I find this somewhat interesting. Not sure why.

Coldplay currently have the number one single in America.

The folks at Anglophenia have pointed out that this is the first time that a UK Band has topped the American charts since February of 1997.

They offer this handy list, which does prove a bit of a point:

2000s (1 No. 1)

"Viva La Vida" by Coldplay

1990s (2 No. 1s)

"Wannabe" by The Spice Girls (February 1997)
"I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred (February 1992)

1980s (25 No. 1s)

"Good Thing" by Fine Young Cannibals (July 1989)
"She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals (April 1989)
"Red Red Wine" by UB40 (October 1988)
"(I Just) Died in Your Arms" by Cutting Crew (May 1987)
"Human" by Human League (November 1986)
"Venus" by Bananarama (September 1986)
"Invisible Touch" by Genesis (July 1986)
"Holding Back the Years" by Simply Red (July 1986)
"West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys (May 1986)
"Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits (September 1985)
"Shout" by Tears For Fears (August 1985)
"A View To a Kill" by Duran Duran (July 1985)
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears For Fears (June 1985)
"Everything She Wants" by Wham! (May 1985)
"Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds (May 1985)
"Careless Whisper" by Wham! featuring George Michael (February 1985)
"The Reflex" by Duran Duran (June 1984)
"Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club (February 1984)
"Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes (January 1984)
"Every Breath You Take" by The Police (July 1983)
"Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners (April 1983)
"Don't You Want Me" by Human League (July 1982)
"Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen (October 1980)
"Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" by Pink Floyd (March 1980)
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen (February 1980)

Of course one of the things that it shows is not so much the decline of UK acts as much as the decline of bands.

A quick look then - the last time any UK act topped the US singles charts? Three months ago. The last time a band made it to top the charts? Last July.