Coldplay on AC stations

[shocker]

Coldplay is currently 1 of the most popular bands in the world. Although they were initially known for a more alternative sound, the majority of their songs are melodic and soft enough for AC. What troubles me is that AC seems to shun Coldplay for the most part.

When "Clocks" was a huge Hot AC hit in '03, it never even scratched the AC chart. Only after it won the Grammy for Record of the Year did a small handful of ACs start spinning it on a very limited basis.

2 years later, "Speed of Sound" was almost completely ignored by AC again, despite its mellow arrangement.

I'm noticing that their latest hit, "Viva La Vida", has a few spins at a couple of small-market AC stations, but nothing really big as of yet. At Hot AC "Viva" is a fast-rising track, and will likely be #1. I'm hoping that all the attention it's getting at Hot AC will finally be a wake-up call to regular AC to start giving this wonderful band more airplay time.

Coldplay deserves to be played more at AC because their sound is AC!

[atlantaboy]

^Think it depends if there's a Hot AC in the market, or an adult-leaning CHR...someone in the market's gotta play Coldplay (and Triple A and Alternative aren't gettin high enough ratings I think to cover them exclusively) - the only AC's though I think that are gonna get on Coldplay are ones in markets with no Hot ACs or mainstream CHRs, at least for now...

[shocker]

Something tells me that Coldplay will be primarily an AC act within a few years. Or they will progress the way other bands like Goo Goo Dolls, Sugar Ray, and Matchbox 20 did - start out with an alternative appeal, then be embraced by pop and Hot AC, then eventually AC will start giving them more attention.

It's too bad AC takes so long to put down the welcome mat for such great bands. It can't be because their music is too hard or too teen-sounding for AC - not at all! Based on the mellowness of much of Coldplay's music, "Clocks", "Speed of Sound", and Viva La Vida" should have been moderate AC hits at the very least.

[tico]

I'm quite stunned at how little attention Coldplay has received at AC. You'd think that "Clocks" would at least get recurrent play at the format right about now, but it isn't.

[HottItalianDJ]

I think it might actually be a marketing/perception thing. Coldplay is marketed as an alt-rock/pop act more so than Hot AC/AC. Therefore it is just a matter of getting the AC audience acquainted with their "easier" sound.

[atlantaboy]

Jul 5, 2008 23:11:42 GMT -5 @tico said:

I'm quite stunned at how little attention Coldplay has received at AC. You'd think that "Clocks" would at least get recurrent play at the format right about now, but it isn't.

Thinkin it might be cause Coldplay's style is cutting-edge (not just ur typical song structure, etc.), even though their sound is "soft"...especially songs like Clocks which have irregular drumbeats, rhythms, etc. might be too much of a risk for a lot of mainstream ACs

[shocker]

Seeing where "Viva" is #36 on the current AC panel, with a +25 in airplay spins. Don't think even "Clocks" or "Speed of Sound" peaked this high on the AC chart in their runs. "Viva" might end up being a decent-sized AC hit after all.

[atlantaboy]

^Yeah def. think VLV is gonna be their biggest mainstream AC hit (and CHR/HAC too), but IMO fits much more typical AC song structure (and doesn't have any drums at all, which IMO can't hurt it on AC)...

[Arson]

Since AC has been changing more and more into Hot AC with regards to their newly added music, eventually Coldplay will be played. Back in 2003, pop-rock was only beginning to get a hold. "Speed of Sound" wasn't a big enough hit. Once they get their first AC hit, the rest will come.

[atlantaboy]

^Yeah def. agree - I'm pretty sure that in '03 the only pop/alternative acts bein played by mainstream AC were basically Matchbox Twenty (Unwell and If You're Gone), Sheryl Crow, and Train...I think back then 3 Doors Down "Here Without You" was even a stretch for some stations

[shocker]

"Viva La Vida" is #27 on the latest R&R AC chart, and is the most added song of the week! Finally some hope for this band at the AC format.
:)

Most of their previous hits that were heavily geared toward alternative or Hot AC could have been medium-sized AC hits as well. I'm hoping "Viva" might encourage more AC outlets to start playing their other AC-friendly songs, such as "Clocks" and "Speed of Sound" more regularly.

[shocker]

"Viva" is up to #13 on the R&R chart with a +225 in spins, giving it the award for the most increase in plays on the AC chart.

This might end up going to #1 if it keeps up its airplay gain.