Breaking Benjamin Shatters The Billboard 200

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Records) - Their CD may be named Phobia, but the members of Breaking Benjamin are obviously not afraid of success as the CD makes an impressive showing on the Billboard200 this week. Phobia debuted at # 2 with an impressive 125,000 sold.

Says singer Ben Burnley, "There is always pressure to outdo what you've done before, but we focused on recording great songs. Phobia came out of sweat and determination. And to play the songs out live and see our fans screaming along, that's why we do it."

Added Bob Cavallo, Buena Vista Music Group Chairman, "Ben, Aaron, Mark and Chad put a great deal into this record, and it's very rewarding that the market reacted in kind with such a high debut."

Phobia's debut single, "The Diary of Jane," was the # 1 most-added song at three formats – Rock, Modern Rock and Active Rock. The track is currently # 3*(+80) on the Active Rock and # 6*(+83) on the Modern Rock charts as well as # 4 on iTunes. "The Diary of Jane" video is now airing on Fuse's "# 1 Countdown – Rock Edition" show. On Myspace, the single has garnered an impressive 1.8 million listens in 9 weeks.

Prior to the album's release, Breaking Benjamin embarked on a six-week sold-out national headline tour which triumphantly ends in their hometown of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on August 30 (see www.breakingbenjamin.com for complete itinerary).

Breaking Benjamin's latest success is a sign of Hollywood Records' commitment to rock music. Hollywood recently signed the critically acclaimed Atreyu who will headline their own tour this fall, following a rousing success on the Ozz-Fest and a European tour. This January, Hollywood announced the signing of former Geffen Records band Sparta, whose new album Threes is due October 24. Hollywood Records is also home to # 1 Billboard Heatseekers debuting Evans Blue, as well as Plain White T's whose single, "Hate (I Really Don't Like You)," is already a staple at the World Famous KROQ in Los Angeles. Hollywood is also the long time US owner of Queen's catalog. Queen + Paul Rodgers recently completed a sold out US tour.