Coldplay

Band

Photo: Raph_PH · CC BY 2.0
Active 1996-present
Origin London, England
Albums 10
Tracks 116
Most frequent collaborator Rik Simpson · 65 tracks
Genres Alternative RockPop RockPost-BritpopArt Rock
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 116 of 116 tracks

Did Coldplay write their own songs?

Yes, all of them, as a group. Coldplay credit all four members, Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion, on every song, so they hold a writing credit on 100% of their catalog. Classics like 'Yellow,' 'Clocks,' and 'Viva la Vida' are theirs. Outside names appear only as producers, like Brian Eno, or as guests on later songs.

By the Numbers

10
Studio Albums
116
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
160M+
Records Sold
30
Years Active
178
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 116 / 116 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 116 tracks: how many Coldplay wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Coldplay has a writing credit100%
59%
41%
Sole author69tracks59%
Co-written47tracks41%
Outside writers0tracks0%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Coldplay's roles across the catalog

Share of all 116 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)100%
Composer (music)100%
Producer29%
Performer99%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 116 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Chris Martin 1996-present
100%
100%
0%
99%
Jonny Buckland 1996-present
33%
100%
0%
32%
Guy Berryman 1996-present
33%
100%
0%
32%
Will Champion 1996-present
33%
100%
0%
33%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Coldplay's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
2000Parachutes
2002A Rush of Blood to the Head
2005X&Y
2008Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
2011Mylo Xyloto
2014Ghost Stories
2015A Head Full of Dreams
2019Everyday Life
2021Music of the Spheres
2024Moon Music
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
2000s
Parachutes, A Rush of Blood to the Head +2 more
100%
2010s
Mylo Xyloto, Ghost Stories +2 more
100%
2020s
Music of the Spheres, Moon Music

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Coldplay sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalog authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Coldplay
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Faith Hill2%
Backstreet Boys25%
Hilary Duff42%
Sinéad O'Connor59%
Jesse McCartney67%
Smash Mouth83%
The White Stripes92%
100%Coldplay
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Shiver
Parachutes
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
Yellow
Parachutes
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
Trouble
Parachutes
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
In My Place
A Rush of Blood to the Head
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
The Scientist
A Rush of Blood to the Head
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
Clocks
A Rush of Blood to the Head
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
Speed of Sound
X&Y
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
Fix You
X&Y
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
Talk
X&Y
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Ralf Hütter, Karl Bartos, Emil Schult
Co-wrote
Violet Hill
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
Viva la Vida
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall
Mylo Xyloto
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Brian Eno, Peter Allen, Adrienne Anderson, Harry Castioni, Alex Christensen, Alberto Hauss, Jeff Wycombe
Co-wrote
Paradise
Mylo Xyloto
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Brian Eno
Co-wrote
Magic
Ghost Stories
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
A Sky Full of Stars
Ghost Stories
Written by Chris Martin, Tim Bergling, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Co-wrote
Adventure of a Lifetime
A Head Full of Dreams
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Wrote it
Hymn for the Weekend
A Head Full of Dreams
Written by Chris Martin, Beyonce Knowles, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion
Co-wrote
Orphans
Everyday Life
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Moses Martin
Co-wrote
Higher Power
Music of the Spheres
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Max Martin, Federico Vindver, Denise Carite
Co-wrote
My Universe
Music of the Spheres
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Max Martin, Oscar Holter, Bill Rahko, Suga, J-Hope, RM
Co-wrote
Let Somebody Go
Music of the Spheres
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Max Martin, Apple Martin, Livvi Franc, Oscar Holter, Bill Rahko, Metro Boomin, Olivia Waithe, Leland Wayne
Co-wrote
Feelslikeimfallinginlove
Moon Music
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Jon Hopkins, Max Martin, Oscar Holter, Apple Martin, Tim Rutili
Co-wrote
We Pray
Moon Music
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Little Simz, Jay-Z, Elyanna, Max Martin, Burna Boy, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Tini, Simbiatu Ajikawo, Shawn Carter, Elian Marjieh, Damini Ogulu, Martina Stoessel
Co-wrote
All My Love
Moon Music
Written by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Moses Martin
Co-wrote

Discography 10 albums

Covers all 10 studio albums.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Photo of ColdplayColdplay116 tracks
RS65Rik Simpson, 65 tracks DG46Dan Green, 46 tracks BR37Bill Rahko, 37 tracks KN33Ken Nelson, 33 tracks Photo of Max Martin24Max Martin, 24 tracks MD23Markus Dravs, 23 tracks BE22Brian Eno, 22 tracks OH14Oscar Holter, 14 tracks JH13Jon Hopkins, 13 tracks DS9Danton Supple, 9 tracks MI9Michael Ilbert, 9 tracks DR7Davide Rossi, 7 tracks FV7Federico Vindver, 7 tracks JC6Jacob Collier, 6 tracks DH6Dorian Holley, 6 tracks NH6Neka Hamilton, 6 tracks SM6Stevie Mackey, 6 tracks AM6Apple Martin, 6 tracks DC5Denise Carite, 5 tracks LC5Love Choir, 5 tracks AL4Angel Lopez, 4 tracks JM4John Metcalfe, 4 tracks MM4Moses Martin, 4 tracks IS3Ilya Salmanzadeh, 3 tracks BW3Brandon Winbush, 3 tracks SG3Sharlotte Gibson, 3 tracks TS3Toni Scruggs, 3 tracks PE2Paul Epworth, 2 tracks S2Stargate, 2 tracks NS2Norah Shaqur, 2 tracks ME2Mikkel Eriksen, 2 tracks HW2Harcourt Whyte, 2 tracks FL2For Love Choir, 2 tracks LF2Livvi Franc, 2 tracks OW2Olivia Waithe, 2 tracks PS2Paris Strother, 2 tracks AS2Amber Strother, 2 tracks VC2Victoria Canal, 2 tracks H2H.E.R., 2 tracks CA1Chris Allison, 1 track RH1Ralf Hütter, 1 track KB1Karl Bartos, 1 track ES1Emil Schult, 1 track PA1Peter Allen, 1 track AA1Adrienne Anderson, 1 track HC1Harry Castioni, 1 track AC1Alex Christensen, 1 track AH1Alberto Hauss, 1 track JW1Jeff Wycombe, 1 track R1Rihanna, 1 track JÞ1Jón Þór Birgisson, 1 track OP1Orri Páll Dýrason, 1 track GH1Georg Hólm, 1 track KS1Kjartan Sveinsson, 1 track KT1Ken Thomas, 1 track KH1Kuk Harrell, 1 track LC1Leonard Cohen, 1 track BM1Brian May, 1 track on Queen's page TB1Tim Bergling, 1 track on Avicii's page BK1Beyonce Knowles, 1 track TL1Tove Lo, 1 track GK1Greg Kurstin, 1 track AS1Amjad Sabri, 1 track TE1Tor Erik Hermansen, 1 track AC1African Children's Feeding Scheme, 1 track DG1Denise Green, 1 track LE1LaMarcus Eldridge, 1 track MC1Mabvuto Carpenter, 1 track SX1Surrenity XYZ, 1 track DG1Drew Goddard, 1 track FK1Femi Kuti, 1 track S1Stromae, 1 track PV1Paul Van Haver, 1 track AA1Ayodeji Adebanjo, 1 track AM1Ayoola Magbagbeola, 1 track BA1Babatunde Ankra, 1 track GO1Gbenga Ogundeji, 1 track OA1Omorinmade Anikulapo-Kuti, 1 track LT1Le Trio Joubran, 1 track LV1London Voices, 1 track A1Aluna, 1 track BM1Bashar Murad, 1 track BO1Ben Oerlemans, 1 track GA1Garine Antreassian, 1 track J'1Jocelyn 'Jozzy' Donald, 1 track MK1Marwa Kreitem, 1 track NF1Nadeen Fanous, 1 track TS1Tiwa Savage, 1 track BB1Bert Berns, 1 track JR1Jerry Ragovoy, 1 track SS1Saadi Shirazi, 1 track AC1Alice Coltrane, 1 track SS1Shahrzad Sami, 1 track SH1Scott Hutchison, 1 track SL1Simon Liddell, 1 track AM1Andy Monaghan, 1 track MC1Marianna Champion, 1 track SF1Stephen Fry, 1 track MB1Metro Boomin, 1 track BS1Bart Schoudel, 1 track SG1Selena Gomez, 1 track WA1We Are King, 1 track DD1Derek Dixie, 1 track SF1Samuel Falson, 1 track JR1Jesse Rogg, 1 track VC1Vilma Colling, 1 track AC1Ava Champion, 1 track BB1Bea Berryman, 1 track DS1Doris Sandberg, 1 track JC1Juno Champion, 1 track NB1Nico Berryman, 1 track RA1Richard Axnick, 1 track VB1Violet Buckland, 1 track S1Suga, 1 track on BTS's page J1J-Hope, 1 track on BTS's page R1RM, 1 track on BTS's page J1Jin, 1 track on BTS's page J1Jimin, 1 track on BTS's page V1V, 1 track on BTS's page J1Jungkook, 1 track on BTS's page TM1Tate McDowell, 1 track TR1Tim Rutili, 1 track LS1Little Simz, 1 track J1Jay-Z, 1 track E1Elyanna, 1 track BB1Burna Boy, 1 track T1Tini, 1 track SA1Simbiatu Ajikawo, 1 track SC1Shawn Carter, 1 track EM1Elian Marjieh, 1 track DO1Damini Ogulu, 1 track MS1Martina Stoessel, 1 track OL1Orlando le Fleming, 1 track MB1Mattias Bylund, 1 track TH1Tor Hermansen, 1 track AM1Alison Martin, 1 track LA1Lous and the Yakuza, 1 track MY1Mzansi Youth Choir, 1 track AS1Antonio Sol, 1 track BM1Baraka May Williams, 1 track DL1David Loucks, 1 track JJ1Jarrett Johnson, 1 track NB1Nelson Beato, 1 track AS1Ayra Starr, 1 track AP1Alex Pall, 1 track on The Chainsmokers's page AT1Andrew Taggart, 1 track on The Chainsmokers's page NR1Nile Rodgers, 1 track OA1Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, 1 track TC1The Chainsmokers, 1 track DT1Drew Taggart, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 177. RS Rik Simpson · DG Dan Green · BR Bill Rahko · KN Ken Nelson · MD Markus Dravs

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Chris Martin writes virtually all Coldplay's lyrics, but all four members share composer credits on most tracks, reflecting their genuine collaborative approach in the studio. The notable exception is Mylo Xyloto, where Brian Eno is credited as co-writer on most tracks alongside his production role, representing a genuinely outside compositional voice. On Viva la Vida, Eno served as producer only; Jon Hopkins co-wrote two tracks on that album.

Quick Facts

  • GrammysWon multiple Grammy Awards across the 2000s
  • SalesSold over 160 million records, one of the best-selling acts of all time
  • Equal creditAll four members share the songwriting credit on their songs
  • Music of the Spheres TourThe first tour by a band to gross over $1 billion
  • CollaborationsLater hits paired them with guests from Beyoncé to BTS

Creative Fingerprint

A band that writes as one: Coldplay's four members share a writing credit on every song, credited on 100% of the catalog, with outside names appearing only as producers like Brian Eno or as guest collaborators on later hits.

The Story

Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1996, consisting of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, and drummer Will Champion. They became one of the best-selling music acts of all time and the most commercially successful British band of their generation, with a catalog that has evolved from introspective post-Britpop on their debut Parachutes (2000) to expansive art rock on A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), arena-sized anthemic rock on X&Y (2005), and the baroque orchestral pop of Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), produced by Brian Eno. 'Yellow,' 'The Scientist,' 'Clocks,' 'Fix You,' and 'Viva la Vida' rank among the most-streamed and most-recognized songs in rock history, maintaining genuine presence on radio and streaming decades after their release. Throughout their career, Chris Martin has driven the band's songwriting as primary composer and lyricist, with the band credited collectively as co-composers and increasingly pushing into pop collaboration territory from their later albums onward. Their live shows, featuring elaborate light installations, LED wristbands, and stadium-scale productions, became benchmark events for arena-scale concert performance.

Awards & Recognition

Sold over 160 million records worldwide, one of the best-selling music acts of all time
Won multiple Grammy Awards across the 2000s
Their Music of the Spheres World Tour was the first by a band to gross over $1 billion
One of the best-selling and most popular bands of the 21st century
Their album A Rush of Blood to the Head is regarded as one of the greatest rock albums of the 2000s

Frequently Asked Questions Coldplay

Did Coldplay write their own songs?Songwriting
Yes, all of them, as a group. Coldplay credit all four members, Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion, on every song, so they hold a writing credit on 100% of their catalog. Classics like 'Yellow,' 'Clocks,' and 'Viva la Vida' are theirs. Outside names appear only as producers, like Brian Eno, or as guests on later songs.
Who wrote 'Viva la Vida'?Songwriting
'Viva la Vida' (2008) was written by all four members of Coldplay, with production and a co-writing hand from Brian Eno. It became their first US and UK number-one single.
Who wrote 'Yellow'?Songwriting
'Yellow' (2000) was written by the members of Coldplay for their debut album Parachutes. It was their breakthrough single and remains one of their signature songs.
Why do all four members of Coldplay get songwriting credit?Songwriting
The band decided early on to split all songwriting credits and royalties equally among the four members, even though Chris Martin is the primary lyricist and melodist. It is a deliberate choice to keep the band together.
Who wrote 'A Sky Full of Stars'?Songwriting
'A Sky Full of Stars' (2014) was co-written by Coldplay with the DJ Avicii, who produced it. It brought a dance-music sound to the band's album Ghost Stories.
Who wrote 'My Universe'?Songwriting
'My Universe' (2021) was co-written by Coldplay with the members of BTS, who appear on it. It was a number-one hit and a rare Coldplay collaboration with a K-pop group.
How many albums has Coldplay released?Career
This catalog covers 10 of their studio albums, from Parachutes (2000) to Moon Music (2024).
How many records has Coldplay sold?Career
Over 160 million worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music acts of all time.
Who is the singer of Coldplay?Career
Chris Martin is the lead singer, pianist, and primary songwriter, though the band shares all credits. The other members are Jonny Buckland (guitar), Guy Berryman (bass), and Will Champion (drums).
What genre is Coldplay?Career
They started as an alternative and post-Britpop rock band, known for anthemic, melodic songs, and later moved toward pop and electronic sounds on their more recent albums.

Sources

Wikipedia: Coldplay discography Wikipedia: Coldplay