The Music of the Spheres World Tour (2022–2025) by British rock band Coldplay had a widely documented environmental, cultural and economic impact, which further emphasised their influence on entertainment. Regarded as "the greatest live music show that humans have yet devised" by The Times, it became the most-attended tour in history and the first by a group to earn $1 billion in revenue. The concert run also marked a return to live performance for the band after the COVID-19 pandemic and its extensive media coverage contributed to a shift in public perception of the group.
When announcing the initial dates, Coldplay revealed a sustainability plan to reduce their CO2 emissions by 50% compared to the Head Full of Dreams Tour (2016–2017). These plans encompassed developing new LED stage products and partnering with BMW to create the first rechargeable mobile show battery in the world. However, the battery initiative and the selection of Neste as their biofuel supplier drew accusations of greenwashing. Nevertheless, the group managed to reduce their carbon footprint by 59% and planted over 9 million trees. Pollstar stated that they ushered into "a new era of sustainable touring", while Time ranked them among the most influential climate action leaders.
Demand for the shows was unprecedented, breaking records and luring ticketless fans outside venues in cities such as Barcelona, Kuala Lumpur, Munich and El Paso. Seismologists in Berlin and Kaohsiung reported tremors due to audience activity. Issues concerning ticket touting, event documentation and scheduling prompted legislative reforms in multiple countries. Tour stops experienced a financial boost in commerce, hospitality and public transport as well. Regions including Argentina, Singapore, Ireland and the United Kingdom saw broader macroeconomic effects. Controversy arose at times, most notably surrounding an affair scandal in the United States. Coldplay's discography also had a resurgence in sales and streams, impacting record charts worldwide. To foster philanthropic activities, the band partnered with Global Citizen and the Love Button Global Movement.
Sustainable touring Industry response
Following the release of Coldplay's eighth album, Everyday Life (2019), Chris Martin said the band would not be touring until they could ensure their concerts are environmentally friendly. The record was promoted with small shows for charity and a performance at the Amman Citadel in Jordan, broadcast by YouTube. On 14 October 2021, a day before Music of the Spheres was made available, the group posted on social media they were returning to live entertainment after the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement also included a series of environmental plans developed in two years with help from sustainability experts; they were aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by 50% in comparison to their previous tour. Furthermore, the group established a partnership with BMW to create the first mobile rechargeable show battery in the world.
Le Soir Didier Zacharie affirmed that the efforts proposed by Coldplay were unprecedented for a stadium concert run and added their initiative was commendable. Alex Duke from Impact said the band were "redefining the rulebook" in a world that "desperately needs radical climate action" and praised them for bringing environmental issues to the forefront of international music news through a pioneering endeavour. In an article for Vogue Scandinavia, Doris Daga observed the tour set the bar for how artists could contribute to mitigate their environmental impact and complimented the band's transparency on "the reality that no [show] will be carbon negative in 2022".
According to Lucy August-Perna, the sustainability director of Live Nation, Coldplay's proposal helped to "build on the framework [the company] had been developing over the past five years on their tours and venues". She also described the measures created by the group as "impressive and forward-thinking", since they focused on concrete solutions. Additionally, the director claimed she was working to adopt their plans, institutionalise what they learn and provide environmentally conscious options for more performers worldwide.
Writing for Veja, Amanda Capuano commented that the concert residency template used by Coldplay on the tour schedule underscored a trend previously seen with Adele and Harry Styles, where musicians with sizable demand are travelling less due to an increased interest in logistics, quality of life and mental health. Moreover, the group's collaboration with John Wiseman from Worldwide Sales and Frederic Opsomer from PRG Projects led to the development of completely new LED stage products. Opsomer attested that the custom technology built for the concert run will become commonplace in the next years as well, thanking Coldplay for the initiative. Uproxx and Billboard later noticed they had an impact on tours from Billie Eilish and Shawn Mendes, respectively. In 2023, the Kappa FuturFestival took measures similar to the Music of the Spheres World Tour, while 2024 saw the band receiving support from Live Nation and Warner Music Group to fund a carbon footprint study that will suggest practical solutions for live music events at every level.
Criticism on partnerships
Carlos Calvo Ambel from Transport & Environment declared that Coldplay were "no doubt well-intentioned" but reprimanded their cooperation with Neste. He accused the company of "cynically using [the band] to greenwash its reputation", since biofuels were supplied to the tour while they had links to deforestation; therefore, the partnership should be discontinued to give priority to better solutions. SumOfUs' Eoin Dubsky criticised the ties with BMW and concluded the group needed to take greater care while doing their diligences, as the multinational was lobbying to prevent the European Union from establishing a deadline for vehicles to become carbon neutral.
On the same day, Coldplay published a statement reiterating that their plan was a work in progress and they "genuinely welcome suggestions as to how to do it better". The band also emphasised having no connection to BMW's corporate policies, adding that various car manufacturers were approached in order to provide the required expertise and the company was the one that helped. Neste separately mentioned that investigations regarding their palm oil vendors were launched, but no evidence of violations or links to deforestation was found. Their response crew said that the concert run only received fuels with frying and animal fat waste as well. The coalition was formally terminated in January 2023.
Reduced emissions A team managed by professor John Fernandez at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) collected data from the concerts and measured it against the Head Full of Dreams Tour (2016–2017), showing that Coldplay successfully reduced their CO2 emissions by 59%. Research attested 72% of all waste was diverted from landfills, while the production of LED wristbands fell by 80%. Average return rates for the item reached 86% per date in the first year. More than 9,625 meals and 90 kg of toiletries were given away from the catering to unhoused and unsheltered people. The solar power installations, kinetic floors and stationary bicycles have produced 15 kWh every show, enough to fuel the C-stage and charging stations for the crew. It was also stated that performances operated entirely on renewable energy.
Coldplay were recognised as pioneers for the future of sustainability in live music as a result. Fernandez hailed their efforts as "critically important, scientifically rigorous and of the highest". In June 2023, BBC News interviewed senior cleansing officer Samantha Thomas on concert waste and she informed that the streets were much cleaner after the group performed at Principality Stadium in comparison to other major events. Gaffa Jim Knutsson argued that the tour established itself as a platform to promote green technology and environmental commitment. Live Nation said that 9 million trees have been planted by the band across different forest reserves. In November 2023, they were featured on the inaugural Time 100 Climate ranking, which highlighted the most influential climate action leaders based on their recent and measurable achievements.
Popular culture Media coverage
Discussing the impact of the tour on La Gaceta, Pablo Hamada considered it a media phenomenon which brought a wave of positivity beyond the shows, as Coldplay became a prominent topic of news coverage and online engagement in the places they visited. He associated the fanaticism over the band with their generational importance. Sofía Campos from La Razón wrote that their performances appeal to multiple age demographics. The Washington Post Sonia Rao mentioned that the concerts provided "a taste of a long-lost monoculture". Mark Beaumont observed that even the most sceptical critics of the group were turned into admirers on his column for The Times, emphasising that their dedication to live spectacles has regained them respect and credibility in all quarters.
Brazilian outlets coined the term "Coldplaymania" to describe their media dominance, given how the tour was subject of intense scrutiny in the country. Julio Maria from Estadão praised the band as "the last rock creation with the potential to fill stadiums". President Lula da Silva invited them to attend the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Following their show at Rock in Rio, spin-off festival The Town distributed LED wristbands. Samba schools employed them at the Sapucaí Carnival Parades as well. Warner Music's Marcela Moreira said the group inspired how Bruno Mars led his visit to Brazil in 2023.
Publications have also reported on brands and companies launching campaigns referencing the tour once Coldplay announced dates in their respective countries. Celebrities from various fields garnered attention at the concerts, including those in cinema, television, music, and sports. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer faced backlash for accepting free tickets to watch the band at Manchester's Etihad Stadium. President Bongbong Marcos was scrutinised for using a helicopter to arrive at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, while the public struggled with traffic congestion. Chancellor Karl Nehammer joined one of the Ernst-Happel-Stadion dates to inspect the security strategies adopted following the 2024 Vienna terrorism plot. Ta Nea writer Giorgos Skintsas stated that the shows in Athens overshadowed the European Parliament election that year. Jeff Speed from The Yorkshire Post recognised the tour as a "monolithic event". The Telegraph James Hall argued that its positive reception cemented Coldplay as the best live band in the world.
Crowd phenomena