COLDPLAY - COLDPLAY'S VIVA LA VIDA TO BE BIGGEST-SELLING ALBUM OF 2008

COLDPLAY'S VIVA LA VIDA TO BE BIGGEST-SELLING ALBUM OF 2008

Coldplay's fourth album Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends is set to become both the fastest- and biggest-selling album of the year.

While it only hit the shelves on Thursday June 12th, it is estimated the foursome's new effort could sell almost 200,000 copies within a matter of days.

Duffy's Rockferry is currently the fastest-selling album of the year, with 183,874 copies sold in its first week on release in March, but the new effort from Chris Martin and co is likely to smash that record, according to HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo.

"There is massive interest in this album, and the early signs are that sales at hmv stores around the country and online at hmv.com are meeting the huge expectations surrounding its release, while it's also being heavily downloaded as well," he explained.

"It's likely to be given a big boost by Father's Day gift purchasing - we're expecting loads of kids and mums to buy it for cool dads everywhere.

"Any Coldplay release is now a major event, and the band are one of the few truly global acts that can drive huge numbers of music fans into record stores and online."

He added that the music retailer had placed one of its largest-ever orders in anticipation of Viva La Vida's success.

While the band's third album X & Y sold more than 400,000 copies in its first week on release in June 2005, Viva La Vida is expected to do the same in only three days, setting it up to be both the band's fourth number one album and the biggest seller of 2008.