Coldplay take calls on QVC amid mixed album reviews

Coldplay, the renowned British band, recently engaged with their fans during a unique 30-minute segment on QVC, a popular shopping channel. Chris Martin and Guy Berryman, two of the band's key members, took phone calls from fans while promoting their latest album, Moon Music. After spending 25 years in the music industry, Coldplay has graced nearly every television and radio program imaginable. However, for the promotion of their tenth album, they opted for a fresh approach. On Thursday night, the band made a special appearance on the US version of QVC to sell copies of their new record, along with a toaster and a tea set inspired by the album's artwork. Chris Martin humorously remarked, 'That is vastly more important than the album,' indicating that as they age, their interests have shifted towards kitchenware. He added, 'The music is really just serving our kitchen line now. ' During the show, the band enjoyed tea with host Jennifer Coffey, who proudly displayed her Coldplay tattoo on her back. Chris Martin has previously suggested that Moon Music might be the band's final album. In a 2021 interview with BBC Radio 2's Jo Whiley, he stated, 'Our last proper record will come out in 2025, and after that, I think we will only tour. ' He mentioned that they might collaborate on some projects but indicated that the Coldplay discography would conclude at that point. However, he later revised his statement, saying the band would complete their journey after releasing 12 albums. He explained, 'It’s really important that we have that limit. There’s only 12 and a half Beatles albums. There’s about the same Bob Marley, so all of our heroes. ' He believes that setting a limit ensures high-quality music. He stated, 'And so where we could be kind of coasting, we’re trying to improve. ' The reception for Moon Music has been mixed among critics, with an average score of 61 on Metacritic, a website that aggregates reviews. The NME, a well-known music publication, offered a positive review, stating that the album showcases 'the power of music to weather life’s storms. ' They described it as 'musically spacious and emotionally boundless. ' Conversely, some critics were less favorable, labeling the album as 'suffocatingly banal' and criticizing the lyrics as 'groan-inducing. ' They questioned whether the world truly needs songs that resemble 'Instagram self-help slogans. ' Despite the varied reviews, Coldplay's reputation remains intact. The band recently announced a major tour scheduled for summer 2025, solidifying their status as one of the world's best-selling musical acts. During their QVC appearance, Coldplay performed several new songs, accompanied by the Mzansi Youth Choir from Soweto. They also attempted to take calls from the audience, but their phone system encountered issues, leading host Jennifer Coffey to relay messages through an earpiece. One notable caller was a fan named Candy from Florida, who shared a heartfelt story about missing a concert in 2008 due to her father's passing. In response, Chris Martin spontaneously composed a song for her, singing, 'I'm sorry we missed you back in 2008, but some things are better when you're forced to wait. ' Within just 10 minutes of the segment airing, Jennifer Coffey reported that 31,000 people were shopping for the album on the QVC website. For context, the current number one album in the US, Future's Mixtape Pluto, sold 129,000 copies in its first week on the charts. Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, recently performed at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen as part of their Music of the Spheres World Tour, captivating audiences with his energetic performance.