Coldplay Crowned World's Biggest Act

Ringo Starr, Beyonce, Mariah Carey And Kid Rock Feted At Monaco's 2008 World Music Awards

(AP)  Coldplay are officially the biggest band in the world.

The British group were named the globe's Best Selling Recording Act at the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo on Sunday. They also picked up two other top titles, World's Best Selling Rock Act and Great Britain's Best Selling Act.

The star-studded ceremony, which salutes the most popular international music-makers, is based on record sales.

Beyonce kicked off the event, performing a medley of her songs "If I Were A Boy" and "Single Ladies." She also collected the Outstanding Contribution to the Arts title.

Mariah Carey, fresh from her performance on the UK talent show "The X Factor," picked up the Special Achievement Award.

Other winners, inluding Alicia Keys, Kid Rock, Estelle, The Script, Madcon, DJ Laurent Wolf, Nancy Ajram, Kate Ryan and Philipp Kirkorov celebrated their achievements by performing at the event.

And just days after Paul McCartney was honored with the Ultimate Legend award at the MTV Europe Video Music Awards in Liverpool, his Fab Four band-mate Ringo Star picked up a trophy in Monaco. Starr was presented with the Diamond Award on behalf of The Beatles. The honor was for selling more recordings than any other band in the history of the music industry.

Hosted by Jesse Metcalfe and former Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams - a broadcast of the ceremony is set to air in 160 countries around the world.

The World Music Awards have been running since 1989, it's a charity event which benefits the Monaco Aide & Presence Foundation.

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World Music Awards 2008 winners list:

-Diamond Award: Ringo Starr
-Outstanding Contribution to the Arts: Beyonce
-Special Achievement Award: Mariah Carey
-Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry: LA Reid
-World's Best Selling Recording Act: Coldplay
-Best Selling Pop Female: Leona Lewis
-Best Selling Pop Male: Kid Rock
-Best Selling Pop/Rock Female: Amy Winehouse
-Best Selling Pop/Rock Male: Kid Rock
-Best Selling Rock Group: Coldplay
-Best Selling R&B Artist: Alicia Keys
-Best Selling R&B Male: Chris Brown
-Best Selling Best New R&B Act: Estelle
-Best selling Rap/Hip Hop: Lil Wayne
-Best Selling New Artist: Leona Lewis
-Best Selling Best DJ: DJ Laurent Wolf
-Best Selling Biggest Internet Artist: Akon
-Best Selling Latin Artist: Enrique Iglesias
-Best Selling Artist From Africa: Akon
-Best Selling Artist From America: Madonna
-Best Selling Artist From Australia: Delta Goodrem
-Best Selling Artist From Benelux: Kate Ryan
-Best Selling Artist From Canada: Celine Dion
-Best Selling Artist From China: Jay Chou
-Best Selling Artist From France: Christophe Mae
-Best Selling Artist From Germany: Die Arzte
-Best Selling Artist From Great Britain: Coldplay
-Best Selling Artist From Ireland: The Script
-Best Selling Artist From Italy: Jovanotti
-Best Selling Artist From Japan: Exile
-Best Selling Artist From The Middle East: Nancy Ajram
-Best Selling Artist From Nigeria: Tuface
-Best Selling Artist From Norway: Madcon
-Best Selling Artist From Russia: Philipp Kirkorov
-Best Selling Artist From Spain: Enrique Iglesias

[sly_64]

The article is basically BS. Many unknown artists have held this title.

[iowa0319]

I was comparing a "band" to a "solo" artist, but the headline reads "World''s Biggest Act". Wouldn''t a solo artist be an "Act" too?

[iowa0319]

Google Coldplay:
Over 40 million albums sold worldwide
One #1 album in UK
Two albums received "regular play" on the radio
Two Grammy''s
Two British Music Awards
Worlds biggest band? I don''t think so.

For example, compare to George Michael:
Over 100 million albums sold worldwide
Twelve #1 singles in the UK
Seven #1 albums in the UK
Ten #1 singles in the US
Two #1 albums in the US
The album Faith in 1987 is the best selling album of all time; the first album to ever produce six top five singles in the US; George Michael is ranked the most played artist in Britain for over 20 years; the album Faith has reached "diamond" status which has sold over 10 million copies in the US and over 20 million worldwide; he has a total of 21 music awards out of 49 nominations.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Coldplay are officially the biggest band in the world"

Officially perhaps, but in reality no one can touch George Clinton''s P-Funk All-Stars. Any award without their name is a sham.

[brianbwb-2009]

"who in the hell determined this?" Posted by shanev137

"The star-studded ceremony, which salutes the most popular international music-makers, is based on record sales."

Money determined it, as it does most things. Even though I think Coldplay suck, their lyrics are shallow, and their instrumental skills lacking, we have no other yardstick than sales, and apparently lots of people don''t think they suck.

[shanev137]

-Best Selling Pop/Rock Female: Amy Winehouse
-Best Selling Artist From America: Madonna


.....give me a freaken break.

who in the hell determined this?

[f091964]

OK rational_1 I hear your frustration but celine dion ain''t that bad except when she does air guitar to "You Shook Me All Night Long"

[iowa0319]

OK, the article says ''The star-studded ceremony, which salutes the most popular international music-makers, is based on record sales.''

I bet a lot of this *** that was ''sold'' is sitting in people''s basements or garages in boxes because it is ***.

[rational_1]

If you say so. Give that Celine Dion is the Canadian winner, I don''t know how seriously to take this award list. Well on the bright side, with Coldplay winning the award didn''t go to some foul-mouthed misogynistic (c)rapper with a bling & handgun obsession. Too bad they didn''t also identify the best-selling artists from North Korea, Greenland and Uzbekistan. I was really curious...