Breaking the Habit – Linkin Park | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Alternative (#1); 2004
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
In 2004, Linkin Park released Breaking the Habit as the fifth single from their album Meteora. Written primarily by Mike Shinoda, the song represented a stylistic shift from the band’s heavier guitar-driven sound.
Produced by Don Gilmore, the track features electronic elements, layered strings, and a restrained arrangement. Rather than rap verses, the recording centers on Chester Bennington’s melodic vocal performance.
Released in the summer of 2004, Breaking the Habit reached #1 on the Billboard Alternative chart and became one of the standout tracks from Meteora.
The lyric addresses internal struggle and the desire to overcome destructive patterns. Rather than focusing on a specific event, the song presents emotional tension and self-reflection.
Breaking the Habit remains one of Linkin Park’s most distinctive recordings, noted for its departure from their earlier formula.
Produced by:
Don Gilmore
Lyrics Written by:
Mike Shinoda
Linkin Park
Awards:
No major Grammy Awards were awarded specifically for the single.
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.