Coldplay Are the First British Band to Simultaneously Top U.S. and U.K. Album Charts Since 2016

Coldplay have become the first British band to simultaneously top the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic since 2016.

The band’s 10th studio album Moon Music landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and the Official Album Charts in the U.K. following its release on October 4. 

By doing so, they are the first band to reach the summit since The 1975’s second album I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It did the same in February 2016.

It is the fifth time that Coldplay have achieved the feat, having done so in 2005 with X&Y, Viva La Vida (2008), Mylo Xyloto (2011) and Ghost Stories (2014). Moon Music makes them the British artist – solo or group – with the most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 this century.

Since 2000, a handful of other British groups have done the same including Radiohead, The Beatles, One Direction, Mumford & Sons, Muse and Florence + The Machine.

British solo acts have had more success, with Adele, Ed Sheeran, Paul McCartney, Harry Styles, Zayn, David Bowie and Susan Boyle all having done so since 2000. 

In a statement, Coldplay’s manager Phil Harvey said: “In Moon Music, the band has made one of their very best albums and I’m really happy that it resonated with fans all around the world. Even after 26 years, Chris, Guy, Jonny and Will never cease to amaze me with their outstanding artistry and unceasing hard work. To achieve this success in the middle of a record-breaking stadium tour makes it all the more impressive.

“As well as my fantastic co-managers Mandi Frost and Arlene Moon and the band’s incredible team, I’d like to offer sincere thanks to Max Lousada, Julie Greenwald and her team at Atlantic, everyone at Parlophone, as well as our touring family at Live Nation, WME and SJM. We’re looking forward to a long album campaign – not least in the U.S., where the band will return next year for their third summer of sold-out stadium shows and where we look forward to working with Elliot Grainge and his new team.”

On the Billboard 200, dated Oct. 19, the band achieved 120,000 equivalent album units, 106,000 of which are in traditional album sales. It was the first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 for the band in over 10 years, and became their 10th effort to reach the top 10.

The British act shifted 237,000 units in the U.K. to gain No. 1 on the Official Album Charts. Their opening week would prove the biggest opening week for a British act since Adele’s 30 was released in 2021. 

The band are currently in the midst of their Music Of The Spheres global world tour, which was recently named by Billboard Boxscore as the biggest rock tour of all time having passed $1 billion at the box office.