- Coldplay is a British rock band.
- They’ve been nominated for 34 Grammy Awards.
- The band is up for three awards in 2023.
From the moment that the band’s song “Yellow” arrived in the summer of 2000, the rock world was ready for Coldplay. Though the band — Chris Martin, Johnny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, and Phil Harvey – has shifted away from its post-grunge, alternative nation sounds to more pop-based music, the group is still a celebrated band who had a hand in shaping rock music for the decades that followed. And that impact can be seen in the group’s track record at the Grammys Awards.
Though the band’s “wins to nominations” ratio is a touch off-kilter – a total of 7 wins with 34 nominations – they have managed to take home some major awards. They’re also primed to add to that number as they head into the 65th Grammy Awards on Feb. 5. Before that happens, let’s find out how many Grammys they’ve won, what they’ve been nominated for, and more.
Coldplay’s 2023 Grammy Nominations
Coldplay went into the 65th Grammy Awards with just a handful of nominations:
- Album Of The Year: In what was a surprise considering the critical reception Music Of The Spheres received (Rolling Stone gave it a middling review, and Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop rated it 2/10), the collection scored an Album of the Year nomination. It will compete against ABBA‘s Voyage, Adele‘s 30, Beyoncé’s Renaissance, Bad Bunny‘s Un verano sin ti, Mary J. Blige‘s Good Morning Gorgeous, Brandi Carlile‘s In These Silent Days, Kendrick Lamar‘s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Lizzo‘s Special, and Harry Style‘s Harry’s House.
- Best Pop Vocal Album: In what seems to be a truncated list from the Album of the Year category, Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album, along with the abovementioned albums from ABBA, Adele, Lizzo, and Harry Styles.
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: It would have been awkward if BTS won its first Grammy from a collaboration with Coldplay, but the group had a 20% chance of winning. Their song, “My Universe,” is up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and battles ABBA‘s “Don’t Shut Me Down,” Camila Cabello and Ed Sheeran‘s “Bam Bam.” Post Malone and Doja Cat‘s “I Like You (A Happier Song)” and “Unholy” by Sam Smith and Kim Petras.
However, Coldplay got shut out. Sam Smith and Kim Petras won Best Pop/Duo Group Performance (“Unholy”), Harry Styles won Album of the Year (Harry’s House) and Best Pop Vocal Album.
Coldplay’s 7 Grammy Awards
Best Alternative Music Album – ‘Parachutes’ (2002)
Coldplay kicked off its success at the Grammys in 2002, winning the Best Alternative Music Album award. The group’s debut album beat Radiohead‘s Amnesiac, Fatboy Slim‘s Halfway Between The Gutter and the Stars, Björk‘s Vespertine, and Tori Amos‘s Strange Little Girls for the win.
Best Alternative Music Album – ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’ (2003)
Coldplay went back-to-back in the Best Alternative Music Album category, winning the award for A Rush of Blood To The Head. The other albums nominated that year were Beck‘s Sea Change, Elvis Costello & The Imposters‘ Cruel Smile, Clinic‘s Walking With Thee, and The Soundtrack of Our Lives‘ Behind The Music.
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals – “In My Place” (2003)
The group took home Best Rock Performance By A Duo or Group along with their Best Alt Album Grammy. Coldplay’s “In My Place” beat Aerosmith‘s “Girls of Summer,” Creed‘s “My Sacrifice,” Chad Kroeger and Josey Scott‘s “Hero” (aka the song from Spider-Man), 3 Doors Down‘s “When I’m Gone,” Tonic‘s “Take Me As I Am” and U2‘s “Walk On.”
Record Of The Year – “Clocks” (2004)
One might call it an upset, but Coldplay’s “Clocks” took home Record of the Year in 2004. Record of the Year is the award for the actual recording and not the song composition. “Clocks” beat out OutKast‘s “Hey Ya,” Beyoncé and Jay-Z‘s “Crazy In Love,” Eminem‘s “Lose Yourself,” and “Where’s The Love” by The Black Eyed Peas and Justin Bieber.
Song Of The Year – “Viva La Vida” (2009)
“Viva La Viva,” off of Coldplay’s Vivi La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, won Song Of The Year at the 2009 Grammy Awards. The track claimed victory over Adele’s “Chasing Pavements,” Jason Mraz‘s “I’m Yours,” Sara Bareilles‘ “Love Song,” and “American Boy” by Estelle featuring Kanye West.
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals – “Viva La Viva” (2009)
“Viva La Viva” would also take home the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The song won over the Eagles‘ “Waiting in the Weeds,” OneRepublic‘s “Apologize,” Maroon 5‘s “Won’t Go Home Without You,” and Gnarls Barkley‘s “Going On.”
Best Rock Album — Vivi La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (2009)
For a snapshot of where mainstream rock music was in the late 2000s, look at the Best Rock Album category at the 2009 Grammys. Coldplay’s Vivi La Vida Or Death And All His Friends won the award, beating Metallica‘s Death Magnetic, Only By The Night by Kings of Leon, Kid Rock‘s Rock N Roll Jesus, and The Raconteurs‘ Consolers of the Lonely.
Colplay’s Grammy Nominations
2002
- Best Alternative Music Album (Parachutes)
- Best Rock Song (“Yellow”)
- Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (“Yellow”)
2003
- Best Alternative Music Album (A Rush of Blood TO The Head)
- Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or A Group With Vocals (“In My Place”)
2004
- Record of the Year (“Clocks”)
- Best Short Form Music Video (“The Scientist”)
2005
- Best Long Form Music Video (Live 2003)
2006
- Best Rock Album (X&Y)
- Best Rock Song (“Speed of Sound”)
- Best Rock Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals (“Speed Of Sound”)
2007
- Best Rock Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals (“Talk”)
2009
- Song Of The Year (“Viva La Vida”)
- Record Of The Year (“Viva La Vida”)
- Album Of The Year (Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends)
- Best Rock Album (Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends)
- Best Pop Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals (“Viva La Vida”)
- Best Rock Song (“Violet Hill”)
- Best Rock Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals (“Violet Hill”)
2010
- Best Rock Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocals (“Life In Technicolor II”)
- Best Short Form Music Video (“Life In Technicolor II”)
2012
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Paradise”)
- Best Rock Song (“Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall”)
- Best Rock Performance (“Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall”)
2013
- Best Rock Album (Mylo Xyloto)
- Best Rock Performance (“Charlie Brown”)
2014
- Best Song Written For Visual Media (“Atlas”)
- Best Music Film (Live 2012)
2015
- Best Pop Vocal Album (Ghost Stories)
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“A Sky Full of Stars”)
- Best Music Film (Ghost Stories Live 2014)
2017
- Best Music Video (“Up&Up”)
2018
- Best Pop Vocal Album (Kaleidoscope EP)
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Something Just Like This” with The Chainsmokers)
2021
- Album of the Year (Everyday Life)
2022
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Higher Power”)
2023
- Album of the Year (Music of the Spheres)
- Best Pop Vocal Album (Music of the Spheres)
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“My Universe” with BTS)
Did Coldplay Perform?
They did not. Jin of BTS currently serving his mandatory military service in South Korea, so the chance of Coldplay performing their nominated “My Universe” with the K-Pop superstars was already pretty, pretty low.
What’s Next For Coldplay?
The band is going on tour. In March, Coldplay heads down to do a run of shows in Brazil. In May, they head to Europe for a tour that keeps them overseas until the end of July. The group returns to North America in September, culminating in a performance at the 2023 Rose Bowl.