Coldplay: X Factor Is Essential For Music Industry

Chris Martin has defended pop talent show "X Factor," declaring its importance to the music industry in a new interview.

He was asked about the show masterminded by Simon Cowell on Absolute Radio (via Gigwise), discussing the forthcoming Coldplay performance at the live final of the UK version next week.

"We really feel grateful for it because they don't often have bands on and we get to play what we want to play and play songs that we wrote, and no-one's asking us to change anything. It's amazing," Martin said.

He continued to say that the UK offers very few dedicated music shows, with the only other example being "Later… With Jools Holland" which Metallica and Lou Reed recently performed on. As a result, Martin and his bandmates were quick to accept an offer to perform on the X Factor final.

It might be easy to presume that the band want to perform for the large pay check and one of the biggest TV viewing audiences in the UK television calendar, but Martin says otherwise.

"I understand that there are people who are musically not into it, but I don't agree with them and I say that with all respect," he said. "I really love it and I think the music's great."

Coldplay have seen huge success with their new album "Mylo Xyloto" which broke the iTunes record for most downloads sold in the first week, with over 500,000. But Martin appears to remain modest, having recently said his band were merely "a s--t Radiohead."

Do you agree that the X Factor is essential to music, or might the world be a better place without it? Share your thoughts about the talent show in the comments.

Comments

[Trent Armitage]

X Factor and American Idol are great for the industry, you can't deny it. We wouldn't have Carrie Underwood, Daughtry or Kelly Clarkson.

Maybe the metal heads or "elite" can work on a different show for a more rock genre instead of trolling on this.

[StillSublime]

Trent Armitage wrote:

X Factor and American Idol are great for the industry, you can't deny it. We wouldn't have Carrie Underwood, Daughtry or Kelly Clarkson.

Maybe the metal heads or "elite" can work on a different show for a more rock genre instead of trolling on this.

But do we need them? Nahhh.. Chris looks so high lmao

[lukephillips000]

Where is the quote in the title? I honestly cannot see it in this article...

[jordo246]

I'm now on minus respect for this man, these shows are what is ruining the music industry, not many bands or people with actual talent get much of a chance now because of this shit, only a complete idiot would think the industry needs The X Factor.

[refizzled]

After years, I was finally able to muster some respect for Coldplay's musicianship. Sadly, this has all gone down the drain again after reading Chris Martin's statements over the last few weeks.

[peachesenregali]

How much did Simon pay him I wonder?

[Glass Prisoner]

How about less "reality" shows and more shows with REAL musicians? Jools Holland keeps the gears of the music industry turning by introducing new, eclectic musicians. The X Factor just chews up and spits out the same trash every year.

[Burgery]

lolnah

[biff022]

Clodplay = American Idol = X Factor = garbage.

To say these shows are good for music is a joke. They pluck someone with minimal underdeveloped talent, spit shine them to resemble a working musician and sell it to the mediocrity-craving public who eat it up while someone with talent who is close to the 10,000 hours it takes for mastery of their instrument goes unheard of...

Not to mention that the clowns who go on these shows don't crave making music... they crave being famous.

Clodplay and anyone who agrees with them should think twice before they insult intelligence.

[iwannabesedated]

I didn't think I could like Coldplay any less...

[ffaf12]

where is coldplay and what have you done to them because when i checked 12 years ago they wernt writing s### like paridise

[snow...]

There are so many people that want to get into the music industry, X Factor, American Idol and other contests are just a loophole to get there faster. It seems to me it's for the lazy artists. Instead of going out and somehow publicising your band or trying to get a record label by YOURSELF or self, you're literally getting someone to do it for you. Plenty of artists make youtube videos and get plenty of views, I guess some people prefer X Factor. But hey, at least it hits people with reality, some can't sing but think they can, stops them wasting there time.

[Trent Armitage]

snow... wrote:

There are so many people that want to get into the music industry, X Factor, American Idol and other contests are just a loophole to get there faster. It seems to me it's for the lazy artists. Instead of going out and somehow publicising your band or trying to get a record label by YOURSELF or self, you're literally getting someone to do it for you. Plenty of artists make youtube videos and get plenty of views, I guess some people prefer X Factor. But hey, at least it hits people with reality, some can't sing but think they can, stops them wasting there time.

My god, you really think that it's that easy?:What a joke? You must be one of those haters that never watch American Idol or the X Factor, who think that only a few people go for it on TV. Many people try and fail.

[LordRyur]

Trent Armitage wrote:

X Factor and American Idol are great for the industry, you can't deny it. We wouldn't have Carrie Underwood, Daughtry or Kelly Clarkson.

Maybe the metal heads or "elite" can work on a different show for a more rock genre instead of trolling on this.

I can deny it, because they're not. Those shows push out popstars, no matter what genre they claim to play. Not Michael Jackson, ABBA level popstars, I'm talking generic 15-minute wonders. Like.. '90s boyband level. Popstars. No matter the genre.
The only thing the more Rock-based competitors have done, like Adam Lambert, James Durbin, and Daughtry, is serve to dumb down Rock even more than it already has in the last decade or two. Rock's bad enough as it is, it doesn't need more crappy Pop Rockers to help dig its grave. And Carrie Underwood? Some faux-country wannabe? Yeah, she is just SO great and does wonders for the country genre. Just like Taylor Swift. I believe the likes of her are exactly what most real country artists are against. Shitty, soft, faux-country that's played on the radio. You heard right! It's not just rockers and metalheads who hate made-for-radio music. :O! WHO KNEW RIGHT? Other people who actually like music ALSO hate cheapened bull that's disguised as music!

A Rock equivalent would be even worse. Instead of the random err.. "rocker" who dazzles the world and captivates every mall-going, wannabe-rocker every once in a while, there would be HUNDREDS every season. Yeah, again: Rock doesn't need help dying.

And as a non-musical bonus! Shows like these only draw attention away from real, important matters. They push the sheet of ignorance even more over the American people, so that more and more choose entertainment over information.

[yoman297]

lol Chris looks stoned in that picture.

[crucifiedead]

I think I shall change to Metal Hammer for the majority of my music news.

[judo_john]

there it is, the Lou Reed and Metallica mention.....
one a day UG. one a day.....

[murtoll]

Shows like the X factor only look for people with "marketable" voices. They don't care about talent, taste and artistic sensibilities. I'm sick of seeing these cookie-cutter people singing shitty 1.5 minute covers of whatever's been in the charts.

All these shows do is water down music and narrow the minds of impressionable idiots. LordRyur hit the nail on the head.

[bassmike200]

Chris Martin... totally irrelevant
!

Trent Armitage wrote:

snow... wrote:

There are so many people that want to get into the music industry, X Factor, American Idol and other contests are just a loophole to get there faster. It seems to me it's for the lazy artists. Instead of going out and somehow publicising your band or trying to get a record label by YOURSELF or self, you're literally getting someone to do it for you. Plenty of artists make youtube videos and get plenty of views, I guess some people prefer X Factor. But hey, at least it hits people with reality, some can't sing but think they can, stops them wasting there time.


My god, you really think that it's that easy?:What a joke? You must be one of those haters that never watch American Idol or the X Factor, who think that only a few people go for it on TV. Many people try and fail.

Good... I've little respect for X-Factor contestants who make it but those that are even worse are clearly not destinied for a career in music even more so! I agree there needs to be more focus on music as an art than as a corporate cash-cow for SyCo to milk to death.

[Iamtdawg]

biff022 wrote:

Clodplay = American Idol = X Factor = garbage.

To say these shows are good for music is a joke. They pluck someone with minimal underdeveloped talent, spit shine them to resemble a working musician and sell it to the mediocrity-craving public who eat it up while someone with talent who is close to the 10,000 hours it takes for mastery of their instrument goes unheard of...

Not to mention that the clowns who go on these shows don't crave making music... they crave being famous.

Clodplay and anyone who agrees with them should think twice before they insult intelligence.

.

THANK YOU