Breaking Benjamin's 'Awaken' Achieves Gold Status: A Testament to Their Resurgence

In a thunderous resurgence that reverberates throughout the heavy music underground, Breaking Benjamin has hit a monumental milestone: their anthemic single, “Awaken,” has officially been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), signifying a staggering 500,000 units sold in the U.S. This accolade, awarded on September 4, is the band's first RIAA honor since 2022 and a testament to the relentless force of their comeback since the track’s release in October 2024.

“Awaken” isn’t just another single; it’s the first sonic eruption from Breaking Benjamin after their seismic shift to a global recordings agreement with BMG in 2024, marking their first new label home in two decades. The track quickly dominated the airwaves, claiming four weeks at the top of Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, and solidified its reign by conquering the Rock Digital Song Sales, Alternative Digital Song Sales, and Hard Rock Digital Song Sales charts.

The momentum hasn’t slowed down, as earlier this year, the band unleashed “Something Wicked,” which also ascended to No. 1 on both Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart and the Mediabase Active Rock chart. This achievement marks Breaking Benjamin's ninth career No. 1 on the Billboard chart, showcasing their unwavering presence in the hard rock scene.

With “Awaken” and “Something Wicked” paving the way, fans are on the edge of their seats for the impending release of Breaking Benjamin’s highly anticipated new studio album. The band has carved out an illustrious legacy, amassing a treasure trove of Platinum and multi-Platinum records, alongside billions of global streams and a fiercely loyal fanbase that stretches around the world.

Sean Heydorn, SVP, Head of Rock and Rise Records at BMG, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Seeing ‘Awaken’ reach Gold certification while both ‘Awaken’ and ‘Something Wicked’ have gone to No. 1 is an incredible way to begin this next chapter with Breaking Benjamin. These milestones speak to the strength of the music, the passion of their fans, and the momentum surrounding the band right now.” With such fervor igniting their journey, the anticipation for what lies ahead is palpable.