Breaking Benjamin “Phobia” Gold Record Award

At 11:00 A.M., the doorbell rings, and the Swiss postman hands me an incredible delivery: Breaking Benjamin’s Gold Record Award for their third studio album, “Phobia”. Released on August 8, 2006, through Hollywood Records, the album achieved Gold certification just three months later, on November 8, 2006. Considering the peak of album sales had already passed by the mid-2000s, that’s an impressive feat.

On May 21, 2009, “Phobia” went Platinum, certified by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). It also earned a Silver certification in the U.K. for surpassing 60,000 copies sold and a Gold certification in New Zealand for selling more than 7,500 copies.

As for its chart performance, “Phobia” debuted at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Top 200, moving 131,000 copies in its first week. It also made an impact in New Zealand, entering the charts at #16.

It’s also worth highlighting that all three singles from “Phobia” earned certifications, though it took some time for them to receive recognition. "Until The End" achieved Gold status on February 11, 2014, followed by "Breath," which was certified double Platinum on August 24, 2022. And perhaps most impressive of all, "The Diary of Jane" reached an extraordinary 4x Platinum on February 3, 2021

Breaking Benjamin “Phobia” Gold Record Award

Let’s talk about the award: This time there’s not a lot to talk about actually. On the whole background you see the album cover artwork for “Phobia”, then you find on the right side the CD and below the dedication plate with the RIAA bar hologram.

This award is especially meaningful, as it’s dedicated to Andy Somers, he’s a legendary figure in the music industry. With a remarkable career that began in 2001, Andy was instrumental in launching The Agency Group's West Coast operations. Over the next 13 years, he represented iconic punk and heavy metal bands like Social Distortion, Pennywise, and Circle Jerks, before transitioning to APA in 2014. In 2021, he co-founded Paladin Artists alongside Steve Martin, Wayne Forte, and Karrie Goldberg, an agency focused on comprehensive artist and brand representation. This award is a well-deserved tribute to his influence and legacy.