Seoul Breaks Global Record in Coldplay's Music of the Spheres Tour with LED Bracelet Return Rate

Coldplay  (Dok. Spc)

Wartagate.com - Seoul has made history during Coldplay's "Music of the Spheres" world tour by achieving the highest LED bracelet (Xyloband) return rate ever recorded. 

As of Thursday, April 25, 2025, an impressive 99% of concert-goers in South Korea returned their LED bracelets after the shows  a major milestone in Coldplay’s ongoing sustainability efforts.

The British band performed six concerts in Seoul starting from April 16, with an estimated 50,000 attendees at each event. As part of their eco-friendly initiatives, Coldplay distributed plant-based LED wristbands to the audience. 

These bracelets would light up in synchronization with the music and were intended to be recycled after each show.

To boost participation, Coldplay displayed live updates of return rates from cities worldwide on the concert screens, sparking a friendly global competition among fans.

 Initially, Tokyo, Helsinki, and Hong Kong led the rankings with a 97% return rate. However, Seoul steadily climbed the leaderboard — starting at 96% on the first night, reaching 98% on the second, and ultimately setting a new world record at 99%.

This achievement generated a buzz across Korean and international social media. Fans shared their competitive spirit online, with even Indonesian netizens joining the excitement. One user humorously posted, “We can't lose to Japan! Who didn’t return the bracelet?” while another joked, “That missing 1% must be the Indonesian fans!” accompanied by laughing emojis.

Audience member Lee recounted the electrifying moment when the 99% figure flashed on the screen before the concert started. "Everyone immediately erupted in cheers," Lee told the Korea Times on Saturday, April 26, 2025. "After the show, conversations about the importance of returning the bracelets were everywhere."

Beyond this remarkable sustainability success, Coldplay’s visit to Korea was also laced with political humor. Notably, Coldplay’s 2017 concert in Seoul had coincided with the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye. 

This time, their return in April 2025 came shortly after the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. Frontman Chris Martin joked on stage, “Every time we come to Korea, there’s no president,” eliciting laughter and loud cheers from the crowd.