COLDPLAY, METALLICA EXTEND MEGA TOURS

Coldplay and Metallica have extended their already long-running respective Music of the Spheres and M72 world tours into 2025, both with the aid of promoter Live Nation.

Coldplay (WME) added 10 shows in January and April in Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Seoul and Hong Kong, which will augment the tour's record-breaking 10m tickets sold since launching in March 2022. The new dates mark the Chris Martin-led band's first in Hong Kong since 2009.

Support in Abu Dhabi will come from Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna, who appears on Coldplay's recent single "WE PRAY." The group's new album, Moon Music, arrives 10/4 on Atlantic.

As for Metallica's M72 (IAG), which began in April 2023, it will resume 4/12 at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas and run through a 6/27 & 29 stand at Denver's Empower Field at Mile High.

The shows continue the tradition of "no repeat" weekends, with distinct set lists during a visit to a single city, but will touch down in select stadiums for one-offs, including the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York (4/19), and Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia (5/7).

Metallica will also play 5/9 & 11 as part of Danny Wimmer Presents' Sonic Temple festival in Columbus, Ohio. Support for the headlining gigs will come from Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies and Ice Nine Kills. Dates in Australia and New Zealand are TBA.

That said, thinking about 2025 is making HITS want to go right off to never-never land.