2024 LEAGUE OF LEGENDS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OPENING CEREMONY PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED

LINKIN PARK, Ashnikko, Mars Atlas of Forts, and Tiffany Aris Will Take The Stage on Saturday, November 2 at London’s O2 Arena

LONDON, UK (October 29, 2024) – Riot Games announced LINKIN PARK, Ashnikko, Mars Atlas of Forts, and Tiffany Aris as the performing artists for the Opening Ceremony preceding the 2024 League of Legends World Championship (also known as Worlds), the biggest esports event of the year. Worlds will take place at London’s renowned O2 Arena on Saturday, November 2 at 7:00am PST / 2:00pm GMT. LINKIN PARK will take the stage with their smash- hit 2024 Worlds anthem “Heavy Is The Crown”; Ashnikko will perform “Paint The Town Blue” from the highly anticipated Arcane season two soundtrack; and Mars Atlas of Forts and Tiffany Aris will bring the competitive season full circle with “Still Here,” the single from the 2024 League of Legends (LoL) season start cinematic video.

Global superstars LINKIN PARK’s “Heavy Is The Crown,” the 11th Worlds anthem, made League of Legends history as the largest anthem debut to date upon its release on September 24, 2024. It has amassed over 270 million global audio streams and its music video currently has more than 57 million views on YouTube. “Heavy Is The Crown” tells the story of T1’s historic victory at Worlds 2023 marking their long-awaited triumph since their last win in 2016, with a nod to London’s rich history of kingdoms and empires. Its story follows a newly crowned king and the horde of would-be rulers who arrive on his doorstep. This performance at Worlds kicks off the second leg of the band’s From Zero World Tour dates, leading up to the November 15th release of their new album From Zero and two sold-out stadium dates in São Paulo, Brazil.

Ashnikko’s explosive collaboration with Arcane “Paint The Town Blue,” released on September 5, is the first single from the Arcane season two soundtrack and is featured in its main trailer, which has received over 40 million views on YouTube. The song’s theme focuses on beloved Arcane protagonist Jinx, who is one of Ashnikko’s favorite characters. Her first-ever live performance of “Paint The Town Blue” will give fans a taste of Arcane season two before they return to Piltover and Zaun when Act 1 of the three-act season debuts on Netflix on Saturday, November 9.

Mars Atlas and Tiffany Aris will perform “Still Here,” which was featured in the Season 2024 cinematic on January 10. The cinematic, which also features 2WEI, became the most-viewed video on the League of Legends YouTube channel over a 24-hour period upon its debut. It currently holds over 124 million views on YouTube.

Worlds is the pinnacle of LoL Esports competition in which the top teams from nine regions compete for the world champion title. Held after the culmination of the regular season in a different host region each year, qualified teams from professional leagues around the world participate in the tournament, which stretches across three months. Worlds is the most widely viewed and followed esports tournament, and the 2023 Worlds Finals became the most-watched esports event of all time.

ABOUT LINKIN PARK

LINKIN PARK emerged as an innovative musical force and are one of the best-selling artists of the last twenty years. Their RIAA Diamond-certified full-length debut, Hybrid Theory, stands out as the “best selling debut of the 21st century,” while landmark sophomore album Meteora bowed at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 before going 8X-Platinum in the U.S. The band’s worldwide sales across the entire catalog eclipses 100 million, and among numerous accolades and honors, they have garnered 2 GRAMMY® Awards, 5 American Music Awards, 4 MTV VMA Awards, 10 MTV Europe Music Awards and 3 World Music Awards. Selling out stadiums worldwide, they’ve headlined the largest festivals globally and also remain the first and only Western rock band to play a five stadium tour in China. 2017’s One More Light marked their fifth 1 debut on the Billboard 200. In 2020, the band celebrated their groundbreaking debut album, Hybrid Theory, by releasing a comprehensive 20th anniversary edition super deluxe box set which features their RIAA Diamond-certified single “In The End.” In 2023, the band released Meteora 20th Anniversary Edition, which topped the charts and featured the newly-uncovered song “Lost.” The emotionally charged single was originally recorded during sessions for their second studio album Meteora (2003), and soon after its 2023 release, “Lost” hit #1 at both Alternative and Rock radio. 2024 marked the release of their first greatest hits package Papercuts, featuring vault track “Friendly Fire” that similarly topped both the Alternative and Rock charts. On September 5, the band made a triumphant return to the top of the charts with “The Emptiness Machine,” and will release their 8th studio album From Zero on November 15 via Warner Records. LINKIN PARK have always prioritized charity and goodwill in an effort to make the world a better place, helping to raise millions over the years for victims of natural disasters. Today, LINKIN PARK’s imprint on music and culture continues to expand and magnify.

ABOUT ASHNIKKO

Ashnikko’s songs are like portals. You’re instantly transported to a hyper, whimsical universe where emotions are dramatized, gender stereotypes are disrupted, and revenge reigns supreme. From the demonic brat rap of early singles like “Halloweenie” and “STUPID (ft. Yung Baby Tate)” to the lurid alt-pop of viral hits “Daisy” and “Slumber Party (ft. Princess Nokia)”, an ever-evolving sound is anchored by a cheeky humor and subversive personality that couldn’t belong to anyone else. While DEMIDEVIL showcased a more head-on approach, directly tackling themes of sexual revolution and revenge, her debut album WEEDKILLER, released on Warner Records, is more allegorical, steering towards liberation and persevering through the dark to reach the inevitable light.

ABOUT MARS ATLAS OF FORTS

Forts is an electronic alt-pop trio based in Phoenix, AZ. The rising group is shaping a new terrain for alternative and cinematic music, with their brooding melodies, primal drums, storytelling, and distorted screams. The electronic-hybrid band consists of Mary Clare Clemons (Mars Atlas) on vocals, writing and production, Colton Jones on production and co-writing, and Isaiah Gutierrez on live drums.

Singer, Mars, wrote and performed hit song “Still Here” for the 2024 League of Legends Season Cinematic, which topped global streaming charts, broke the record for the most-watched League of Legends video in the first 24 hours, and amassed over 100 million views in just five days. Mars has written for multiple notable games in the industry, and has accumulated over 250 million streams across various projects.

Heavily influenced by video game scores and artists like Phantogram, Grimes, AURORA, Linkin Park, and Deftones, the group is forging a distinctive sound of their own. They are becoming known for their stunning light shows and live concert experience. They are currently finishing their first EP, as well as a comic book, and other immersive experiences for their fans to explore.”

ABOUT TIFFANY ARIS

Tiffany Aris storms onto the music scene as a talented newcomer, igniting stages with her raw talent and magnetic presence. With a voice that defies genres and lyrics that strike a chord, she’s set to dazzle audiences worldwide. Already as a child she spent a lot of time in the studio and took part in many music projects, now she is signed to Budde Music Publishing and can live from her music career.

Originating from Hamburg, Germany, Tiffany Aris emerges as a captivating voice, seamlessly intertwining her personal battles with anxiety, love, and heartache into her music. She challenges stereotypes surrounding women and dedicates attention to important topics, such as mental health. Infusing her pop melodies with electronic nuances, delivered in English, Tiffany’s music is reminiscent of artists such as Dagny and Zara Larsson. Despite only stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist in 2022, Tiffany’s catchy songwriting has already shone in her collaborations with industry A-List artists such as Ofenbach, Alle Farben, Kelvin Jones and Norma Jean Martine. Within three years of her solo career, she has amassed over 20 million streams across streaming platforms, been featured on 15 NMF playlists on Spotify worldwide, and was included on the cover of Pop Brandneu. Additionally, her music has received almost 2500 plays on German radio, including rotation on stations such as NDR 2, 89.0 RTL, and NRJ.

ABOUT RIOT GAMES

Riot Games was founded in 2006 to develop, publish, and support the most player-focused games in the world. In 2009, Riot released its debut title, League of Legends, which has gone on to be one of the most-played PC games in the world. In the years that followed, Riot released VALORANT, Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, and League of Legends: Wild Rift. Riot’s titles have led to the creation of some of the most-watched and widely recognized esports in the world, culminating in events like the League of Legends World Championship and VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), which are watched by millions of fans each year. Riot has also expanded its IP through multimedia projects across music, comic books, board games, and Arcane, its Emmy-winning animated series.

ABOUT RIOT GAMES MUSIC

Riot Games Music builds on Riot’s fandom at the intersection of gaming and music — fostering partnerships with artists who can take the global player experience to the next level through music, live events, and IP expansion. RGM has amassed a catalog of nearly 1,000 songs including 10 original Esports Anthems for the annual League of Legends World Championships, which have collectively amassed over 10 billion streams across DSPs. These anthems have been performed by superstars including Linkin Park, Lil Nas X, Imagine Dragons, Zedd, NewJeans and many more.

In November 2024, Riot Games Music will be releasing the season two soundtrack for Riot’s Emmy-winning animated series Arcane with Virgin Music Group. The highly anticipated soundtrack features a globally diverse lineup of exclusive tracks from artists including Twenty One Pilots, Stray Kids, Young Miko, Stromae, Marcus King, Ashnikko, d4vd, and more.

Riot Games Music is also known for being a leader in virtual artistry including artists like K/DA, a record breaking K-Pop inspired girl-group based on some of the most popular female champions in League of Legends, whose music has received over 1.2 billion streams. Their single “POP/STARS” recently was certified platinum by the RIAA, and they have amassed over 3 million followers on Spotify. Other Riot virtual artists include Riot’s newest band HEARTSTEEL, heavy metal band Pentakill, hip-hop band True Damage, DJ Sona and Seraphine.

ABOUT LOL ESPORTS™

League of Legends Esports (LoL Esports) is the pinnacle of competitive gaming attracting the attention of millions of fans since 2010. Accessible worldwide through live events as well as digital and traditional channels, it is one of the most-watched forms of sports entertainment on the planet. With leagues representing regions from around the globe qualifying into three high-impact tournaments, LoL Esports offers players a platform to pursue esports as a meaningful and rewarding life pursuit.