KEY POINTS:
Coldplay sold 125,000 copies of new album Viva La Vida on the first day of release in Britain, which should be music to the band's ears and those of ailing record label EMI.
X&Y, Coldplay's last album and most successful to date, sold 465,000 copies in its first week in Britain.
Lead singer Chris Martin, married to actor Gwyneth Paltrow, has appeared uncomfortable discussing the record in a series of radio interviews this week.
Late on Thursday, he walked out of an interview on BBC's Radio 4, saying he was "not enjoying this" and accusing his interviewer of "twisting" words. He rejected the description of the new album as "morbid".
EMI, the smallest of the four major record labels which was taken private last year, lost two of its biggest acts in 2007 - Paul McCartney and Radiohead - and representatives for Coldplay and Robbie Williams also suggested they may look elsewhere.
Pop stars are considering alternatives to traditional record deals as internet piracy and declining CD sales mean touring and merchandise are often more lucrative than the actual music.
- NZPA
