Coldplay offers free download of new single

‘Violet Hill’ available on Web site for 1 week; band announces 3 free shows

	Lead singer Chris Martin and his band Coldplay have a new album coming out called “Viva La Vida.”
Myung Jung Kim / AP file

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updated 2:40 p.m. ET April 29, 2008

LONDON - Coldplay is offering the first single from its new album available as a free download to fans who visit the English band’s Web site.

“Violet Hill,” the first single from “Viva La Vida,” became available on www.coldplay.com from 7:15 a.m. EDT Tuesday, one week before it goes on sale at digital retailers. The song has a harder, more experimental sound than previous Coldplay releases.

After several attempts, Billboard managed to obtain a copy of the track, the first from the upcoming album.

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The Web site asks for the user’s email and postcode details, after which an automatically-generated email is sent to the downloader’s inbox. The email contains a link to the free MP3, which pops-up on the desktop within a zip-file. The URL apparently expires in six hours.

The track will get a conventional paid-for digital release on May 6, ahead of the June 12 release of the album “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.”

“Violet Hill” was given its first airing on BBC Radio 1 Tuesday, with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin on hand. During his lunchtime conversation with host Jo Whiley, he revealed that the band would also play a free concert in Barcelona, but did not disclose the venue or date of the gig.

The song will be available as a free download from the Web site for one week, a statement said.

The Web site also gives preliminary details about free shows at London’s Brixton Academy on June 16 and at New York’s Madison Square Garden on June 23.

The Associated Press and Billboard contributed to this report.

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