Jeff Benjamin
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Jeff Benjamin
@jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
Multi-award winning music journalist, K-pop columnist, host and curator. Words in Billboard, Rolling Stone, New York Times, Forbes and more. Subscribe to The Crossover newsletter.
Days after Danielle opened her Instagram account (dazzibelle on IG), the star posted a fan letter originally dated November 12th that spoke to her situation with NewJeans and her future

Read it here via @forbes.com:
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
Danielle Marsh Letter Calls NewJeans Members ‘Family,’ Talks ‘Dreams’
NewJeans' Danielle Marsh addresses fans in a letter dated November 12, 2025, about her relationship with members Minji, Hanni, Haerin and Hyein, and her future career.
www.forbes.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Big #Kpop updates today!

MISAMO
BLACKPINK
INSEONG of SF9
CHUU
JIWOO of KARD
ONEWE
Forestella
CRAVITY
LA POEM
Jeong Dong-won
8TURN
TNX
n.SSign
POW
Young Posse
RIIZE
HELLO GLOOM
from20
Lim Sejun
Kang Yuchan
NCT WISH
Hearts2Hearts
1VERSE
GPP
LNGSHOT
dodree
OWIS
hrtz.wav
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
2026 New K-Pop Albums And Songs Calendar: EXO Album in January
New K-pop album and singles, and rumored releases in 2026 including BLACKPINK, BTS, BIGBANG, EXO, KATSEYE and new boy and girl groups from HYBE, SM and YG Entertainment.
www.forbes.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:44 AM
#KCON just revealed its 2026 dates including Los Angeles!

The world's biggest K-pop festival confirmed its returning to Japan and LA so far this year. More via @forbes.com:
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
KCON 2026 Sets Los Angeles, Japan Dates: When The K-Pop Fest Returns
KCON 2026 will return to LA in August after hitting Japan in May this year with details about the lineup, venue, location, on-sale tickets and expected to come soon.
www.forbes.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Update: @livenationconcerts.bsky.social has shared the venues for the initial 45 shows in Korea, Japan, and across North America and Europe

As expected, #BTS will be playing some of the world's biggest venues + set several historic firsts. More at @forbes.com:
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
BTS 2026-2027 World Tour Reveals Venues: Dates, Ticket On-Sale & More
BTS confirm dates, venues and on-sale ticket information for a world tour spanning 2026-2027, hitting North and Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia and more.
www.forbes.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:54 PM
MASSIVE: #BTS' World Tour cover 34 regions with a total of 79 shows around the globe — with more to come!

While venues weren't announced, all signs point to this being a stadium tour with stops like East Rutherford likely being MetLife Stadium

According to a press release, "the tour will feature
January 13, 2026 at 3:26 PM
The Circle Charts revealed their year-end album rankings with Stray Kids' KARMA at No. 1

This is the first time SKZ have earned the year's top album and first time a JYP Entertainment act took the top spot on Korea's longest-running chart

The full Top 100 here: www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
Korea’s Top Chart Reveals Stray Kids Earn Biggest KPop Album Of 2025
Circle Chart, South Korea's top and longest-running music chart, released the 2025 Yearly Top Best-Selling Albums with Kpop artists like Stray Kids, SEVENTEEN and more.
www.forbes.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Updated with the new Heize single dropping on New Year's Eve, is this the final update for the year? Is the calendar complete?

Possibly better question: Who should I update as the representative photo? Or is Hyolyn perfect? www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
www.forbes.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Breaking: ADOR shares #NewJeans update

Hanni will return to ADOR

Minji is in ongoing talks about returning

Danielle's contract has been terminated after it was "determined it would be difficult for her to continue as a NewJeans member and ADOR artist"

Full story: www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
December 29, 2025 at 3:39 AM
The New York Times names KATSEYE one of the most stylish people of 2025 @nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:04 AM
For @billboard.com's 2025 Best K-Pop Albums I wrote about:
👑 G-Dragon
🎸 JAURIM
🧜‍♀️ Sunmi
🕶️ Lee Chanhyuk
🦷 ENHYPEN
🩵 NMIXX
🪐 PLAVE
🏠 BOYNEXTDOOR
7⃣ CLOSE YOUR EYES
www.billboard.com/lists/best-k...
@enhypen-updates.bsky.social @nmixxupdates.bsky.social @plavestream.bsky.social @bonedoupdates.bsky.social
The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2025: Staff Picks
The top K-pop albums of 2025 with music from KPop Demon Hunters, Stray Kids, TWICE, BLACKPINK's JENNIE, SEVENTEEN, NCT's MARK, ENHYPEN and more.
www.billboard.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:02 AM
For @billboard.com's Best K-Pop Songs of 2025 I got to write about...

🗓️ DAY6
🩷 BLACKPINK
🎭 JENNIE
🇹🇭 TEN
💎 TREASURE
🗝️ H1-KEY
🩵 NMIXX


Congratulations all! www.billboard.com/lists/best-k...
The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2025: Staff Picks
The top K-pop singles of 2025 with music from BLACKPINK, Stray Kids, BTS' j-hope, JENNIE, ATEEZ, NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM, aespa, CORTIS, Hwasa and more.
www.billboard.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Reposted by Jeff Benjamin
This is going to cause a stir in kpop spaces
Breaking: #YouTube Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen announces the service will not provide data for the U.S. @billboard.com charts citing the recent chart methodology changes that weight on-demand and ad-supported streams more closely

Changes are set for January 16, 2026 blog.youtube/news-and-eve...
A Change to YouTube’s Inclusion on the U.S. Billboard Charts
YouTube data will no longer factor into U.S. Billboard charts starting January 15, 2026. This change follows discussions regarding how Billboard weights subscription versus ad-supported streams. You c...
blog.youtube
December 18, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Breaking: #YouTube Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen announces the service will not provide data for the U.S. @billboard.com charts citing the recent chart methodology changes that weight on-demand and ad-supported streams more closely

Changes are set for January 16, 2026 blog.youtube/news-and-eve...
A Change to YouTube’s Inclusion on the U.S. Billboard Charts
YouTube data will no longer factor into U.S. Billboard charts starting January 15, 2026. This change follows discussions regarding how Billboard weights subscription versus ad-supported streams. You c...
blog.youtube
December 18, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Wild story but @HYBEOFFICIALtwt keeps growing its global footprint: @Tyllaaaaaaa will now be managed in a joint partnership between HYBE + her co-managers Brandon Hixon and Colin Gayle

HYBE says its growing a "global platform" for African music www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe... @portaltyla.bsky.social
HYBE Announces Tyla Management Partnership, African Music Platform
Tyla’s co-managers Brandon Hixon and Colin Gayle partner with K-pop giant HYBE for management and expansion into Africa as the company prepares for BTS' 2026 comeback.
www.forbes.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Jeff Benjamin
Amanda Seyfried, I was not familiar with your game
December 13, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Coming onto Arirang World Radio to discuss K-pop on some of the year-end charts released so far!

Tune in on Arirang or listen/watch here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1fX...
[On-Air] Arirang Radio (아리랑 라디오) | Livestream 24/7 (HD)
YouTube video by Arirang Radio K-Pop
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Zooming into the rise of "refreshing" #Kpop boy groups via Arirang TV's 'The Kulture Wave' last night to discuss...

#KickFlip
#CORTIS
#CloseYourEyes
#AHOF
#NCTWish
#TWS
#SMTR25

youtu.be/uGhuu1-MonU?...
[Kulture Issue] Zooming into the rise of "refreshing" K-pop boy groups
YouTube video by Arirang News
youtu.be
December 5, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Top #KPop Markets for #Spotify in 2025

1. United States 🇺🇸
2. Indonesia 🇮🇩
3. Japan 🇯🇵
4. The Philippines 🇵🇭
5. Brazil 🇧🇷
6. Mexico 🇲🇽
7. Thailand 🇹🇭
8. Taiwan 🇹🇼
9. India 🇮🇳
10. South Korea 🇰🇷

#SpotifyWrapped2025
December 4, 2025 at 2:51 AM
The 20 Global Top #KPop Songs of 2025 on #Spotify

1. “APT.” by ROSÉ, Bruno Mars
2. “Golden” by HUNTR/X (EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI)
3. “Who” by Jimin
4. “Don’t Say You Love Me” by Jin
5. “like JENNIE” by JENNIE
6. “Your Idol” by Saja Boys (Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, KEVIN WOO, samUIL Lee)
December 4, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The 20 Global Top #KPop Artists of 2025 on #Spotify

1. BTS
2. Stray Kids
3. JENNIE
4. ROSÉ
5. HUNTR/X
6. TWICE
7. BLACKPINK
8. Jung Kook
9. ENHYPEN
10. KATSEYE
11. Jimin
12. LE SSERAFIM
13. Jin
14. LISA
15. SEVENTEEN
16. NewJeans
17. aespa
18. j-hope
19. TOMORROW X TOGETHER
20. Saja Boys
December 4, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Exclusive: Following his dismissal from THE BOYZ, Ju Haknyeon is being a served an 8 billion KRW lawsuit ($5.5 million) from ONE HUNDRED label, which he says would be ruinous following what he calls a coordinated media attack
billboard.com/pro/the-boyz-ju-haknyeon-dismissal-label-lawsuit-interview/
Ju Haknyeon on THE BOYZ Dismissal & Label’s $5.5M Lawsuit Against Him: ‘It Would Be the End of My Life’
Ju Haknyeon, formerly of K-pop group THE BOYZ, talks his dismissal from the band, his ex-record label's lawsuit against him and more in an interview.
billboard.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:31 PM
JENNIE is the most-nominated artist at this year's Asian Pop Music Awards with 9 recognitions including Best Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Producer

Full list of nominees include G-Dragon, Lay Zhang, Jackson Wang, JISOO, ROSÉ and LISA with multiple nods

www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
Asian Pop Music Awards 2025 Nominations: Jennie, G-Dragon, Lay Zhang
The BLACKPINK members are 2025 APMA nominees alongside Jackson Wang, Jolin, Kenshi Yonezu, David Tao, JJ Lin, aespa, KUN Cai Xukun and more at the Asian Pop Music Awards.
www.forbes.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:12 AM
The @officialcharts.bsky.social revealed that Leona Lewis' "One More Sleep" is now the most streamed British Christmas song of the 21st century!

It's such a cute song 🎄 youtu.be/j-_1-uJ6Ml4?si @leonalewis.bsky.social
Leona Lewis - One More Sleep (Official Video)
YouTube video by leonalewisVEVO
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Reposted by Jeff Benjamin
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM