In August, Coldplay’s former manager, Dave Holmes, allegedly initiated legal action against the band, seeking $12 million in unpaid commission for their 10th album, Music Of The Spheres released in 2021, as well as their yet-to-be-released 11th LP. Coldplay has allegedly filed a countersuit against Dave Holmes, their manager of 20 years, claiming damages exceeding £14 million. They allege that Holmes obtained two loans from Live Nation without their knowledge.
According to their claims, Holmes borrowed $20 million (£16.3 million) from the promoter in 2015. Holmes has been instrumental in managing Coldplay’s recordings and live performances since their third studio album, X&Y, released in 2005. Throughout his tenure, he contributed to the successful production and release of seven albums and six tours, including the highly lucrative Music of the Spheres worldwide tour.
Additionally, Coldplay has accused Holmes of insufficiently overseeing and managing the financial aspects of the extensive 165-stop tour. Consequently, the band alleged they were burdened with the responsibility of covering expenses incurred for costly equipment that ultimately proved to be either unnecessary or unusable. They allege that the production of 16 custom-made stage pylons amounted to a staggering €10.6 million, yet they were never utilised throughout the tour. Similarly, they claim a visual projector named the Jet Screen, valued at £9.7 million, was allegedly constructed with incorrect dimensions and could only be employed for a mere 10 performances.
As per the lawsuit obtained by Billboard, Mr. Holmes has alleged that he was responsible for organising recording sessions, samples, and string arrangements for Coldplay’s 10th album and their potential 11th studio album release. Additionally, he has claimed that he is entitled to commission for the advances made towards Coldplay’s upcoming albums, including the £35m paid by Parlophone Records, a subsidiary of Warner Group, for their 10th album.
Coldplay, a globally recognized music act, has achieved remarkable success with over 100 million albums sold worldwide. Their immense popularity can be attributed to their forward-thinking strategies and innovative promotional techniques. Notably, the band’s revolutionary use of the internet as a marketing and promotional tool enabled them to connect with a vast global audience, expanding their fan base exponentially. Coldplay’s ability to leverage digital platforms effectively has played a pivotal role in their enduring success, allowing them to transcend geographical boundaries and captivate fans from diverse corners of the world.
Mr Holmes is said to have further accused Coldplay’s Chris Martin and his band members of “made-up” allegations, further tarnishing Coldplay’s credibility. A spokesperson on behalf of Mr Holmes had this to say, “Coldplay knows they’re in trouble with their defence. Accusing Dave Holmes of non-existent ethical lapses and other made-up misconduct will not deflect from the real issue at hand: Coldplay had a contract with Dave, they are refusing to honour it and they need to pay Dave what they owe him”.
