Cultural impact of Coldplay

British rock band Coldplay have made a significant impact on popular culture with their music, artistry, identity, performances, and commercial achievements worldwide. They were formed in London by Chris Martin (vocals, piano), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Guy Berryman (bass guitar), Will Champion (drums, percussion) and Phil Harvey (management). After signing a record contract with Parlophone in 1999 and releasing their debut album in the subsequent year, the group steadily amassed fame, success and public interest throughout their career, becoming cultural icons and one of the most influential artists of the 21st century. Moreover, Coldplay have been often described by media outlets as successors to U2 as the biggest band in the world.

The group were also credited with ushering "in a fresh timbre of songwriting" during a time British music "struggled to define itself" and "bringing the sound of mainstream rock towards something more gentle and melodic", while their musical reinventions allowed them enjoy success in the post-album era and the streaming age; expand the roster of acts inspired by them; and produce "a rich multi-genre legacy". This crossover appeal can be evidenced in styles like sertanejo and hip hop, the former through songwriting and the latter with how acts frequently sample and reference their works.

Coldplay's polarising image has been a subject of analysis by multiple publications as well, paving the way for musicians with similar profiles. Furthermore, they have impacted arena rock shows by making their fans a focal point, which included using interactive LED wristbands worn by attendees and endorsing accessibility efforts. With the Music of the Spheres World Tour (2022–24), the band pioneered sustainability in live entertainment, reducing CO₂ emissions by 59% compared to their previous concert run. Time ranked them among the most impactful climate action leaders in the world as a result. Additionally, Coldplay's commercial success led them to achieve economic power in the music industry, uplifting British music global exports and instigating debates on the viability of streaming services. The band were also praised for their marketing tactics, with their use of the Internet for promotional purposes being considered revolutionary in the early 21st century. As another example of their legacy, Coldplay have spawned various tribute albums, events and acts.

Musicianship

Reshaping rock music

Coldplay are considered one of the most influential groups of the 21st century. According to Steve Baltin from Forbes, they have become the standard for the current alternative music scene and with "consistent performing and adventuresome work" continue to grow "into one of the finest live bands in all of music". Afisha's Sergey Stepanov said that they have inherited the ability to make alternative rock mainstream from U2 and called them "the Beatles of the 21st century" in terms of "hit-making abilities and potential heft". Writing for Paste, Lizzie Manno described Coldplay's ascent from small venues to arenas and Glastonbury's headline set before their second album as unprecedented in the 2010s and 2020s decades for bands.

Moreover, she said they left a "huge mark on radio rock" for years to come and inspired the "subsequent wave of pop rock", citing Bastille, Civil Twilight, Hozier, Keane, Kodaline and the Script as examples. While discussing key events in the genre's history for The Guardian, Kitty Empire stated that British music "struggled to define itself" with the end of britpop until Coldplay ushered in a "fresh timbre of songwriting" which had "yearning melancholy, buoyed by a sense of uplift". Similarly, the band were credited with presenting soft rock styles combined with piano to the new millennium.

Jon O'Brien from the Recording Academy claimed in his 20th anniversary review of Parachutes (2000) that the album "ushered in a new wave of mild-mannered guitar bands" and helped "to open the floodgates for those who didn't subscribe to the Rock N' Roll Star way of thinking", impacting the works of acts like the Fray and OneRepublic. He also noticed that several bands formed before Coldplay (such as Snow Patrol) eventually adopted a similar guitar template. Commenting on their impact and the shifts British rock music have experienced, The Telegraph's Neil McCormick declared "Coldplay are what rock looks like when it has evolved to meet the needs of a new musical era, adapting to technological and stylistic change and emotional and sociological shifts, creating rock that is empathic, inclusive and in tune with the social constructs of post-millennial youth culture". Tom Breihan from Stereogum hailed them as "great unifiers", since the genre previously had a fractious landscape because of the decline of nu metal and post-grunge.

Crossover appeal

The band have ventured into several different genres throughout their career, to which music critics assign varying degrees of creative success. Furthermore, media outlets have attributed Coldplay's enduring relevance to how they are "able to be experimental with their sound and incorporate modern signifiers" while still maintaining their position as a "reliably epic" stadium act. This musical heterogeneity is also said to have allowed them to "transcend the trappings" of most alternative rock outfits and enjoy further commercial success in the post-album era and the streaming age. Charles Marcos from El País observed that "we would surely have forgotten about [the band] by now" if they had made other albums similar to Parachutes (2000). Writing for Firstpost, Lakshmi Govindrajan Javeri commented Coldplay are difficult to pin down and their ability "to morph into different soundscapes cannot be overstated", as along with their contemporary collaborations, it expanded the roster of artists inspired by them and ultimately resulted in a multi-genre legacy.

Additionally, aside from impacting musical styles they have explored, Coldplay helped to reshape Brazilian sertanejo music according to G1's Carol Prado. Citing Luan Santana as an example, she affirmed the genre took considerable inspiration from their use of "strong choruses, with elongated syllables and perfect passages for singing in stadiums". Prado also called them a major reference for sertanejos who follow a line closer to pop rock. Lucas Lucco and Matheus & Kauan have both directly mentioned the band as an influence, while arrangements from Victor & Leo's "Caminhos Diferentes" were noted to draw from their discography.

While addressing the use of rock samples in hip hop, Pitchfork claimed that Coldplay attained a rarefied status regarding groups which many rappers love. Christina Lee from BuzzFeed News noticed Martin's duets with Kanye West and Jay-Z are one of the main explanations for the sentiment, although Swizz Beatz had previously sampled the band. In 2013, Mike Will Made It pointed out that his production for Miley Cyrus' "My Darlin" was meant to sound anthemic and reminiscent of Coldplay. Similarly, Future has listed "Paradise" among his favourite songs and mentioned being inspired by how Martin expresses his words through melody. Writing for Grantland, Amos Barshad stated that Coldplay's success can be measured based on the rate at which rappers search their tracks for samples.

American acts within the genre who excerpted them encompass Black Cobain, B.o.B, Joe Budden, Chance the Rapper, eMC, Pac Div, Rockie Fresh, Shawty Lo and Trae. In 2009, Canadian rapper Drake incorporated elements of "Viva la Vida" into "Congratulations". France's Disiz and La Fouine sampled Coldplay in "Auto-Dance" ("Death and All His Friends") and "Papa" ("Lost!"), respectively. Songs from the band have also been used by musicians from styles including country (Keith Urban), electronic (Girl Talk), and pop (Lizzo). R&B singer Brandy integrated the opening lyrics of "Sparks" in "I Tried" and the piano parts of "Clocks" in "Should I Go", both from Afrodisiac (2004). Frank Ocean then recorded an alternative version of "Strawberry Swing" for Nostalgia, Ultra (2011). His second album, Blonde (2016), was likewise said to draw influence from them.

Title and honours

Having received multiple competitive and honorary accolades in recognition of their impact across the music industry, Coldplay are often referred to as successors to U2 as the biggest band in the world. News organisations including Cleveland, Parade, and Radio X have all ranked them among the best groups in history. They were also listed on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time series, which recognised musicians based on a poll of experts. In April 2005, Coldplay were added to the National Portrait Gallery of London (NPG); the museum houses an archive of portraits of historically important and famous British people. The band later won a NRJ Award of Honour for their career accomplishments, then earned NME's Godlike Genius Award, which is dedicated to careers "of music icons who have been pioneers in the industry".

Coldplay members have been acknowledged individually as well: Debrett's and The Independent ranked Martin as one of the most influential public figures in the United Kingdom, while Champion was honoured with a Doctor of Music degree from the University of Southampton. Moreover, Parachutes (2000), A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), X&Y (2005), Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008) and Mylo Xyloto (2011) were all listed among the best albums of the century by Q. The second was additionally chosen by Royal Mail for a set of stamps celebrating classic British records, plus entered Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Rolling Stone's definitive rankings.

The magazine originally rated "Clocks" at number 490 on their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time editorial, but the song was replaced with "Fix You" (at number 392) in the 2020s decade revision. NME included "The Scientist" (448) and "Yellow" (420) on their variant of the list. The latter was part of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll exhibition in 2011; the event was curated by music critics and historians to recognise the genre's most popular and influential recordings, thus illustrating its expansion. Meanwhile, BBC America placed "Viva la Vida" among the greatest British tracks from the 21st century. Tracks such as "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall", "Paradise" and "A Sky Full of Stars" have received decade-end honours as well. In 2022, The Telegraph cited Coldplay as one of the best headliners in Glastonbury Festival history, while 2023 saw them being named the sixth-greatest Coachella performers by Yardbarker.

Creative inspiration

American singer Halsey commented the band are among the artists who inspired her to develop a universe for each album: "Study the cover of any of their [records] and you can see a bunch of images, a colour, a font – something entirely representative of that era. I want to give my fans that experience". During an interview for CBS News, Jay-Z revealed that Martin convinced him to maintain his Glastonbury set in 2008 after he considered withdrawing it because of the backlash against a hip hop headliner. Similarly, Beyoncé requested the singer to evaluate her set list prior to the 2011 edition of the event. Swedish string arranger Mattias Bylund declared that he recorded "Coldplay-type rhythm chords" for Taylor Swift in "Wildest Dreams". Additionally, South Korean music director Lee Ji-soo used "Life in Technicolor II" as a reference to create the film score of In Our Prime (2022). When questioned about her Thirteenth Doctor costume, English actress Jodie Whittaker mentioned that Coldplay have partially influenced its design. Filipino actor John Prats has noted that watching them led him to direct concerts. Other entertainers who named the band as an inspiration, favourite artist or were compared to them encompass:

Public image

Criticism

Coldplay are considered polarising cultural icons. In a survey published by the Daily Mirror, scaling the most popular and unpopular musicians in the United Kingdom, they were among the 20 most-voted acts on both lists; the only other groups with this distinction were ABBA and U2. Consequence's Geoff Nelson theorised that the band have the "unique position of being loved and hated with passion" because listening to them have "always been a look in the mirror, hearing a familiar sound or seeing an aesthetic retreaded for mass consumption – producing, alternatively, allure and disgust". He then concluded they have the "power to throw trends back at us" by rendering them "meaningless", thus becoming the "final word in cultural discourse", since "once Coldplay does it, it isn't a thing anymore". In 2000, Alan McGee described the group as "bedwetters music", to which Buckland answered: "We are trying to be who we are, [you know]. But that's about it. Pretending to be 'a bit mad' would just be sad".

Writing for The New York Times, Jon Pareles called them "the most insufferable band of the decade" and affirmed X&Y (2005) is "faultless to a fault, with instrumental tracks purged of any glimmer of human frailty". Similarly, The Independent's Andy Gill stated Coldplay "have conquered the charts with the sonic equivalent of wilted spinach" and "poisoned an entire generation of British rock music" as a result. They were also accused of trying to maintain a formula, while Amanda Petrusich from The New Yorker claimed their lyrics are corny and cliché. In 2016, Ryan Bassil criticised Martin for his performance on the stage in a piece for Vice, saying he "is a man who seemingly cannot transition between one place and another without skipping" and "his unbridled positivity is everything British people find difficult to stomach". Moreover, the band were negatively referenced in films and television series like The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Peep Show (2005), and Family Guy (2008).

Praise

As per The Ringer's Michael Baumann, Coldplay were "earnest, nonthreatening, and profoundly accessible" at "the worst time of the past 40 years to be those things", given how their rise to global stardom coincided "with a decade of artistic snark and cynicism: hipsterism, the peak of pop punk, and a new rebirth of rockism". Writing a 10th anniversary review of X&Y (2005) for Idolator, Carl Williott attested that perfectionism is always considered corny, but have cachet in following eras because the songcraft and talent stood the test of time. Uproxx's Philip Cosores affirmed their earnestness is now deeply endearing and they have "let the music world come to them" without changing who they are.

Music critics have also lauded Coldplay for trying different music styles despite not breaking from their conventions. Ben Beaumont-Thomas from The Guardian echoed the sentiment by affirming that "from genre-spanning albums to collaborating with Brian Eno and Beyoncé, the band are far more radical than people give them credit for", having a sense of adventure and "thumbing their noses at what bands are supposed to do".

Jeremy Gordon defended in The New York Times that they might have a career trajectory similar to Phil Collins, with their image fading away while the songs endure. Interviewed by El País, Lanre Bakare stated that Martin is a new kind of pop star who connects on an emotional level, opening doors for musicians such as Lewis Capaldi and Ed Sheeran. Author Steven Hyden declared that Coldplay would not be so polarising if they actually were culturally meaningless. In 2022, Mark Beaumont of The Times wrote that the band have regained public respect with their showmanship. Two years later, Daily Express published a research that listed them among the most sought-after live acts in the United Kingdom.

Touring innovations

Audience inclusivity

Felipe Branco Cruz from Veja commented that while groups like Pink Floyd and Queen have pioneered stadium performances and U2 offered spectacles which "transcended music", Coldplay reinvented the concept of arena rock by making fans an integral part of the show instead of mere spectators, being among the few contemporary bands to carry on such a legacy. In a piece for CNN Portugal, Wilson Ledo declared that Martin interacts with attendees in a welcoming and involving manner. The band have covered local songs and invited national guests to play with them as well. In 2011, they became the first musicians to incorporate LED wristbands to live performances. Jason Regler made the initial version of the product, but it was later replaced by PixMob models. Coldplay's connection with the public has been partially attributed to the item and they are widely credited with popularising its use. Acts who followed the trend encompass Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift.

Additionally, the group received praise for their efforts in accessibility, working with KultureCity to provide sign language interpreters, SubPac vests, sensory refuge stations and touch tours to deaf, hard-of-hearing or visually impaired fans. They also established the Infinity Tickets program, selling $20 admissions to concert goers who cannot afford the regular prices. In September 2023, their shows in Vancouver marked the first time in history that representatives of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations carried out a land acknowledgement at BC Place. Months later, The West Australian's Emma Garlett lauded them for having merchandise with Aboriginal designs and inviting Richard Walley to perform the same ritual during the Optus Stadium dates in Perth. Coldplay have been likewise acclaimed for their gender equality, hiring female professionals across the music industry through programmes and apprenticeships. As of 2024, their touring crew includes more than 40 women in areas from carpentry to personal security.

Sustainability

Coldplay are considered pioneers for sustainability in live entertainment. Le Soir's Didier Zacharie said that the ecological plans proposed by the band were unprecedented in stadium tour scale. In 2022, sustainability director Lucy August-Perna claimed they assisted with the framework Live Nation had been developing over the past five years and mentioned that the company is working with them to adopt their best methods, making sustainable touring options more accessible. Publications subsequently noticed the band impacted concerts from Billie Eilish and Shawn Mendes, while the Kappa FuturFestival took similar green measures.

Furthermore, Coldplay's work with John Wiseman from Worldwide Sales and Frederic Opsomer from PRG Projects resulted in the creation of completely new LED stage products. Opsomer also defended that the custom technology made for the Music of the Spheres World Tour (2022–24) will be commonplace in the future, thanking Coldplay for the initiative. The band reduced carbon footprint by 59%, compared to their previous tour. In 2023, Time listed them among the most influential climate action leaders in the world. They later helped fund a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study that will propose solutions for events across the entire live music industry.

Commercial influence

Economic power

As a result of the anticipation for their albums, Coldplay have impacted the music industry's economy in several occasions. The Guardian's Dan Milmo reported that A Rush of Blood to the Head accounted for 3% of the record sales at EMI in 2002. Conversely, Malika Kapur from CNN International affirmed the release delay of X&Y (2005) led to a 13% fall in the company's annual profits, which prompted an income warning and a major drop in their share prices. Revenues only improved again when the record was made available for purchase in stores. In 2008, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends helped to moderate the declining sales of the American market. Coldplay have sparked debates about the viability of music streaming services as well, delaying the releases of Mylo Xyloto (2011), Ghost Stories (2014), and A Head Full of Dreams (2015) in free on-demand platforms like Spotify to question how artists would be compensated for their works. They were credited with leading discussions on the matter, along with Taylor Swift. Once A Head Full of Dreams was made available for consumption, it helped to boost streaming revenue by £83 million in the United Kingdom. In 2021, Music of the Spheres was listed among the key contributors to an increase of CD sales in the country, while its namesake tour has impacted multiple local economies around the world. Warner Music Group considered the album a major seller for their first fiscal quarter of 2022, when the company experienced record earnings and a 19% growth in recorded music profits.

British export

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has credited Coldplay's global success with boosting the balance of payments of the United Kingdom multiple times. Media outlets have mentioned the band were not "typecast by the typical Brit pop/rock mould", consequently having a broader international appeal. X&Y (2005), Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), and Mylo Xyloto (2011) reached number one in the charts of over 30 countries each. The first two were the biggest albums of their release years, then the third broke the record for most digital sales in a single week. In 2013, Coldplay were ranked as the most influential British celebrities in the world by Forbes, while 2014 saw Ghost Stories topping the charts of more than 100 markets on iTunes Store. The band have also established a variety of records in Asia, Europe and Latin America through their tours. In 2023, Preply cited them as a major reference for people who want to learn English in Brazil.

Moreover, they were particularly praised for "cracking" the American music industry, since the United States was "a notoriously difficult place for young British rock bands to make any commercial noise" at the time. As a result, Coldplay have been credited with helping to reestablish common cultural ground between the country and the United Kingdom. NME's Emily Barker observed that instead of having an exponential rise, their fan base was garnered slowly in the region. In June 2008, "Viva la Vida" became the first song by a British artist to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously since "Maggie May" by Rod Stewart. The latter publication also commented that Coldplay were the most successful act from the United Kingdom on their rankings during the 2000s decade and the sixth-most successful during the 2010s decade. Other notable milestones include being the first musicians to sell a million digital albums in the United States, as well as the first British group to debut atop Hot 100.

Marketing strategies

Coldplay are considered a "prime example of savvy global marketing". Chris from Obscure Sound praised the band for having numerous "forward-thinking strategies and creative promotions", further adding their use of the internet as a device for advertisement was revolutionary in the early 21st century. Similarly, the group were described as pioneers of social media management, since they were the first musicians to employ the scheduling features offered by Facebook and shared their routines during world tours on Snapchat, thus capitalising on the application's early success. As of 2023, they are the most followed rock band in the world on both Twitter and Instagram. Exame's Alexandre Loures and Flávio Castro claimed that making an analogy between public and customer, the Coldplay brand delivers and enviable business model. Additionally, the writers hailed the band as experts in establishing emotional connections, involving fans to the point of making them feel part of their universe.

During A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) and X&Y (2005) eras, they sent quarterly e-zines to mailing list subscribers. Their website also had features such as The Oracle and Roadie #42; the former answered band-related questions, while the latter wrote articles giving an inside view of Coldplay working on studio and touring the world. Furthermore, the group hired an administrator known as Anchorman, responsible for updating live blogs and running their social media while it is not being used. In 2014, they held a global scavenger hunt for handwritten lyrics from Ghost Stories, which were hidden in libraries and gave the fans a chance to attend their Royal Albert Hall performances.

Homemade footage was then requested to promote A Head Full of Dreams (2015), as submissions were used for the music video of "Amazing Day". Earlier that year, the band had also launched Coldplay Timeline, an interactive website to share stories, access multimedia content and explore their list of shows. In 2019, they announced Everyday Life by sending fans typewritten letters and revealed the album track list in the advertising sections of various newspapers around the world. Two years later, the band teased the release of Music of the Spheres (2021) through a website and social media account named Alien Radio FM. Publications had coordinates leading to billboards using cryptic characters which, after decoded, spelled out the date "Higher Power" would be made available.

Other depictions

Covers and nods

Numerous musicians worldwide have recorded their own renditions of Coldplay songs. According to the BBC, they are the most covered group of all time at Live Lounge, a segment from BBC Radio 1 during which acts usually perform a track from another artist. Moreover, publications such as Billboard, Bustle, and Stereogum have all created listicles ranking the best new versions of the band's works. Some of them include different languages and genres as well. In 2005, American rapper 50 Cent released "God Gave Me Style" as a reference to "God Put a Smile upon Your Face", while 2006 saw Puerto Rican trio Calle 13 name-dropping Coldplay in "Atrévete-te-te". Four years later, Martin was mentioned by Lupe Fiasco in "Go to Sleep". In 2013, Jason Derulo gave the band a nod in "Trumpets".

Similarly, Lil Wayne and Travis Scott have referenced Coldplay on several tracks, including "Believe Me" (2014) and "Til Further Notice" (2023), respectively. Both Thomas Rhett and Demi Lovato name-checked the band in 2017; the former with "Unforgettable" and the latter with "Concentrate". In 2019, Lauv and Troye Sivan referenced the song "Hurts Like Heaven" on "I'm So Tired...", while Stormzy compared himself to Martin on the lyrics of "Wiley Flow". The ensuing year saw H.E.R. citing the group in "B.S.", written with Jhené Aiko. Meanwhile, Lizzo named the closing track of Special (2021) after them. In 2022, Tegan and Sara paid tribute to the music video of "Yellow" by shooting a clip for their single of the same title at the beach in Vancouver. Rachel Chinouriri then released the music video for "The Hills" as a homage to "The Scientist" in 2023.

Tribute projects

Coldplay have been the subject of various tribute projects around the world. Vitamin String Quartet released four albums commemorating the band through classical music. They also earned homages from the Pickin' On (2005) and Rockabye Baby! (2006) series. Two years later, Mick and Terry Urban created Viva la Hova, a mixtape referencing Martin and Jay-Z's relationship. Other materials include extended plays from Gavin Mikhail in 2011 and 2012, then Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's Symphonic Coldplay in 2013. Orquestra Petrobras Sinfônica staged performances under the same name across Brazil in 2022.

During the following year, Blitz celebrated their visit to Coimbra by hosting a photography exhibit. Niels Geusebroek and the orchestras of Milwaukee and Manila dedicated shows to them afterwards. Coldplay-styled events also took place at Boston's Museum of Science, Orono's Maynard F. Jordan Observatory, the Planetarium of Bogotá, and Santiago's Planetario Chile. Additionally, the group have spawned a wide range of tribute acts over the years, with examples including Coldplace (f. 2003), Coldplayers (f. 2007), Goldplay (f. 2010), Coldplayed (f. 2012), Ultimate Coldplay (f. 2017), and the Coldplay Experience (f. 2022).

See also

• List of people associated with University College London
• List of British Grammy winners and nominees
• List of best-selling music artists
• List of highest-grossing live music artists
• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart

Notes

References

External links

• Coldplay Official Website
• Coldplay at AllMusic