The Emptiness Machine

On August 24, 2024, the band launched a 100-hour countdown, furthering speculation on the recent reunion rumors.{{cite magazine|first=Mitchell|last=Peters|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/linkin-park-countdown-timer-new-vocalist-rumors-1235760479/|title=Linkin Park Launches Mysterious 100-Hour Countdown Timer Amid New Vocalist Rumors|magazine=Billboard|date=August 24, 2024|access-date=September 8, 2024}} 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.{{cite web|first=Lauryn|last=Schaffner|url=https://loudwire.com/linkin-park-the-emptiness-machine-new-singer/|title=Linkin Park Debut First Song With New Singer Emily Armstrong – Listen|work=Loudwire|date=September 5, 2024|access-date=September 6, 2024}}{{cite magazine|first=Gregory|last=Adams|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/news/linkin-park-reunite-new-singer-new-song-new-album-world-tour/|title=Linkin Park announce new singer, new song, new album and world tour|magazine=Revolver|date=September 5, 2024|access-date=September 6, 2024}}{{cite web|first=Emily|last=Carter|url=https://www.kerrang.com/heres-what-happened-when-linkin-parks-second-100-hour-timer-ended-thursday-los-angeles-event-reddit|title=Here's what happened when Linkin Park's second 100-hour timer ended|work=Kerrang!|date=September 2, 2024|access-date=September 8, 2024}}{{cite web|first=Laura|last=Molloy|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/linkin-parks-mysterious-countdown-clock-ends-and-then-begins-counting-up-again-3788436|title=Linkin Park's mysterious countdown clock ends… and then begins counting up again|work=NME|date=August 28, 2024|access-date=September 8, 2024}}

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.{{cite web|first=Hannah|last=Roberts|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/linkin-park-release-music-seven-102646461.html|title=Linkin Park announce new female singer and eighth studio album|website=Yahoo|date=September 6, 2024|access-date=September 8, 2024}}{{cite magazine|first=Larisha|last=Paul|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/linkin-park-new-vocalist-emily-armstrong-tour-album-from-zero-1235096109/|title=Linkin Park Unveil Emily Armstrong as New Co-Vocalist, Announce 2024 World Tour and Album|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 5, 2024|access-date=September 8, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=2024-09-12 |title=Linkin Park Thrills L.A. Forum Crowd With New Singer in First Full Show Since 2017: See the 27-Song Setlist |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/linkin-park-forum-setlist-los-angeles-new-singer-1236141901/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

On September 17, the band appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/linkin-park-the-emptiness-machine-fallon-1235105198/|title=Watch Linkin Park Showcase 'The Emptiness Machine' on 'Fallon'|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Zemler|first=Emily|date=September 18, 2024|access-date=November 16, 2024}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2024/09/linkin-park-the-emptiness-machine-fallon/|title=Reunited Linkin Park Perform New Single "The Emptiness Machine" on Fallon: Watch|website=Consequence|last=Vito|first=Jon|date=September 18, 2024|access-date=November 16, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/watch-linkin-park-perform-the-emptiness-machine-new-singer|title=Watch Linkin Park Perform "The Emptiness Machine" on The Tonight Show|publisher=NBC|last=Rudolph|first=Christopher|date=September 18, 2024|access-date=November 16, 2024}}

Revolver described "The Emptiness Machine" as "a supercharged rock anthem in the tried-and-true LP tradition."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/see-linkin-parks-epic-video-for-comeback-single-the-emptiness-machine/|title=See Linkin Park's Epic Video for Comeback Single "The Emptiness Machine"|magazine=Revolver|date=September 5, 2024|access-date=September 6, 2024}} More specifically, the song has been described as hard rock,{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/linkin-park-the-emptiness-machine-debut-five-burning-questions-1235777857/|title=What Does Linkin Park's Early 'The Emptiness Machine' Success Mean for Their Comeback?|magazine=Billboard|last1=Chan|first1=Anna|last2=Denis|first2=Kyle|last3=Glicksman|first3=Josh|last4=Lipshutz|first4=Jason|last5=Unterberger|first5=Andrew|date=September 18, 2024|access-date=September 18, 2024}} alternative rock,{{cite web |last1=Fantano |first1=Anthony |title=I Like The New Linkin Park Song |url=https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/i-like-the-new-linkin-park-song/ |website=The Needle Drop |access-date=September 30, 2024 |date=September 26, 2024}} and alternative metal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/linkin-park-from-zero|title="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|website=Louder Sound|last=Alderslade|first=Merlin|date=November 8, 2024|access-date=November 8, 2024}}

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 Billboard{{'}}s Rock Airplay chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/linkin-park-the-emptiness-machine-debuts-rock-alternative-airplay-chart-1235769382/|title=Linkin Park's 'The Emptiness Machine' Debuts on Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart From First Few Hours of Release|magazine=Billboard|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=September 6, 2024|access-date=September 14, 2024}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/linkin-park-the-emptiness-machine-number-1-rock-alternative-airplay-chart-1235774930/|title=Linkin Park's 'The Emptiness Machine' Blasts to No. 1 on Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart|magazine=Billboard|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=September 13, 2024|access-date=September 14, 2024}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/linkin-park-the-emptiness-machine-number-1-hot-hard-rock-songs-1235777819/|title=Linkin Park's 'The Emptiness Machine' Lands Historic No. 1 on Hot Hard Rock Songs|magazine=Billboard|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=September 17, 2024|access-date=September 18, 2024}} 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".{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-09-21/|title=Billboard Hot 100™|magazine=Billboard|date=September 21, 2024|access-date=November 21, 2024}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/linkin-park-the-emptiness-machine-highest-new-entry-uk/|title=Linkin Park's The Emptiness Machine challenges Sabrina Carpenter's Taste for UK's Number 1 song|publisher=Official Charts Company|last=Smith|first=Carl|date=September 8, 2024|access-date=September 12, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/linkin-park-set-for-singles-chart-return-with-the-emptiness-machine/090423|title=Linkin Park set for singles chart return with The Emptiness Machine|website=Music Week|date=September 9, 2024|access-date=November 21, 2024}} 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 38,898 units.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/sabrina-carpenter-taste-number-1-week-3/|title=Sabrina Carpenter licks her lips for third week at Number 1 with Taste|publisher=Official Charts Company|last=Griffiths|first=George|date=September 13, 2024|access-date=September 13, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://rocksound.tv/news/linkin-park-achieve-highest-ever-uk-chart-position-with-the-emptiness-machine|title=Linkin Park Achieve Highest Ever UK Chart Position With 'The Emptiness Machine'|website=Rock Sound|last=Wilson-Taylor|first=James|date=September 13, 2024|access-date=September 13, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/charts-analysis-sabrina-carpenter-s-taste-stays-at-summit-with-bed-chem-waiting-in-the-wings/090450|title=Charts analysis: Sabrina Carpenter's Taste stays at summit with Bed Chem waiting in the wings|website=Music Week|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=September 13, 2024|access-date=November 21, 2024}} 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 2,561 downloads; it also spent six non-consecutive weeks at the summit of the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/linkin-park-the-emptiness-machine/|title=Linkin Park - The Emptiness Machine|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=13 September 2024}} By November 2024, "The Emptiness Machine" had already achieved 176,137 chart sales in the UK.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/we-re-really-enjoying-ourselves-linkin-park-s-new-line-up-start-a-fresh-chapter-with-from-zero/090860|title='We're really enjoying ourselves': Linkin Park's new line-up start a fresh chapter with From Zero|website=Music Week|last=Hickie|first=James|date=November 19, 2024|access-date=November 21, 2024}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/linkin-park-s-from-zero-hits-no-1-with-strong-physical-sales-and-streaming-consumption/090924|title=Linkin Park's From Zero hits No.1 with strong physical sales and streaming consumption|website=Music Week|last=Paine|first=Andre|date=November 22, 2024|access-date=November 22, 2024}} In June 2025, the song got certified Gold for surpassing 400,000 units.

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/news/1453-linkin-park-landen-ersten-nummer-1-hit-in-deutschland|title=Linkin Park land first number 1 hit in Germany|publisher=Official German Charts|date=September 13, 2024|access-date=September 13, 2024}} It stayed at number one for eleven consecutive weeks, becoming the longest-running number one of the entire calendar year in the country.{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Top 5 Single-Charts|website=Offizielle Charts|date=27 September 2024|access-date=11 October 2024}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-singles-chart/20240913/ie7501/|title=Official Irish Singles Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=13 September 2024|access-date=13 September 2024}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/lady-gaga-bruno-mars-linkin-park-global-charts-1235776560/|title=Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars' 'Die With a Smile' Adds Third Week at No. 1 on Billboard Global Charts|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=September 16, 2024|access-date=September 16, 2024}}

{{Track listing

|headline = Digital download

|title1 = The Emptiness Machine

|length1 = 3:10

}}

{{Track listing

|headline = CD single{{Cite AV media notes|title=The Emptiness Machine|others=Linkin Park|year=2024|type=CD single|publisher=Machine Shop Records|id=054391244802}}

|title1 = The Emptiness Machine

|length1 = 3:12

|title2 = The Emptiness Machine

|note2 = instrumental

|length2 = 3:12

|total_length = 6:24

}}

File:The Emptiness Machine - Linkin Park screenshot.png in a bar, where she buys a drink as she looks at her phone.]]

The music video for "The Emptiness Machine" was directed by the band's turntablist Joe Hahn and was filmed in Los Angeles, California in late July 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_izkSBIlFM&list=PLlqZM4covn1HZI4gBBZ99-Cfu7wI1Wefl&index=11|title=LPTV From Zero: Making of "The Emptiness Machine" Music Video, Day 2 [Episode 3] - Linkin Park|publisher=YouTube|author=Linkin Park|date=September 17, 2024|access-date=February 6, 2025}} It was published on YouTube and released on September 5, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://rocksound.tv/news/watch-linkin-park-unveil-video-for-new-single-the-emptiness-machine|title=WATCH: Linkin Park Unveil Video For New Single 'The Emptiness Machine'|website=Rock Sound|last=Wilson-Taylor|first=James|date=September 6, 2024|access-date=November 16, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.blastoutyourstereo.com/the-emptiness-machine-linkin-park-music-video/|title=Linkin Park Release Music Video For New Single "The Emptiness Machine"|publisher=BlastOutYourStereo|last=Flores|first=Brandon|date=September 5, 2024|access-date=November 16, 2024}}

The video features glitchy visuals and the band members working dayjobs who randomly get teleported to numerous locations. Mike Shinoda is also seen painting a picture featured on the single CD cover. Similar to the music video for "New Divide", data moshing was used to transition to the final scene, which features the whole band performing on a platform. Motion capture is used for the particle effects during the music video's finale.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWdbBFJ_0d8&t=28s|title=LPTV From Zero: Making of "The Emptiness Machine" Music Video, Day 1 [Episode 2] - Linkin Park|publisher=YouTube|author=Linkin Park|date=September 13, 2024|access-date=February 6, 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://beforesandafters.com/2024/09/15/go-behind-the-scenes-of-the-emptiness-machine-from-linkin-park/|title=Go behind the scenes of 'The Emptiness Machine' from Linkin Park|publisher=Before & Afters|last=Failes|first=Ian|date=September 15, 2024|access-date=February 8, 2025}}

Linkin Park

• Emily Armstrong – vocals
• Colin Brittain – drums
• Brad Delson – lead guitar, piano
• Dave "Phoenix" Farrell – bass guitar
• Joe Hahn – samples, programming, turntables
• Mike Shinoda – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, sampler

Additional personnel

• Neal Avron – mixing
• Colin Brittain – co-production
• Brad Delson – co-production
• Linkin Park – composition
• Emerson Mancini – mastering
• Ethan Mates – record engineering
• Mike Shinoda – production, record engineering
• Scott Skrzynski – assistant mixing

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "The Emptiness Machine"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=The Emptiness Machine|award=Platinum|artist=Linkin Park|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=May 14, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Linkin Park|title=The Emptiness Machine|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=May 20, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|title=|award=Gold|artist=|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=December 21, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Linkin Park|title=The Emptiness Machine|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=June 19, 2025|refname="MC"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Linkin Park|title=The Emptiness Machine|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=February 18, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Linkin Park|title=The Emptiness Machine|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=May 31, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Linkin Park|title=The Emptiness Machine|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|id=13785|access-date=December 23, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Linkin Park|title=The Emptiness Machine|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=December 31, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Linkin Park|title=The Emptiness Machine|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|id=file_2025-04-02-16-52-36.pdf|access-date=April 3, 2025|refname="AFP"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Linkin Park|title=The Emptiness Machine|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=November 25, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Linkin Park|title=The Emptiness Machine|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=January 25, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Linkin Park|title=The Emptiness Machine|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|id=20535-2062-1|access-date=June 6, 2025|refname="BPI"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

{{reflist}}

• {{YouTube|7F5MKaJMxDc|Official live music video}}

{{Linkin Park songs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emptiness Machine}}

Category:2024 songs

Category:2024 singles

Category:Number-one singles in Austria

Category:Number-one singles in Germany

Category:Number-one singles in Latvia

Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland

Category:Number-one singles in Portugal

Category:Linkin Park songs

Category:Songs written by Mike Shinoda

Category:Songs written by Brad Delson

Category:Warner Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Shinoda