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, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion and Phil Harvey. 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 in multiple publications as well, paving the way for musicians with a similar profile. 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, the band pioneered sustainability in live entertainment, reducing CO2 emissions by 59% relative 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 contemporary alternative scene, while their "consistent performing and adventuresome work" led them grow "into one of the finest live bands in all of music". AfishaMoreover, 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 piano-driven soft rock styles to the new millennium.
Jon O'Brien from the Recording Academy claimed in his 20th anniversary review of Parachutes 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 eventually adopted a similar guitar template. Commenting on their impact and the shifts British rock music has experienced, The Telegraph Neil McCormick mentioned the band 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 the genre's unifiers, since the decline of nu metal and post-grunge had previously generated a fractious landscape.
Crossover appeal
Coldplay have ventured into several different genres over the years, to which music critics assigned varying degrees of creative success. Media outlets associated their enduring relevance to how they are capable of being "experimental with their sound and incorporate modern signifiers" while still retaining their prestige 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 by now", had they insisted on the same formula and created other albums similar to Parachutes. Writing for Firstpost, Lakshmi Govindrajan Javeri stressed it is difficult to explain Coldplay's sound and concluded their ability to "morph into different soundscapes" forged a multi-genre legacy. Barbara Fuchs opined that they "shaped contemporary pop music beyond all short-lived trends" on Falter.File:Luan 5.jpg|thumb|alt=A dark haired man wearing a striped shirt extends his arms to the crowd while performing with a microphone|Luan Santana is among the sertanejo acts influenced by Coldplay in Brazil
Aside from impacting the musical styles they explored, Coldplay were responsible for reshaping parts of Brazilian sertanejo according to G1's Carol Prado. She cited Luan Santana to illustrate her point and affirmed the genre was noticeably inspired by their "strong choruses, with elongated syllables and passages perfect for singing in stadiums". Prado also noted the band are a key reference for the sertanejos closer to a pop rock identity. Lucas Lucco and Matheus & Kauan have both mentioned them as an influence, while the arrangements of Victor & Leo's "Caminhos Diferentes" were suggested to draw directly 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" and "Papa", respectively. Songs from the band have also been used by musicians from styles including country, electronic, and pop. 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. Frank Ocean then recorded an alternative version of "Strawberry Swing" for Nostalgia, Ultra. His second album, Blonde, was likewise said to draw influence from them.
Titles and accolades
Having secured numerous accolades in recognition of their impact across the music industry, Coldplay are often labelled as successors to U2 as the biggest band in the world. News organisations including Cleveland, Parade, and Radio X have rated them among the best groups in music history. They also featured on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time series, which honoured acts based on a poll of experts. In 2005, Coldplay were added to the National Portrait Gallery of the United Kingdom, an institution responsible for housing portrait collections of historically important British citizens. Four years later, they won an NRJ Award of Honour in celebration of their legacy. NME followed suit in 2016, recognising them with a Godlike Genius Award, which is dedicated to entertainment icons "who have been pioneers in the industry".Coldplay members have been acknowledged individually as well: The Independent and Evening Standard dubbed Martin one of the most influential public figures in entertainment, while Champion has received an honorary degree as Doctor of Music from the University of Southampton. Q listed Parachutes, A Rush of Blood to the Head, X&Y, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends and Mylo Xyloto among the best albums released in the 21st century. The second was additionally issued as a Royal Mail souvenir stamp, then placed in the definitive rankings of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Rolling Stone.
Aggregating the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the magazine originally included "Clocks" at number 490. However, it was changed to "Fix You" in the 2020s decade update, at number 392. NME picked "The Scientist" and "Yellow" for their version of the list. The latter was part of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll exhibit, organised by music critics and specialised historians as a tribute to the most popular and influential recordings in the genre. Decade-end honours were presented to "Viva la Vida", "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall", "Paradise", and "A Sky Full of Stars" as well. Moreover, Coldplay received a star at the First Avenue in Minneapolis, while The Telegraph and Yardbarker praised them as one of the best headliners in history at Glastonbury and Coachella. In 2024, Dorian Lynskey of BBC News argued that they are the defining band of the 21st century.