The Emptiness Machine Explained

The Emptiness Machine
Cover:Linkin Park - "The Emptiness Machine" cover.jpg
Caption:CD single cover art
Type:single
Artist:Linkin Park
Album:From Zero
Genre:
Length:3:10
Label:
Producer:Mike Shinoda
Prev Title:Qwerty
Prev Year:2024
Next Title:Heavy Is the Crown
Next Year:2024

"The Emptiness Machine" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. It was released as the lead single from the band's eighth studio album, From Zero, on September 5, 2024. This is the band's first single to feature Emily Armstrong on vocals and Colin Brittain on drums, as well as the first single not to feature former members Chester Bennington and Rob Bourdon.[1] [2] [3] The track was a commercial success across the globe, charting at number one in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Switzerland as well as the top 20 in Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Finland, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom.

Release

On August 24, 2024, the band launched a 100-hour countdown, furthering speculation on the recent reunion rumours.[4] Upon the expiration of the timer, the band teased the fans as the clock started to tick back up, before glitching for a few seconds on 09:05, leading to speculation that there could be an announcement on September 5, which the band later confirmed on their social media accounts.[5] [6] [7] [8]

On September 5, at a fan event held in Los Angeles, California, the band officially reunited and performed "The Emptiness Machine" live for the first time at Warner Bros. Television Studios, while simultaneously releasing the song as the lead single from their newly announced eighth studio album From Zero. This was Linkin Park's first public performance with new members Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain.[9] [10] [11]

On September 17, the band appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[12] After Shinoda's sitdown interview with Jimmy Fallon, the whole band performed the song live, making it the first televised appearance of the new lineup.[13] [14]

Composition

Revolver described "The Emptiness Machine" as "a supercharged rock anthem in the tried-and-true LP tradition."[15] More specifically, the song has been described as hard rock,[16] alternative rock,[17] and alternative metal by critics.[18]

Commercial performance

In the United States, "The Emptiness Machine" made an instant impact on rock radio within its first six hours of release, debuting at number 24 on Billboards Rock Airplay chart.[19] Despite being released at the tail-end of the tracking week, the song simultaneously debuted on the Hot Hard Rock Songs chart at number 7, selling 1,000 digital downloads and racking up 690,000 streams in its first six hours.[20] In its first full tracking week, the song tallied up 13,400,000 streams and 8,000 downloads, debuting at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, while topping the Hot Hard Rock Songs and Rock Airplay charts.[21] In the process, "The Emptiness Machine" became the band's highest-charting song in the United States in fifteen years since 2009's "New Divide" that peaked at number 6, only being denied as a Top 20 hit by Morgan Wallen's "Cowgirls".[16] [22]

In the United Kingdom, "The Emptiness Machine" was battling for the band's first chart-topping single on the UK Singles Chart, trailing only to Sabrina Carpenter's "Taste" in the midweek update with 14,101 sales.[23] [24] At the end of the week, the song debuted at number four, becoming their highest-ever charting song on the chart, beating "What I've Done", which peaked at number six in 2007, with their best opening week performance in the UK for a single release totalling over 38,000 units.[25] [26] [27] Simultaneously, the song debuted atop the UK Singles Sales Chart and UK Singles Downloads Chart, gifting the band their first ever UK number one on pure sales in the country with over 2,500 downloads; it also spent six non-consecutive weeks at the summit of the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.[28] [27] By November 2024, "The Emptiness Machine" had already achieved 176,137 chart sales in the UK.[29] The week following the album's release, the song rebounded into the UK's Top 10 and got certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry for 200,000 units.[30] [31]

The song debuted atop the German Singles Chart, becoming the band's first number-one single in Germany, and their highest chart entry since 2012, where "Burn It Down" peaked at number 2.[32] It stayed at number one for eleven consecutive weeks, becoming the longest-running number one of the entire calendar year in the country.[33] Elsewhere in Europe, "The Emptiness Machine" was also a number one hit in Austria, Czech Republic, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland.

In Ireland, "The Emptiness Machine" debuted at number 16 on the Irish Singles Chart, their highest-charting song since 2007, where "What I've Done" peaked at number 15.[34]

Worldwide, the song debuted at number three on the Billboard Global 200 chart with 74 million streams and 19,000 sales sold in its first full week, making "The Emptiness Machine" the first song by the band to become a top-10 hit on the chart.[35]

Music video

The music video for "The Emptiness Machine" was directed by the band's turntablist Joe Hahn. It was published on YouTube and released on September 5, 2024.[36] [37]

Personnel

Linkin Park

Additional personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[38] 27
Belarus Airplay (TopHit)111
Bolivia (Monitor Latino)[39] 6
Bolivia (Billboard)[40] 20
Central America (Monitor Latino)[41] 7
Colombia (Monitor Latino)[42] 7
Costa Rica (Monitor Latino)[43] 5
Croatia (Billboard)[44] 10
Czech Republic Rock (IFPI)[45] 1
Denmark (Tracklisten)[46] 35
Ecuador (Monitor Latino)[47] 7
El Salvador (Monitor Latino)[48] 9
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)[49] 42
France (SNEP)[50] 12
Greece (IFPI)[51] 4
Guatemala (Monitor Latino)[52] 2
Honduras (Monitor Latino)[53] 11
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[54] 22
India International (IMI)[55] 18
Italy (FIMI)[56] 34
Italy Rock Airplay (EarOne)[57] 1
Japan Digital Singles (Oricon)[58] 42
Japan Download Songs (Billboard Japan)[59] 42
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[60] 2
Latvia (LaIPA)[61] 1
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[62] 10
Lithuania (AGATA)[63] 7
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)[64] 12
Luxembourg (Billboard)[65] 1
Malaysia (Billboard)[66] 13
Malaysia International (RIM)[67] 12
Mexico (Monitor Latino)[68] 7
Morocco (Hit Radio)[69] 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[70] 18
Norway (VG-lista)[71] 10
Paraguay (Monitor Latino)[72] 17
Panama (Monitor Latino)[73] 11
Peru (Monitor Latino)[74] 9
Peru (Billboard)[75] 24
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[76] 10
Portugal (AFP)[77] 1
Romania (Billboard)[78] 12
Singapore (RIAS)[79] 12
South Africa (Billboard)[80] 15
South Korea Download (Circle)[81] 95
South Korea BGM (Circle)[82] 131
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[83] 27
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[84] 14
Taiwan (Billboard)[85] 24
Uruguay (Monitor Latino)[86] 11
Venezuela (Monitor Latino)[87] 10

Monthly charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Brazil Streaming (Pro-Música Brasil)[88] 15
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[89] 18
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[90] 1
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)[91] 63
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)[92] 20
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[93] 53
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[94] 2

Notes and References

  1. Jason. Lipshutz. Inside Linkin Park's Secret Comeback. Billboard. September 5, 2024. September 6, 2024.
  2. Joe. DiVita. Linkin Park Announce 2024 Album 'From Zero' – First With Singer Emily Armstrong. Loudwire. September 5, 2024. September 6, 2024.
  3. James. Wilson-Taylor. Linkin Park Return: New Album 'From Zero', New Band Members & Tour Dates. Rock Sound. September 5, 2024. September 6, 2024.
  4. Mitchell. Peters. Linkin Park Launches Mysterious 100-Hour Countdown Timer Amid New Vocalist Rumors. Billboard. August 24, 2024. September 8, 2024.
  5. Web site: Lauryn. Schaffner. Linkin Park Debut First Song With New Singer Emily Armstrong – Listen. Loudwire. September 5, 2024. September 6, 2024.
  6. Gregory. Adams. Linkin Park announce new singer, new song, new album and world tour. Revolver. September 5, 2024. September 6, 2024.
  7. Web site: Emily. Carter. Here's what happened when Linkin Park's second 100-hour timer ended. Kerrang!. September 2, 2024. September 8, 2024.
  8. Web site: Laura. Molloy. Linkin Park's mysterious countdown clock ends… and then begins counting up again. NME. August 28, 2024. September 8, 2024.
  9. Web site: Hannah. Roberts. Linkin Park announce new female singer and eighth studio album. Yahoo. September 6, 2024. September 8, 2024.
  10. Larisha. Paul. Linkin Park Unveil Emily Armstrong as New Co-Vocalist, Announce 2024 World Tour and Album. Rolling Stone. September 5, 2024. September 8, 2024.
  11. Web site: Willman . Chris . 2024-09-12 . Linkin Park Thrills L.A. Forum Crowd With New Singer in First Full Show Since 2017: See the 27-Song Setlist . 2024-09-23 . Variety . en-US.
  12. Watch Linkin Park Showcase 'The Emptiness Machine' on 'Fallon'. Rolling Stone. Zemler. Emily. September 18, 2024. November 16, 2024.
  13. Web site: Reunited Linkin Park Perform New Single "The Emptiness Machine" on Fallon: Watch. Consequence. Vito. Jon. September 18, 2024. November 16, 2024.
  14. Web site: Watch Linkin Park Perform "The Emptiness Machine" on The Tonight Show. NBC. Rudolph. Christopher. September 18, 2024. November 16, 2024.
  15. See Linkin Park's Epic Video for Comeback Single "The Emptiness Machine". Revolver. September 5, 2024. September 6, 2024.
  16. Web site: What Does Linkin Park's Early 'The Emptiness Machine' Success Mean for Their Comeback?. Billboard. Chan. Anna. Denis. Kyle. Glicksman. Josh. Lipshutz. Jason. Unterberger. Andrew. September 18, 2024. September 18, 2024.
  17. Web site: Fantano . Anthony . I Like The New Linkin Park Song . The Needle Drop . September 30, 2024 . September 26, 2024.
  18. Web site: "Linkin Park have crafted a genuinely great album worthy of their canon." From Zero is a resounding success that fans of every era of Linkin Park can enjoy. Louder Sound. Alderslade. Merlin. November 8, 2024. November 8, 2024.
  19. Web site: Linkin Park's 'The Emptiness Machine' Debuts on Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart From First Few Hours of Release. Billboard. Rutherford. Kevin. September 6, 2024. September 14, 2024.
  20. Web site: Linkin Park's 'The Emptiness Machine' Blasts to No. 1 on Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart. Billboard. Rutherford. Kevin. September 13, 2024. September 14, 2024.
  21. Web site: Linkin Park's 'The Emptiness Machine' Lands Historic No. 1 on Hot Hard Rock Songs. Billboard. Rutherford. Kevin. September 17, 2024. September 18, 2024.
  22. Web site: Billboard Hot 100™. Billboard. September 21, 2024. November 21, 2024.
  23. Web site: Linkin Park's The Emptiness Machine challenges Sabrina Carpenter's Taste for UK's Number 1 song. Official Charts Company. Smith. Carl. September 8, 2024. September 12, 2024.
  24. Web site: Linkin Park set for singles chart return with The Emptiness Machine. Music Week. September 9, 2024. November 21, 2024.
  25. Web site: Sabrina Carpenter licks her lips for third week at Number 1 with Taste. Official Charts Company. Griffiths. George. September 13, 2024. September 13, 2024.
  26. Web site: Linkin Park Achieve Highest Ever UK Chart Position With 'The Emptiness Machine'. Rock Sound. Wilson-Taylor. James. September 13, 2024. September 13, 2024.
  27. Web site: Charts analysis: Sabrina Carpenter's Taste stays at summit with Bed Chem waiting in the wings. Music Week. Jones. Alan. September 13, 2024. November 21, 2024.
  28. Web site: Linkin Park - The Emptiness Machine. Official Charts Company. 13 September 2024.
  29. Web site: 'We're really enjoying ourselves': Linkin Park's new line-up start a fresh chapter with From Zero. Music Week. Hickie. James. November 19, 2024. November 21, 2024.
  30. Web site: Linkin Park's From Zero hits No.1 with strong physical sales and streaming consumption. Music Week. Paine. Andre. November 22, 2024. November 22, 2024.
  31. Web site: Linkin Park: The Emptiness Machine. British Phonographic Industry. November 22, 2024. November 22, 2024.
  32. Web site: Linkin Park land first number 1 hit in Germany. Official German Charts. September 13, 2024. September 13, 2024.
  33. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Top 5 Single-Charts. Offizielle Charts. 27 September 2024. 11 October 2024.
  34. Web site: Official Irish Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. 13 September 2024. 13 September 2024.
  35. Web site: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars' 'Die With a Smile' Adds Third Week at No. 1 on Billboard Global Charts. Billboard. Trust. Gary. September 16, 2024. September 16, 2024.
  36. Web site: WATCH: Linkin Park Unveil Video For New Single 'The Emptiness Machine'. Rock Sound. Wilson-Taylor. James. September 6, 2024. November 16, 2024.
  37. Web site: Linkin Park Release Music Video For New Single "The Emptiness Machine". BlastOutYourStereo. Flores. Brandon. September 5, 2024. November 16, 2024.
  38. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 16, 2024. September 13, 2024.
  39. Web site: Top 20 Bolivia del 9 al 15 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. September 17, 2024.
  40. Linkin Park Chart History (Bolivia Songs). Billboard. September 17, 2024.
  41. Web site: Top 20 Centroamerica del 23 al 29 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. October 1, 2024.
  42. Web site: Top 20 Honduras del 23 al 29 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. October 1, 2024.
  43. Web site: Top 20 Costa Rica del 23 al 29 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. October 1, 2024.
  44. Linkin Park Chart History (Croatia Songs). Billboard. September 17, 2024.
  45. Web site: CZ - RADIO - TOP 20 MODERN ROCK. IFPI Czech Republic. Czech. November 17, 2024.
  46. Web site: Track Top-40 Uge 37, 2024. Hitlisten. September 18, 2024.
  47. Web site: Top 20 Ecuador del 23 al 29 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. October 1, 2024.
  48. Web site: Top 20 Honduras del 9 al 15 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. September 17, 2024.
  49. Web site: Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: Sep 26, 2024. TopHit. September 27, 2024.
  50. Web site: Top Singles (Week 37, 2024). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. French. September 16, 2024.
  51. Web site: 2024-09-18 . IFPI Charts . 2024-09-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240918073052/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html . 2024-09-18 .
  52. Web site: Top 20 Guatemala del 23 al 29 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. October 1, 2024.
  53. Web site: Top 20 Honduras del 9 al 15 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. September 17, 2024.
  54. Web site: Streymi, spilun og sala viku 37 Birt 14. september 2024 – Næst uppfært 21. september 2024.. Icelandic. September 17, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240914121021/https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/. September 14, 2024.
  55. Web site: IMI International Top 20 Singles for week ending 16th September 2024 Week 37 of 52. IMIcharts. September 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240916193413/https://imicharts.com/.
  56. Web site: Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 38. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. September 21, 2024.
  57. Web site: 2024-09-06 . Classifica EarOne Airplay Rock . 2024-09-19 . EarOne . it-IT.
  58. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Digital Singles: 2024-09-16 . . September 11, 2024 . ja.
  59. Web site: Billboard Japan Download Songs – Week of September 11, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. September 11, 2024.
  60. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of September 18, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. September 18, 2024.
  61. Web site: Straumēšanas Top 2024 – 37. nedēļa. Streaming TOP 2024 – Week 37. lv. LaIPA. October 17, 2024. October 14, 2024.
  62. Web site: OLT20 – Combined Chart – Week of Sunday November 18th, 2024. The Official Lebanese Top 20. November 21, 2024.
  63. Web site: 2024 37-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). AGATA. lt. September 13, 2024. September 13, 2024.
  64. Web site: Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Oct 3, 2024. TopHit. October 5, 2024.
  65. Linkin Park Chart History (Luxembourg Songs). Billboard. September 17, 2024.
  66. Linkin Park Chart History (Malaysia Songs). Billboard. September 17, 2024.
  67. Web site: TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 37 (06/09/2024-12/09/2024). RIM. September 21, 2024. September 21, 2024. Facebook.
  68. Web site: Top 20 Mexico del 16 al 22 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. September 17, 2024.
  69. Web site: TOP30. Hit Radio. September 11, 2024. September 11, 2024.
  70. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. September 16, 2024. September 13, 2024.
  71. Web site: Singel 2024 uke 38. VG-lista. September 21, 2024.
  72. Web site: Top 20 Panama del 14 al 21 de Octubre, 2024. Monitor Latino. September 17, 2024.
  73. Web site: Top 20 Panama del 9 al 15 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. September 17, 2024.
  74. Web site: Top 20 Peru del 9 al 15 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. September 17, 2024.
  75. Linkin Park Chart History (Peru Songs). Billboard. September 17, 2024.
  76. Web site: OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie. OLiS. pl. September 19, 2024. Select week 06.09.2024–12.09.2024..
  77. Web site: Top 200 Singles Semana 37 de 2024. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. September 18, 2024. September 18, 2024.
  78. Linkin Park Chart History (Romania Songs). Billboard. September 17, 2024.
  79. Web site: RIAS Top Charts Week 37 (6 - 12 Sep 2024). RIAS. September 17, 2024. September 17, 2024. https://archive.today/20240917052117/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/.
  80. Linkin Park Chart History (South Africa Songs). Billboard. September 17, 2024.
  81. Web site: Download Chart – Week 37 of 2024. Circle Chart. ko. September 19, 2024.
  82. Web site: CIRCLE CHART - 써클차트 . 2024-09-19 . circlechart.kr . en.
  83. Web site: Top 100 Songs – Week 37, 2024. September 21, 2024. Productores de Música de España. El Portal de Música.
  84. Web site: Veckolista Singlar, vecka 37. Sverigetopplistan. September 13, 2024.
  85. Linkin Park Chart History (Taiwan Songs). Billboard. September 17, 2024.
  86. Web site: Top 20 Honduras del 9 al 15 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. September 17, 2024.
  87. Web site: Top 20 Venezuela del 16 al 22 de Septiembre, 2024. Monitor Latino. September 17, 2024.
  88. Web site: Top 50 Streaming (Pro-Música Brasil) – Setembro de 2024. Pro-Música Brasil. October 9, 2024. pt. https://web.archive.org/web/20241007183257/https://pro-musicabr.org.br/home/top-50-streaming/?top50sPeriodo=09/2024. October 7, 2024. live.
  89. Web site: CZ – RADIO – TOP 100: Měsíc 10/2024. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. November 6, 2024. cs.
  90. Web site: CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100: Měsíc 9/2024. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. October 9, 2024. cs.
  91. Web site: Top Radio Hits Estonia Monthly Chart: September 2024. TopHit. October 6, 2024.
  92. Web site: Top Radio Hits Lithuania Monthly Chart: October 2024. TopHit. November 1, 2024.
  93. Web site: SK – RADIO – TOP 100: Měsíc 10/2024. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. November 6, 2024. cs.
  94. Web site: SK – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100: Měsíc 9/2024. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. October 3, 2024. cs.

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