Coldplay has long established itself as a global touring force, and the band’s recent achievements have only solidified its status in the music industry. By the end of 2024, Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres World Tour” had become the most attended tour in history, spanning 11 legs of international concerts across five continents. This monumental tour has not only captivated audiences worldwide but has also set new benchmarks in the live music scene. In January 2024, Coldplay made headlines by breaking new ground with its first-ever shows in India, further expanding its global reach.
During a remarkable run of nine shows between January 9 and January 26, Coldplay grossed an impressive $56.6 million and sold 590,000 tickets, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. This achievement marked the sixth time that the British quartet topped the monthly Top Tours ranking, continuing its ongoing competition for record-breaking status in the touring industry. The band’s relentless pursuit of excellence has kept it at the forefront of the live music scene, and its recent performances in India have only added to its legacy.
In November 2023, Coldplay celebrated its fifth win in the monthly Boxscore rankings, breaking a three-way tie with Beyoncé and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. However, the competition remained fierce, as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra caught up in December with its own fifth victory. With Coldplay now inching toward its sixth win, the band is well-positioned to match the record of seven wins held by Elton John and Bad Bunny before the Trans-Siberian Orchestra begins its annual holiday run in November.
Coldplay’s January tour kicked off with four shows at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium from January 9 to January 14. These performances alone grossed $28 million and sold 203,000 tickets, securing the top spot on the Top Boxscores chart. The band’s last visit to the United Arab Emirates was a one-night engagement on New Year’s Eve in 2016, where it earned $4.3 million from 31,300 tickets during the “A Head Full of Dreams Tour.” The 2024 shows saw an impressive increase, averaging $7 million and 50,800 tickets per night, marking improvements of 63% and 62% respectively. With the expansion to four nights, Coldplay was able to sextuple its previous earnings from the region.
Following their successful stint in Abu Dhabi, Coldplay made history by performing in India for the first time. The band played three shows in Mumbai on January 18, 20, and 21, grossing $12.8 million from 164,000 tickets. The tour then moved to Ahmedabad, where two shows at the Narendra Modi Stadium grossed $15.7 million and sold 224,000 tickets. The Ahmedabad performances were particularly noteworthy, as Coldplay broke the record for the largest stadium shows of the 21st century. With over 110,000 tickets sold for each night, the shows on January 25 and 26 narrowly surpassed George Strait’s previous record of 110,905 tickets sold at Kyle Field in Texas.
This January run marked Coldplay’s second leg of shows in Asia during the “Music of the Spheres World Tour.” Between November 2023 and February 2024, the band grossed $129.4 million and sold 884,000 tickets across various dates in Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, and more. Overall, the entire Asian leg of the tour has generated $186 million in grosses, with additional shows scheduled in April in Hong Kong and South Korea.
Looking ahead, the “Music of the Spheres World Tour” will continue with 17 shows in the U.S. and Canada, followed by 12 shows in the United Kingdom. The tour is set to conclude with 10 hometown shows at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. Since its launch in 2022, the tour has sold an astounding 10.9 million tickets and grossed just under $1.2 billion, making it the best-selling and second highest-grossing tour in Boxscore history.
In the competitive landscape of live music, Coldplay nearly doubles its closest rivals, with Luke Combs and SEVENTEEN ranking at Nos. 2 and 3, grossing $30.3 million and $28.8 million, respectively. Only three other acts managed to gross more than $10 million in January, with the Eagles, Justin Timberlake, and ATEEZ following closely behind.
January 2024 was particularly strong for K-pop groups, with ENHYPEN making its mark as the third Korean act in the top 10, securing the No. 8 spot with $7.7 million from just two shows. SEVENTEEN and ENHYPEN both performed in Asia, while ATEEZ had a successful run of European dates, peaking with over 22,000 tickets sold over two nights at London’s O2 Arena.
As the live music scene continues to evolve, venues like Sphere are becoming increasingly prominent. Sphere topped the Top Venues chart for capacities over 15,001, with the Eagles also making a strong showing at No. 4. Two weekends of performances at Sphere combined to gross $18.7 million and sell 65,600 tickets, pushing the band’s residency total to $98 million and 327,000 tickets since its kickoff in September 2023. With more shows scheduled, those totals are expected to soar beyond $150 million and half a million tickets.
In the realm of indoor venues, January calendars were notably light, with Sphere being the only entry on the Top Venues chart for capacities over 15,001 to gross eight figures. Radio City Music Hall dominated the Top Venues chart for capacities between 5,001 and 10,000, grossing $13.2 million, significantly outpacing Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, which earned $2.7 million.
As Coldplay continues to break records and captivate audiences around the globe, its influence in the music industry remains undeniable. The band’s ability to connect with fans, innovate in live performances, and push the boundaries of what is possible in touring sets a high bar for artists across genres.
