sold-out Canadian dates:

March 17 Ottawa, ON @ Scotiabank Place

March 22-23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre

Here's the track list for the Austin City Limits show that's available now from iTunes Canada:

"Square One"

"Yellow"

"Speed Of Sound"

"X&Y"

"Til Kingdome Come"

"Clocks"

"Talk"

"Fix You"

Source: http://www.chartattack.com

Although the setlist changed little on this second North American leg of the British band Coldplay's "Twisted Logic" tour, there was something postively giddy about frontman Chris Martin during the quartet's well-received 90-minute soldout set.

Martin, perhaps becoming better known than his movie star wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, joked about his new long hair and beard, telling them that his manager said he looked like one of the Bee Gees. This prompted a couple of improvisations from the brother's Gibb's "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack thrown into a couple of the night's 17 songs, which drew heavily from the latest disc, "X&Y," but included most of the greatest hits of the previous two discs, "Parachutes" and "A Rush of Blood to the Head."

Martin also joked about having to make his first visit to San Jose special, "like the first time having sex. Only the first time I had sex, it didn't last 45 minutes with an encore."

Read the full review here

Although the setlist changed little on this second North American leg of the British band Coldplay's "Twisted Logic" tour, there was something postively giddy about frontman Chris Martin during the quartet's well-received 90-minute soldout set.

Martin, perhaps becoming better known than his movie star wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, joked about his new long hair and beard, telling them that his manager said he looked like one of the Bee Gees. This prompted a couple of improvisations from the brother's Gibb's "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack thrown into a couple of the night's 17 songs, which drew heavily from the latest disc, "X&Y," but included most of the greatest hits of the previous two discs, "Parachutes" and "A Rush of Blood to the Head."

Martin also joked about having to make his first visit to San Jose special, "like the first time having sex. Only the first time I had sex, it didn't last 45 minutes with an encore."

Read the full review here

Chris Martin meant well by sprinting into Arco Arena's audience. The singer must've figured that was the perfect way to bring Coldplay's music to the people.

Bad idea. Once he jumped into the arena's bottom tier, singing bits from "In My Place," Martin was nearly turned into rock star mincemeat by the grabbing hands around him. He's lucky he made it out of the mob with his shirt and shoes intact.

Coldplay is just too big now to get so cozy with the crowd. Someone might get their eye poked out - or worse, lose a "Twisted Logic Tour" T-shirt that just set them back $35.

Read the full article here

Coldplay have never been shy about their grand ambition.

From the moment that "Yellow" dominated rock radio charts in 2001, the quartet, whether by instinct or intent, have taken a laserlike approach to becoming the world's biggest rock band. And with deference to U2, which has a robust, 25-year catalog of hits to fall back on, Coldplay has done just that, selling 4.5 million copies of their latest album, X&Y (which sold the most albums worldwide in 2005).

That grandeur--and Coldplay's delight in it--was on full display for all of their 90-minute show at the Oakland Arena Tuesday night.

Read all the reviews here

Coldplay in Profile (Music)

Starting: 23:50 on Wednesday 1st February. Duration: 30 minutes

Showing on Scottish. and ITV1

Coldplay in Profile (Music)

Starting: 23:50 on Wednesday 1st February. Duration: 30 minutes

Showing on Grampian.

Oasis vs. Coldplay (Entertainment)

Starting: 09:00 on Thursday 2nd February. Duration: 1 hour

Showing on VH2.

100 Greatest 21st Century Anthems (Music)

Starting: 15:00 on Saturday 4th February. Duration: 3 hours

Showing on VH2.

100 Greatest 21st Century Anthems (Music)

Starting: 18:00 on Saturday 4th February. Duration: 6 hours

Showing on VH2.

100 Greatest 21st Century Anthems (Music)

Starting: 09:00 on Sunday 5th February. Duration: 3 hours

Showing on VH2.

100 Greatest 21st Century Anthems (Music)

Starting: 12:00 on Sunday 5th February. Duration: 6 hours

Showing on VH2.

Coldplay vs. REM (Music)

Starting: 09:00 on Tuesday 7th February. Duration: 1 hour

Showing on VH2.

More on this here

The Grammy Awards 2006 Live

Germany:

February 9th, Thursday 02:00 Pro 7

France:

February 9th, Thursday 02:00 W9

Italy:

February 9th, Thursday 02:00 Jimmy

——————————————————————————

The Grammy Awards 2006 Highlights

UK:

February 9th, Thursday 21:00 ITV 2

February 11th, Saturday 14:50 ITV2

Ireland:

February 14th, Tuesday 21:00 TV3

Germany:

February 9th, Thursday 23:45 Pro 7

France:

February 10th, Friday 13:40 W9

February 11th, Saturday 20:50 W9

February 12th, Sunday 19:05 W9

Italy:

February 10th, Friday 21:00 Jimmy

February 10th, Friday 22:10 Jimmy

February 11th, Saturday 14:50 Jimmy

February 11th, Saturday 16:00 Jimmy

[Thanks Larry]

Yesterday we reported that R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe will release a charity EP featuring six versions of a song, "In the Sun," which the singer hopes will remind the public about the continued suffering of survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Including one version, a duet with Coldplay's Chris Martin.

The duet with Coldplay’s Chris Martin will premiere on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy on February 5th (following the Super Bowl–check local listings for air times) and, along with the other five versions, will be made available for digital download in an EP format exclusively through iTunes on February 5th at 11PM EST. As mentioned, all proceeds will go directly to Mercy Corps via the In The Sun Foundation, to aid those in the Gulf Coast affected by the August tragedy.Lyrics

I picture you in the sun wondering what went wrong

And falling down on your knees asking for sympathy

And being caught in between all you wish for and all you seen

And trying to find anything you can feel that you can believe in

May God’s love be with you

Always

May God’s love be with you

I know i would apologize if i could see your eyes

‘Cause when you showed me myself i became someone else

But i was caught in between all you wish for and all you need

I picture you fast asleep

A nightmare comes

You can’t keep awake

May God’s love be with you

Always

May God’s love be with you

‘Cause if i find

If i find my own way

How much will i find

If i find

If i find my own way

How much will i find

You

I don’t know anymore

What it’s for

I’m not even sure

If there is anyone who is in the sun

Will you help me to understand

‘Cause i been caught in between all I wish for and all I need

Maybe you’re not even sure what it’s for

Any more than me

May God’s love be with you

Always

May God’s love be with you

The song will also premiering on Greys Anatomy [love that show] on February 5th (following the Super Bowl–check local listings for air times).

In the sun foundation.org is the home of a very special project launched by R.E.M.’s lead singer, Michael Stipe, in response to the ongoing hardship experienced by thousands of residents of the Gulf Coast. More than five months later, many are still displaced by the devastating effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita with no relief imminent, and yet, the news cycle has moved on, taking our focus, as a nation, away from something which still should be at the center of our attention. In this spirit, Stipe felt moved to join others who have remained dedicated to the cause, reminding the public in his own way, through music, that there is still an incredible amount of work to be done: “Things are not fine. The storm is still impacting people’s lives in very real ways and many have been left desperate. I want to remind each of us that as humans, and certainly as Americans, it is our responsibility to help those in need… I had to do something as a public figure. The one thing I can do is sing, and it’s probably the best way to get people to pay attention.” To that end, Stipe will release a charity EP featuring six versions of a song, “In the Sun,” which the singer hopes will remind the public of the continued suffering of survivors of Hurricane Katrina. All proceeds will go directly to Mercy Corps, an international humanitarian agency, via the In The Sun Foundation, to aid those in the Gulf Coast affected by the August tragedy. “No matter where you go in the world, people are the best agents of their own recovery in situations like this,” said Mercy Corps CEO Neal Keny-Guyer. “Michael and everyone he mobilizes to buy the song are investing in the people of the Gulf Coast, giving them the resources they need to get back on their feet.”

With music as his preferred medium, Stipe chose to cover the aforementioned song, “In the Sun,” a powerful, anthemic ballad written by singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur, whom he became aware of through R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. “The first time Joseph and I spoke, he was in New Orleans,” Stipe says, “and I had to call a New Orleans number to reach him to have that first conversation. When I saw what happened with Katrina, ‘In the Sun’ came to mind. He writes from a very deep, intuitive place.”

When it came time to record, it wasn’t hard for Stipe to recruit the artists who participated in the project. Musician/producer/remixer James Iha [ex-Smashing Pumpkins] recorded the music and produced the track at Stratosphere Sound Studio in New York City, finding tremendous support from many talented musicians and technicians, including Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger, who plays piano on the track. In addition to a duet with Coldplay’s Chris Martin, singer Justin Timberlake and will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas) contributed a remix of the song. “Everyone who has worked on the “In The Sun” project, without exception,” says Stipe, “was happy to contribute their time, talents, and expertise, free of charge. I realized that so many people wanted to do something, anything, towards helping the Gulf Coast, and this presented them with a way to do just that. The generosity is unparalleled.”

“Disasters like this require a long-term commitment to recovery,” said Mercy Corps’ Keny-Guyer, “and Michael is serving a very important need by reminding the public that this reconstruction effort is going to take years, not months.”

Having Coldplay singer Chris Martin pop round to your flat to watch TV isn't something that happens to most people.

But for Jules Segal, being with celebrities is becoming almost passé. He is on first-name terms with everyone from Cherie Blair to Jonathan Ross and a host of other famous names, including Lawrence Dallaglio, George Galloway, Charles Kennedy and Lord Kinnock.

So far, the highlight of his hunt has been his unexpected meeting with Chris Martin. Mr Segal said: "Chris lives pretty near and a friend who works in music publishing passed on my letter. Apparently, Chris was really interested in the idea and likes these kind of silly bets, so he popped round on his way home. It was all very bizarre, especially as we then spotted the TV news coverage of the Thames whale, so we were sat round my kitchen table watching."And if anybody doubts that the 27-year-old publishing assistant from Belsize Park really is moving in such exalted circles - he has the photos. Mr Segal has set himself the task of being photographed with celebrities to raise money for the RNIB. His website is attracting thousands of visitors. It is the result of a bet with a friend. He must meet 100 out of 500 named celebrities within six months and prove it by posting a photo of each on the site.

His rule is that each celebrity must be approached with a polite letter. He said: "I can't just wait outside a studio but I'm offering to meet them whenever and wherever is convenient at my own expense."

So far, he has met 68 famous people but if he fails to hit the 100 target he will have to complete a series of forfeits, including cleaning his friend's house and buying him a satellite TV subscription. However, with only two weeks to go, Mr Segal is now coming to terms with the fact he will probably lose.

He said: "Realistically, I'm not going to do this. I've already used all my holiday and money. It's cost me a fortune and my bank won't extend my overdraft."

Mementos from each celebrity will be auctioned. Mr Segal said: "I've never done anything for charity and thought I should, so hopefully we can raise some money through the auction."

http://www.greetingthe500.typepad.com/

Lloyd Grove's Lowdown: A Public show of glitterati, onstage & off grove Ah, the roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd!

The crowd celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Public Theater Monday night smelled like showbiz aristocracy. Performing or sitting in the A-list audience at the City Center were Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tony Kushner, Elaine Stritch, Eartha Kitt, Mike Nichols, Ben Stiller and Sam Rockwell — who sat with his date in the 16th row, right beside Lowdown.

"It's like Phil [Hoffman] is on the march for the Oscar," Rockwell proudly told his petite blond companion, who commiserated with him about how he recently bought tickets to another show for a friend who didn't reimburse him. I mean, give me the $100! It's a Broadway show," Rockwell complained. "I know," his date said soothingly. "It's like people think you get this stuff for free now."

After Rockwell vented about how he and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin had just quit smoking [Chris never smoked in the first place - ed.] — "It's hard to stop something you've been doing since you were 15" — she asked with obvious concern: "Are you having a dark night?"

"No," Rockwell insisted. He certainly shouldn't have been. It was a great evening.

Read the full article here

Simon Cowell's operatic quartet Il Divo shot straight to number one in the US album charts today.

Their second album, Ancora, knocked Jamie Foxx off the top of the Billboard Top 100. The US market is notoriously difficult to crack for British recording artists. Only a small group, including the Beatles, Elton John, U2, Led Zeppelin and Coldplay, have gone straight to number one.

Source: http://u.tv/

Investors are to be offered the chance to invest in live music gigs through a novel investment vehicle launched today.

With a board including Live Aid and Live 8 promoter Harvey Goldsmith, Eric Clapton’s manager Michael Eaton and Frank Presland, who manages Elton John and James Blunt, Edge Performance is looking to raise £30m under the venture capital trust scheme.

Former Emap chairman Sir Robin Miller will chair the group. Edge has set up agreements with two of the main concert promoters in this country representing Britney Spears, Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, Take That, Oasis, Dido, Coldplay and Joss Stone.

The minimum investment level is £5000.

Source: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe will release a charity EP featuring six versions of a song, "In the Sun," which the singer hopes will remind the public about the continued suffering of survivors of Hurricane Katrina. One version, a duet with Coldplay's Chris Martin, will premiere on the "Grey's Anatomy" post Super Bowl episode on February 5th and then will be made available for digital download exclusively through the iTunes Music Store the following day. All proceeds will go directly to Mercy Corps, via the In The Sun Foundation, to aid those in the Gulf Coast affected by the August tragedy.

"The news cycle has moved on and I don't want the public to forget about those who were affected by Katrina or to believe that everything is fine now," says Stipe, a Georgia native with family roots in the Gulf region. "Things are not fine. The storm is still impacting people's lives in very real ways and many have been left desperate. I want to remind each of us that as humans, and certainly as Americans, it is our responsibility to help those in need." "Disasters like this require a long-term commitment to recovery," said Mercy Corps CEO Neal Keny-Guyer. "Michael is serving a very important need by reminding the public that this reconstruction effort is going to take years, not months."

To that end, Stipe chose to cover a powerful, anthemic ballad written by singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur, whom he became aware of through R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. "The first time Joseph and I spoke, he was in New Orleans," Stipe says, "and I had to call a New Orleans number to reach him to have that first conversation. When I saw what happened with Katrina, 'In the Sun' came to mind. He writes from a very deep, intuitive place."

When it came time to record, it wasn't hard for Stipe to recruit the artists who participated in the project. In addition to the duet with Coldplay's Chris Martin, Justin Timberlake and will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas) contributed a remix of the song that will also be available for download. Also involved were Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger, who plays piano, and former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, who produced the song with Stipe and Arthur at Stratosphere Sound studio in New York City.

"In The Sun" will make its primetime network debut on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," one of the most-watched television shows of the season. Produced by Touchstone Television, "Grey's Anatomy" is a medical drama about young interns struggling to become doctors and doctors struggling to remain human. "We feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to debut this amazing piece of music on our Super Bowl episode of 'Grey's Anatomy.' It is all the more gratifying that the song's proceeds are going to such a worthy cause," says Executive Producer Betsy Beers.

In addition to the EP's release, a short film, also entitled "In the Sun," will air on the Sundance Channel this spring. It features interviews with Stipe, Martin, Arthur, will.i.am, Iha, historian Douglas Brinkley, hurricane survivors still trying to pick up the pieces of their lives, and many of the volunteers trying to help them do it. The film, which was directed by noted photographer and Grammy-nominated video director Danny Clinch, also includes original footage of the current state of the devastation shot over three days in early January. It was produced by cYclops LLC and 3 on the Tree Productions for Stipe's In The Sun Foundation and made possible by the Sundance Channel.

Wanting to do his part to help residents of the Gulf Coast was natural for the Decatur, Georgia-born Stipe. Not only has R.E.M spent a lot of time in New Orleans, but the band's most beloved and best-selling album, "Automatic For the People," was recorded there. "It's a city that has its own legend," he says. "It's a unique place, not only to this country but to the world. I had to do something as a Southerner. I had to do something as a public figure. The one thing I can do is sing, and it's probably the best way to get people to pay attention."

TRACKLISTING

1. Michael Stipe - In the Sun (Gulf Coast Relief) (Feat. Chris Martin)

2. Michael Stipe - In the Sun (JAW Breakers Remix) (Feat. Chris Martin,

Mix by Justin Timberlake and will.i.am)

3. Michael Stipe - In the Sun (Feat. Joseph Arthur)

4. Michael Stipe - In the Sun (Michael Stipe)

5. Michael Stipe - In the Sun (w/ Coldplay) (Recorded Live at Austin City

Limits)

6. Michael Stipe - In the Sun (Free Acoustic Couch Rehearsal) (Michael

Stipe/Joseph Arthur)

Radio station LIVE 105 (105.3 FM), which, with the loss of San Jose's KCNL-FM, is the only modern rock station left on the dial, is spending the week saluting San Jose and encouraging South Bay fans to tune in.

On Monday, music director Aaron Axelson broadcast a noon show live from San Jose's new club, Smoke, sharing the deejay duties with a San Francisco band, the Lovemakers. On Tuesday evening, host Madden did a show from San Jose's Blank Club.

Today and tonight, the station hosts Coldplay, from San Jose's HP Pavilion, broadcasting live from the Pavilion and giving away front-row tickets to the concert at Smoke (152 Post St.) from 5-7 p.m.On Thursday, Ally hosts a live morning show with the band Hard-Fi from the Blank Club (44 S. Almaden Ave.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free; first come, first served.

And Friday, the new morning show, which has replaced Howard Stern, broadcasts live from the Mission Ale House, (97 E. Santa Clara St.), 5:30-10 a.m. This is your chance to meet hosts Woody, Toney and Ravey.

This is a big week for live music in San Jose, with the non-alternative Lenny Kravitz and Aerosmith hitting HP Pavilion on Friday. There are tickets left on the side of the stage and behind it, which Bill Graham Productions spokesman Aaron Siuda says are considered obstructed-view, but those seats aren't bad at all.

``You can see the musicians. You just miss some of the video screens,'' Siuda says. Hey, I'd rather sit there than in those luxury boxes. You might as well be in Cleveland if you are watching the show up there.

There are also plenty of seats ($35-$125) left for Kravitz and Aerosmith at Oakland Arena on Feb. 8. Check www.ticketmaster.com.

BGP is also giving local artists their first chance to design one of those famous concert posters, for the Feb. 26 show by heavy metallers KORN at the Event Center at San Jose State. Winners will get the poster signed by the band and have it distributed to everyone attending the show, which also features Mudvayne and 10 Years.

Entries have to be digital, with digital and hard copies sent to KORN/BGP Poster Contest: 107.7 The Bone, 55 Hawthorne #1000, San Francisco, CA 94105. The deadline is Feb. 10.

For rules and requirements check out my blog at www.mercextra .com/aei.

This hurts: On Feb. 9, you have to decide between Derek Trucks at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz, or the Ford Brothers Blues Band, with Mark, Pat and Robben Ford, at Moe's Alley. Why does everything great have to be the same night? Last Monday, it was Prince at the Fillmore and Willie Nelson at the Catalyst.

You can catch guitar phenom Trucks on Friday at San Francisco's Independent.

Former Stray Cat Lee Rocker plays Moe's on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. for $12/$14, celebrating the release of his new CD.

It's early for St. Pat's, but Ireland's Lunasa sounds good any time of year. The band, which mixes traditional Celtic music with heavy bass and groove, plays Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz on Tuesday for $19. Call (831) 464-2128 or (408) 847-6982 for tickets.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com

Grammy voters are wack. Coldplay (tickets | music) is arguably today's most important rock band, currently touring in support of arguably the best mainstream rock record of last year, and the group deserves to go head-to-head with the likes of Kanye West and Mariah Carey in the major categories.

Coldplay, which is nominated for three trophies in the rock field, certainly came across like a band for the ages during its Monday night (1/30) concert at Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA.

The quartet delivered a thrilling performance during the first third of a three-night trip through Northern California. One might assume that supply would outweigh demand, given that the band was playing three dates at three venues that were all within roughly 120 miles of each other. Yet, the Sacramento date drew a full house, and the concerts in Oakland (1/31) and San Jose (2/1) were also expected to do big business.

Just one of several reviews added here

Coldplay take on Texas in this exclusive video performance filmed in December, 2005 as part of the acclaimed PBS program, Austin City Limits. Coldplay have long been praised for their live shows, where they effectively straddle the world of anthemic pop and something grander [critics might even say “important.”]

This is all on display as the band and its increasingly charismatic frontman, Chris Martin, run through tracks like “Clocks and “Speed of Sound”. This live session also includes two cuts that didn’t air on television [”Square One”, “X&Y”]

More on this here

More reviews of Coldplay's Sacramento gig here

Pictures added to the gallery here

Discussion threads (including more reviews and pictures) here and here

COLDPLAY IN CONCERT

Live & Exclusive

Recording: Monday 13 February On-air: Saturday 4 March

Coldplay perform in an exclusive concert for Radio 2. Find out how you can win tickets below. Don't miss this fabulous opportunity to see Coldplay in a live and exclusive concert for Radio 2 at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London on Monday 13 February. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning tickets to the concert is answer the following question correctly:

What was Coldplay's original band name?

A: The Quarry Men

B: Starfish

C: Frantic Elevators

To enter, text COLD plus A, B or C to 83222, or call 09011 390 955.

Please note: calls cost 50p. 25p goes to BBC Children in Need. Mobiles and other networks may vary. Texts cost 50p plus standard network rate.

The competition closes at midnight on Sunday 5 February. Only one competition entry per person will be accepted and transport to and from the event is not included in the prize. Winners will be chosen at random from all correct entries received.

More on this here [Thanks DefDazz]

Lights, numbers, action. When Britain's Coldplay took the stage Monday night, singer Chris Martin cut a shadowy figure, his form silhouetted against a giant LED display of rapidly blinking digits that resembled a bedside alarm clock gone berserk.

For fans, it proved to be a welcome wake-up call and when Martin - a.k.a. Mr. Gwyneth Paltrow - started singing "Square One" it was clear that his sweet, smoky voice was more than capable of outshining any gimmicky stage show.

By the time Coldplay jumped into "Yellow" -accompanied by a shower of bright yellow balloons, most of the crowd was on its feet, swaying in time to the melodic rocker.

Read the full reviews here

Dave Grohl's Foo Fighters, once described by bassist Nate Mendel as an "accidental" band, now have ten years under their belt, are playing bigger shows than ever and are up for five Grammys for their 2-disc opus, "In Your Honor."

With power chords, rock riffs and a fun-loving attitude that would have been unthinkable to Grohl's prior band - Nirvana - the Foo Fighters have become an unlikely torchbearer for arena-sized rock 'n' roll.

The ambitious "In Your Honor" - half rock and half acoustic - could make Grammy night an eventful evening for the band, but Grohl, speaking by phone from Paris, says whether you walk out with a trophy or not, "it's mainly for the fam."

AP: In other categories you're up against Neil Young, U2, the Rolling Stones ...

GROHL: Dude, the competition is stiff. I didn't even know who else was in our category. ... We're clearly the underdog. ... We might stand alongside Coldplay (the other best rock album nominee), but that's about it. That's where that line is drawn.

Coldplay is championing the Make Trade Fair campaign during the second leg of their "Twisted Logic" tour, January through April 2006. The concerts feature a call to sign Oxfam’s Big Noise petition calling on world leaders to change trade rules that deny millions of farmers around the world the benefits of trade.

"Economically, unfair trade will benefit nobody in the long run, as poorer countries will be bled totally dry and will become unable to produce anything," said Coldplay's front man, Chris Martin.

Worldwide, the Big Noise petition has gathered over 17 million signatures, many from those living in developing countries such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Zambia. Oxfam delivered the Big Noise to world trade ministers in December at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong.Coldplay's Chris Martin has witnessed firsthand the crippling effects of unfair trade rules on small farmers after traveling to both Ghana and Haiti with Oxfam. He began working with Oxfam in 2002 and has since participated in a number of high profile moments in the campaign, including an international ad campaign and delivering the Big Noise petition to world leaders.

"How on earth could anybody stand in a field with these people and say that it's the right thing to do to dump their excess produce cheaply on a third world country? It's beyond me," said Martin. "But the truth is, the people responsible haven't talked to the farmers in the areas affected."

Trade has the power to lift millions of people out of poverty but instead millions are struggling because of the current unfair trading system.

Make Trade Fair volunteers will be at each show signing up supporters and handing out more information on the Make Trade Fair campaign.

Source: http://releases.usnewswire.com

Coldplay’s third album on Parlophone ‘X&Y’, which topped the charts in 32 countries, received the Best Album award at the MSN Music Download Awards 2005, taking almost a third of the votes.

Newcomer KT Tunstall’s ‘Eye To The Telescope’ from EMI Music UK label Relentless Records came second while Gorillaz’s ‘Demon Days’, also from Parlophone, came in at fourth place.

Robbie Williams, from Chrysalis on EMI Records UK, was also recognised in the top five artists of 2006.

The MSN Music Download Awards 2005, voted by the public, celebrates the finest musical talent in 2005. Over 10,000 people voted for their favourite recording artists in three categories – Best Artist, Best Track and Best Album.Danny Van Emden, Digital Media Director at EMI Music UK comments, “This triple win for EMI reflects our strong commitment to building a digital strategy which is incorporated into the overall marketing and sales mix. The beauty and power of digital marketing is leveraging spontaneous moments -- offering a fan a download of a track they have just seen performed live in front of them at gig.”

Dan Duncombe, Digital Media Manager at EMI Music UK label Parlophone, said, “We’re thrilled Coldplay have received the Best Album award. It is great to celebrate the significant impact of downloads in an ever changing music industry and recognise how a new generation of fans are accessing music. More importantly for Coldplay this is an award voted for by the fans.”

Best Album

1. Coldplay – X&Y

2. KT Tunstall – Eye to the Telescope

3. Black Eyed Peas – Monkey Business

4. Gorillaz – Demon Days

5. Kanye West – Late Registration

Best Artist

1. Gwen Stefani

2. James Blunt

3. Kaiser Chiefs

4. Coldplay

5. Robbie Williams

Best Track

1. James Blunt – You’re Beautiful

2. Pussycat Dolls – Don’t Cha

3. Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

4. Sugarbabes – Push the Button

5. Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc

More on this at www.msn.co.uk/musicdownloads

What do Green Day, Bono, Shakira, Chris Martin and the Stones have in common? They're on fans' friends-and-family plans

Coldplay loves cellphones. And camera phones, too.

Flash. Flash. Flash. Flash. Flash. Flash.

If you took your eyes away from Chris Martin and the gang long enough, that's what it looked like at the concert last Wednesday.

All night, Seattleites felt free to take photos of the fellas. The flashes lit up KeyArena, usually during fast songs. And during the ballads, the audience's phones turned into a dotted sea of blue-lit screens that sometimes held still, and at other times, gently waved back and forth.

It's all part of the latest in a wave of cellphone use at concerts, encouraged by bands themselves. No longer is your phone just an instrument to call up friends and say, "Hey, guess, where I am?" These days, fans wave 'em in the air, send text or pics to screen, text to rally for a cause, take photos, win tickets and more.During the past year or so, cellphones have become a growing part of a concert's entertainment, and that includes a chunk of bands or tours that came through Seattle in 2005. Lots of big names have embraced this form of audience interaction: Green Day, Duran Duran, U2, Coldplay, the Rolling Stones. Elsewhere in the world, cellphones played a part in big-time concerts like Live 8.

You can imagine that cellphone companies have applauded this. Depending on venue, you could get charged up to $3 a pop for texting messages. This doesn't include airtime or what your own service provider might tack on.

Depending on the show, you might be able to text messages to order concert paraphernalia, enter contests or get better seats than you already have.

But the most common form of cellphone use at concerts right now is sending text messages onto a big screen or two. You can propose to your loved one, declare your adoration for a favorite singer or ask the audience on the left side of the arena to "shout."

This integration of cellphones into the concert-going experience crosses all musical genres. You'll find such technology at shows from Gwen Stefani, the Backstreet Boys, Avril Lavigne, the Black Eyed Peas, Reba McEntire, Bon Jovi, Simple Plan, Destiny's Child, John Legend, Fabulous, Ghostface, Hoobastank — and on and on.

And it's also being seen at events such as last year's Lollapaloza, AmsterJam and Austin City Limits music festivals.

Back at KeyArena last week, Chris Martin snapped some shots of the crowd with his own disposable cam, and threw it back into the pit. Then during the encore, he bent down near the front of the audience, snagged a cellphone, then sang portions of a song into it. On his way out, Chris puffed into his own cameraman's camera and smiled.

Going to a concert? Don't forget to bring your most important accessory. One that shines, writes and even snaps a picture. Your cellphone.

October 2004: Green Day's American Idiot — Remember that dull downtime before a band appears? Now concertgoers amuse themselves, texting messages and shooting pics from their cellphones to two giant screens on either side of the stage before Sugarcult, New Found Glory, and, of course, their beloved Green Day rock the house.

February 2005: Duran Duran's Astronaut — Not just lighters anymore. Simon asks fans to pull out their cellphones, too, as the New Wave band struts and sings the ever-popular "Save a Prayer."

March 2005: U2's Vertigo — It's a song, it's a movement, it's One. When "Text your name to UNITE" flashes on the jumbo screen, fans respond. About 10,000 text messages fly through the air each night Bono asks Americans to join him. There were 250,000 by mid-December.

The lucky ones see their names on screen. And everyone who texts in gets this personalized missive: "Hey, this is Bono. Thanks for taking action with the ONE campaign to make AIDS and poverty history." Then what appears on the phone? www.one.org.

June 2005: London's Live 8 — No wonder they set a new Guinness World Record. British fans vying to see stars blast off more than 2 million text messages hoping to win a pair of tix to the Hyde Park show. The luminaries on tap? Paul McCartney, U2, Elton John, Madonna, Sting and a reunited Pink Floyd, the legendary rock band hasn't shared a stage since 1981.

To enter? Text the answer to: What's the city closest to the G8 Summit in July? A. Berlin, B. Moscow or C. Edinburgh.

July 2005: Live 8 — Rock stars hit their notes at 10 Live 8 concerts across the globe. And music lovers dispatch 26.4 million text messages to support the organizers' anti-poverty campaign. Shakira and the Cure play to a crowd of about 100,000 at the Palace of Versailles. In all, more than 1 million attend the shows.

August 2005: Coldplay's Twisted Logic — Look behind the band. During "Low," a countdown runs on the elongated video screen so fans can grab their cellphones, point 'em at the stage, aim and shoot. Later, during the changeover between "Scientist" and the midshow acoustic set, Chris, Guy, Jon and Will snap photos of the crowd with disposable cameras, then toss them into the audience.

August 2005: Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang — Sit with your idols. Ticket holders text-message in to win onstage seats.

August 2005: AmsterJam music festival — About 6,000 fans text "JAM" to the keyword "GREEN." They win stuff like backstage tours, VIP seats and flash memory sticks to download music on-site. Fans await Snoop, who swoops into New York City in a G4 jet, then hops in a limo for Randall's Island.

The messages: "10 minutes to Snoop on the main stage!" or "Snoop is about to take the main stage!" and "Red Hot Chili Peppers are up soon!" They also get a call from Bootsy Collins with a thank-you and a reminder to drive home safely.

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com

Coldplay’s undying popularity certainly has paid off for the band, and we’re not talking the contentment that comes with success, we’re talking the truck loads of cash kind of success.

Chris Martin and his gang have taken out the number one spot on OK! Magazine’s 2005 rich list, and have beat out some of the world’s biggest acts in the cash-earning stakes. The band have reportedly earned a whopping £37 million throughout their career’s entirety making them richer than U2 and their lousy £35 million. Surprisingly enough, the other artists to fall behind the mellow rock outfit include Elton John (£30 million), The Rolling Stones (£28 million) and Paul McCartney (£25 million) as well as Rod Stewart, Simon Cowell and The Osbourne Family.

Martin and his wife Gwenyth Paltrow have recently become targets of UK tabloid criticism regarding their supposedly boring existence. Paltrow, according to a Contactmusic.com report fought back saying "I think it's sort of funny how you have to be doing coke off the ass of some stripper to be perceived as not boring these days.” Well, any family with as much money as they have is allowed to be as boring as they want to be.

Source: http://www.undercover.com.au

Coldplay will be on the Live Lounge at midnight tonight (end of Sunday, start of Monday) with recordings from their Earls Court gig from 2004.

To listen live across the internet, tune into the XFM website.

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