Image: Riot Games
In the end, fan speculations were right all along.
All speculation surrounding this year’s artist for the anthem of the League of Legends (LoL) World Championship 2024 has finally been confirmed by developer Riot Games. The legendary nu-metal band Linkin Park will be performing “Heavy Is The Crown” at Worlds 2024, serving as the anthem for this year's LoL world championship tournament.
The highly anticipated track will premiere on YouTube and streaming platforms on Tuesday, 24 September, at 8:00 AM Pacific Time (11:00 PM Singapore Time). Tune in here for the premiere.
Linkin Park has recently returned to the spotlight with a new lineup, featuring Emily Armstrong as their new lead singer following the passing of Chester Bennington in 2017.
With their comeback album From Zero and a global tour announced earlier in September that coincides with the Worlds Grand Finals, fans had speculated that the band would be this year’s performing artist.
This new anthem follows on from Linkin Park’s hit single "The Emptiness Machine," which marked their return to music after a seven-year hiatus. The song reached #1 and has garnered over 80 million streams globally.
Alongside their six-date arena tour, the band is set to release their eighth studio album on 15 November under Warner Records.
“Heavy Is The Crown” marks a significant collaboration between Linkin Park and the gaming industry. “It’s been an amazing experience partnering with Riot to bring this anthem to the global League of Legends community,” said Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park.
According to Shinoda, the song heralds “a new era” for the band, infusing their signature sound with fresh energy. “We’re so excited for players and fans to experience this!” he added.
Riot Games also acknowledges the significance of the Worlds anthem within the community.
“The Worlds anthem is the musical moment that League of Legends players look forward to the most each year, and it has become a highly coveted fixture in music across the world,” stated Maria Egan, Global Head of Music at Riot Games.
“As the band embarks on this exciting new chapter, we’re honoured to partner with them for the 2024 anthem.”
Egan also shared that the lyrics for “Heavy Is The Crown” effectively encapsulate the narrative for this year’s Worlds and serve as a compelling complement to the themes of the music video.
Billboard has described Linkin Park’s return as “triumphant,” placing them alongside past Worlds anthem performers such as Imagine Dragons, Lil Nas X, Zedd, and NewJeans.
These anthems have collectively reached over 10 billion streams across digital platforms. NewJeans’ 2023 anthem, “GODS,” set a record for the biggest debut in Worlds anthem history, with nearly 270 million streams globally and its music video nearing 100 million views on the League of Legends YouTube channel.
The song “Heavy Is The Crown” and its music video will premiere on Tuesday, 24 September, on YouTube at 8:00 AM Pacific Time (11:00 PM Singapore Time).
