Coldplay News

While overall U.S. music unit sales, which includes songs, albums, vinyl, music videos and ringtones, climbed 10.5% to 1.5 billion in 2008, total album sales -- including 10-song digital track groupings -- fell 8.5% to 428.4 million, according to a report from Nielsen SoundScan.   Sales of physical albums like CDs fell 20%, to 362.6 million, and are off by 45% since 2000. Meanwhile, digital album sales were up 32% in 2008, to 65.8 million units, and digital track sales grew 27% to reach a record

Coldplay's Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends was the best-selling rock album of 2008, according to Billboard's year-end survey.   The British band's fourth studio effort sold 2.15 million copies and finished second overall only to rapper Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III, which moved 2.88 million copies to land in the top spot. The next biggest-selling rock release was Kid Rock's 2007 outing, Rock 'n'Roll Jesus, which finished the year at Number Four with more than two million copies sold, desp

Former Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology student Paul O’Brien won the competition to come up with a video for the new Coldplay single, ‘Lost?’, and hotpress online has published a short article on it:   O’Brien employs a blend of claymation and computer graphics to tell the story of a piano player who can’t find his dog, Seamus.   “I'm a huge Coldplay fan, almost to the point of being obsessive,” O’Brien admits. “Listening to the song gave me lots of feelings, but mostly dr

The cover art on Fleet Foxes' self-titled debut album has won the Best Art Vinyl Award for 2008.   The artwork on Roots Manuva's 'Slime And Reason' came second in the Art Vinyl poll, while Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends' [pictured] was third. The cover on Fleet Foxes album, which was praised by critics, features an exert of Pieter Bruegel's painting, Netherlandish Proverbs. A selection of the most popular covers are due to go on display at Rough Trade East in London later

Could Coldplay about to completely change their sound?   Chris Martin has announced that over the coming year Coldplay will significantly be changing their musical style. Coldplay's frontman says the band have a lot to achieve before their impending 10-year anniversary. He told The Sun: "We feel bands need to fill their first 10 years, so we have lots to do before December 31st 2009. I know it's stupid, but that's kind of our deadline. We have to do something good by then."   In 2008, Coldplay e

As yet unheard Coldplay track The Goldrush will be released on a 7'' vinyl of the forthcoming single 'Life in Technicolor ii', according to sources found today.   The expected release date for this is 2nd February 2009. Will Champion will apparently take lead vocals, similar to Death Will Never Conquer. For a time, the two songs were mistakenly thought to be the same as each other, probably due to Will's vocal contribution.   The lyrics to the song are included in the programme for the Viva La V

2008 closed with a bang for Coldplay. The band's fourth album, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, was officially elected 'Album Of The Year' by Mediatraffic.de site, which takes into account the indices of sales and marketing of the shares of music from around the world.   The 162,000 copies of the album sold this week have brought the total number of copies purchased to 6,570,400. There was also an increase in sales due to Christmas, and in the U.S. alone over 51,000 copies were sold du

Nielsen recently released its list of the 10 most downloaded songs of 2008 (below). Unlike last year's list, which contained seven tracks released by Universal Music Group, this year's selection features a more even distribution of the four major labels: 3 songs from UMG, 3 from Sony, 2 from Warner Music Group and 2 from EMI, which had no songs on last year's list.   Not surprisingly, EMI's two contributions are from Coldplay and Katy Perry, both of which were smash hits.   We won't know how muc

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin insists the band has "lots to do" before the year 2010. He says he plans to keep as busy as possible through 2009.   He explained to the media in the new year, "We feel bands need to fill their first 10 years, so we have lots to do before December 31, 2009. I know it's stupid, but that's kind of our deadline. We have to do something good by then. We've done some pretty good stuff, but there's something about the year changing to 2010.   I'll also be 33 that year, a

Sales of recorded music fell sharply in 2008, as consumers continued to migrate away from the CD format, large retailers reduced floor space for music and the recession dampened consumer spending during the critical year-end holiday shopping period.   Total album sales in the United States, including CDs and full-album downloads, were 428 million, a 14 percent drop from 2007, according to data from Nielsen SoundScan. Since the industry’s peak in 2000, album sales have declined 45 percent, althou

Courtesy of Coldplay's Messenger email service:   We wanted a special prize for our Christmas edition, so we've been saving this one. When the Viva La Vida album was released, Coldplay asked for some promo copies to be pressed up on vinyl. Just 350 copies were made and we have one to give away to you folks. Even better, it will be fully signed by the band. If you'd like to win it, simply email your details to [email protected] before January 5th. Just one entry per person, please.   A r

The big live news from Coldplay in September was that Cemeteries Of London had been soundchecked by the band in Strasbourg. At that point, the track from the new album Death And All His Friends had never been played live.   After some expensive looking high concept videos for their last few efforts Coldplay brought it back to the basics and where it all started from with their new video “Lost” from the top selling album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends. The video was a performance piece

Leona Lewis is keen to work with Coldplay on her second album, according to reports. Lewis has previously spoken of her plans to work with a number of bands on the project – although she refused to name which ones.   The former X Factor winner is said to be looking to give the follow-up to 2007’s ‘Spirit’ a “rockier edge”. “Leona would love to work with Coldplay and knows Chris Martin likes her voice,” a source told the Sun newspaper. “She would love to sing a duet with him. If not, maybe he cou

Coldplay Roadie Matt McGinn's new book is due to be published on 1 May 2009 by Portico. Here is the product description for said item:   If it's true that behind every great man there is a great woman, then behind every great band, there's a similarly skilled road crew...This book is the backstage 'on the road' account of Matt McGinn's life as a roadie touring with a band at the pinnacle of their success. The book charts the life and duties of a rock and roll roadie for the band Coldplay, who ha

Nominations for the Brit Awards 2009 won't be revealed until 18th February 2009 but already people are talking on which group will pick up the gong after the success in 2008 of Coldplay, Take That and Radiohead.   Current market leader with Paddy Power in the betting for Best Group are Coldplay at 11/10, followed by Take That at odds of 6/4. You can be a bit more adventurous with your wager if you fancy backing an outsider and take Glasvegas at 20/1 or Last Show Puppets at 50/1.   Betting Odds (

Coldplay have announced a new outdoor gig date in September 2009 in Paris, and also news on Coldplay's Top Of The Pops performance that aired on Christmas Day. Here's Anchorman with more details:   Good morning - and a happy Boxing Day to you. We're pleased to announce that Coldplay will be playing at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France on 7th September 2009. Tickets go on sale on 7th January from livenation.fr.   Meanwhile, those of you in the UK can currently watch Coldplay's appearance on y

Courtesy of Coldplay's Messenger email service:   We wanted a special prize for our Christmas edition, so we've been saving this one. When the Viva La Vida album was released, Coldplay asked for some promo copies to be pressed up on vinyl. Just 350 copies were made and we have one to give away to you folks. Even better, it will be fully signed by the band. If you'd like to win it, simply email your details to [email protected] before January 5th. Just one entry per person, please.   A r

Coldplay, Duffy and the Kaiser Chiefs will all perform on the Top of the Pops Christmas special, it's been announced.   The winner of this year's X Factor Alexandra Burke, Girls Aloud and Dizzee Rascal will also appear on the show on Christmas Day at 2pm. As previously reported on Gigwise, the BBC cancelled the Christmas show earlier this year because of falling viewing figures. But the corporation later reinstated it, along with a New Years special.   Burke will perform her cover of Leonard Coh

Coldplay played the final night of the 2008 Viva La Vida tour at Belfast's Odyssey Arena...   Setlist:   Life In Technicolor Violet Hill Clocks In My Place Speed Of Sound Yellow Chinese Sleep Chant 42 Fix You Strawberry Swing God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (techno version) Talk (techno version) The Hardest Part (Chris solo piano) Postcards From Far Away (piano instrumental) Viva La Vida Lost! Death Will Never Conquer (acoustic - Will vocals) Green Eyes (acoustic) Jingle Bells (acoustic) Viva La

With a little under two years since their last visit to South America, Coldplay will return and will include a multi-stop tour, according to Chilean media sources today - the same sources that successfully predicted the last tour. Chile, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina are likely to be included in the itinery, with the possibility of additions such as Perú or Colombia.   Producers involved in negotiations are the same which took care of Coldplay's first 3 shows of 2007 - February 14th, 15th and 16t

Coldplay heads the list of Grammy nominees that will perform the songs of Neil Diamond at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala held during Grammy week. Adele, Foo Fighters, Josh Groban, Jennifer Hudson, Raul Malo, Tim McGraw and others will perform Feb. 6 at the Recording Academy fete at the Los Angeles Convention Center.   Luxury items, VIP experiences and celebrity memorabilia is auctioned to raise funds for MusiCares, the org that provides music people with financial, medical and personal as

As 2008 winds down, the rumour mill for Glastonbury 2009 is already in full swing, with a host of famous names predicted as potential headliners for the world-famous festival.   eFestivals are speculating that Neil Young will be one of the main headlining acts, whilst Virtual Festivals are backing Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, and the recently reformed Blur to fill the three headline spots. Other bands rumoured to be appearing are Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, The Specials, Klaxons, Lily Allen and

You can grab a free download and watch a festive film, courtesy of Coldplay's official site. Here's Anchorman with full details:   Good morning. We've just unveiled a couple of Christmas treats on the site for you. Click here to get a free download of the slammin' Thin White Duke remix of Viva La Vida and to watch the band performing a special festive tune. They'll be available until Twelfth Night (aka Jan 5th). Happy Christmas folks. Anchorman.   And here's Prospekt with some more details:   As

Coldplay played the second of two consecutive concerts at Dublin's refurbished O2 Arena as they continue through towards the end of their UK leg of the Viva La Vida tour. They continued with the brand new addition to the setlist... just for Dublin... Fairytale Of New York (Pogues cover, sang by Will Champion!)   Setlist:   Life In Technicolor Violet Hill Clocks In My Place Speed Of Sound Yellow Chinese Sleep Chant 42 Fix You Strawberry Swing God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (techno version) Talk (

Coldplay's Auckland tickets are selling like hotcakes, TVNZ are reporting online today.   The band has announced a second show on March 19. Tickets have gone on sale and the first show is almost sold out, while the second is halfway there. Promoter Michael Chugg says they do not usually announce extra shows before tickets go on sale, but there has been so much interest in pre-sales they want fans to rest easy knowing they won't miss out.   Chugg says enthusiastic fans lobbied Vector Arena and Ti