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Jeff Benjamin
@jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
1.1K followers 170 following 510 posts
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.
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jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
BTS returns with their first group magazine cover in years for @gqmagazine.bsky.social!
February 13, 2026 at 11:16 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
HYBE's stock slightly dipped after the court sided with Min Hee-Jin for a big payout, revealing its 2025 fiscal report and news of a donation to employees from Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk. Full story via @forbes.com
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
HYBE Stock Dips After Min Hee-Jin Court Verdict, 2025 Fiscal Reports
HYBE's stock slightly dipped after a Seoul court ruled in favor of Min Hee-Jin, the K-pop company's 2025 fiscal year reports and Bang Si-Hyuk's donation to employees.
www.forbes.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:04 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
Lots to unpack in today's newsletter: K-Pop's Comeback to the Super Bowl. Plus, A Verdict in HYBE vs. Min Hee-Jin
www.the-xover.com/p/kpop-super...
K-Pop's Super Bowl Return. Plus, A Verdict in HYBE vs. Min Hee-Jin
This newsletter discusses BTS, Rosé, KATSEYE, ATEEZ, Chung Ha, TEN, Lady Gaga, GIRLSET, SWV, Chase Infiniti, Doechii, TWICE, NewJeans, Hailee Steinfeld and more.
www.the-xover.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:54 PM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
#ENHYPEN was the biggest winner at the 2026 D Awards taking home Artist of the Year, Best Tour and Best Group, plus #Heeseung winning the UPICK Global Choice Boy

Other big winners:
#ZEROBASEONE
#NCTWISH
#BOYNEXTDOOR
#izna
#AHOF
#P1Harmony
#ChueiLiYu

Congrats all! 🥳
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
2026 D Awards: Full Winners And K-Pop Performers List
ENHYPEN, ZEROBASEONE, NCT WISH, BOYNEXTDOOR, AHOF, izna, P1Harmony and Chuei Li Yu are top winners at the 2026 D Awards honoring the best K-pop with special performances.
www.forbes.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:12 PM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
The 2026 D Awards take place today with the early winners announced pre-telecast led by ENHYPEN, izna, ZEROBASEONE, NCT WISH, AHOF and Chuei Li Yu with multiple awards

ENHYPEN's Heeseung also won a solo awards as the UPICK Global Choice Boy. Stay tuned for updates:
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
2026 D Awards: Full Winners And K-Pop Performers List
ENHYPEN, izna, ZEROBASEONE, NCT WISH, AHOF and Chuei Li Yu are among the early winners at the 2026 D Awards which honors the best of K-pop with special performances.
www.forbes.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:38 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
A new week ahead where there will be a lot to discuss with K-pop at the #SuperBowl, chart analyses, new music, news and much more

Follow the global expansion and don't forget to subscribe www.the-xover.com
Home | THE CROSSOVER
Covering the K-Pop X Global Crossover
www.the-xover.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:24 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
I was not expecting this and it was soooo cute!!! Jisoo stars in Pokémon's #SuperBowl ad talking about her love for Eevee — in English and Korean! 🥺

She shares her fave alongside Lady Gaga (who duets with Jigglypuff), Trevor Noah, Young Miko, Charles Leclerc and more:
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
Jisoo, Lady Gaga & More Celebs Star In Pokémon Super Bowl Commercial
BLACKPINK's Jisoo, Lady Gaga, Trevor Noah and more pick their favorite Pokémon in the 2026 Super Bowl commercial with F1 driver Charles Leclerc, Lamine Yamal and more.
www.forbes.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:48 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
KATSEYE in a #SuperBowl commercial? They are truly taking over!!! www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
Watch State Farm's Super Bowl Commercial: KATSEYE, Bon Jovi & Hailee Steinfeld Star In One of 2026's Best Ads
State Farm Insurance's 2026 Super Bowl commercial features KATSEYE, Bon Jovi, Hailee Steinfeld, Keegan-Michael Key and Danny McBride parodying "Livin' on a Prayer" live.
www.forbes.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:01 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
Diplo confirmed he's working on BTS' upcoming 'Arirang' album, calling it the "craziest album ever" and that it's "going to be the biggest thing I’ve ever done"

He also said Jung Kook has a "perfect voice" and needs "no AutoTune"

The latest on Arirang via @forbes.com
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
Diplo Reveals Work On BTS Arirang Album, Praises Act, Jung Kook Vocals
Major Lazer producer Diplo revealed he worked on BTS' 'ARIRANG' album and praised the group and member Jung Kook's vocals, joining other likely pop collaborators.
www.forbes.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:13 PM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
Jumping on @ArirangWorld TV's 'The Kulture Wave' in a little bit to discuss all things #Kpop at the #GRAMMYs! "Golden," Rosé, KPop Demon Hunters, Bruno Mars, BLACKPINK, BTS and much more on the docket
February 6, 2026 at 5:02 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
Effie, NMIXX, Jennie, AKMU's Lee Chanhyuk and Woo Hee-jun lead the nominations at the 2026 Korean Music Awards, said to be the closest ceremony to the Grammys with a focus only on critics and those in the music industry with recognition for mainstream and indie artists
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
Korean Music Awards 2026 Nominees: Effie, NMIXX, Jennie, Lee Chanhyuk
Nominations for the Korean Music Awards 2026 feature critically acclaimed K-pop and indie musicians like Effie, NMIXX, BLACKPINK's Jennie, AKMU's Lee Chanhyuk and more.
www.forbes.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:14 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
Tons of #Kpop updates lately!

EJAE
ONEW
MINHO
YOUNHA
Monsta X
Sorn
WJSN
CHUNG HA
JIWOO of KARD
AB6IX
WOODZ
IVE
ONE PACT
BOYNEXTDOOR
Hi-Fi Un!corn
SKINZ
AtHeart
CORTIS
JENNIE & Tame Impala
TEN & Blue Pongtiwat
tobi lou x NewJeans
QQQ (KB, JISUNG and NINE of OnlyOneOf)
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
2026 Release Calendar Of New K-Pop Albums And Songs
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
February 5, 2026 at 8:33 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
Looking at the media story now that 'Kpop' has won a Grammy — and much more — in today's newsletter: www.the-xover.com/p/2026-gramm...
'KPop' Finally Wins at the Grammys: Zooming in on 'Golden'
Thoughts on the larger media story developing alongside the KPop Demon Hunters anthem. Plus, Rosé, KATSEYE, BTS, Tame Impala, ZEROBASEONE, MeloMance and more.
www.the-xover.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:19 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
The Best #Kpop of January 2025

The year started blazing with ENHYPEN leading the way among excellent releases from EXO, KiiiKiii, i-dle, Inseong, Chuu, ZEROBASEONE and many more

Playlists are available for whatever platform you use inside:
www.the-xover.com/p/best-k-pop...
Best K-Pop Songs of January 2026: ENHYPEN, KiiiKiii, EXO & More
I whittled down the best K-pop for you from ENHYPEN, KiiiKiii, EXO, i-dle, ZEROBASEONE, Inseong and more with playlists on whatever platform you use.
www.the-xover.com
February 2, 2026 at 12:29 PM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
While cher hilariously and accidentally called the winner of the #GrammyAwards' Record of the Year as "Luther Vandross," it was actually "Luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA

She wasn't *totally* off though, here's why via @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s ‘Luther’ Wins 2026 Record Of The Year Grammy
Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "Luther" wins Record of the Year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, presented by Cher who accidentally named "Luther Vandross" as the winner.
www.forbes.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:38 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
While Cher hilariously called the winner of the Grammys Awards' Record of the Year as "Luther Vandross," it was actually "Luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s ‘Luther’ Wins 2026 Record Of The Year Grammy
Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "Luther" wins Record of the Year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, presented by Cher who accidentally named "Luther Vandross" as the winner.
www.forbes.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:36 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
Tyler, the Creator won the Grammy's first-ever Best Album Cover award for his 'Chromakopia,' which he was the art director
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
Tyler, The Creator Wins First Best Album Cover Award At 2026 Grammys
Tyler, the Creator's 'Chromakopia' won the first-ever awared for Best Album Cover at the 2026 Grammy Awards, with the award going to Tyler Okonma under his real name.
www.forbes.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:28 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
ROSÉ opens the 2026 Grammy Awards with a live performance of "APT.," up for Record and Song of the Year tonight, alongside Bruno Mars. Iconic.
February 2, 2026 at 1:09 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
#Sinners wins Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the #2026GRAMMYs, beating out a stacked category with #KPopDemonHunters, #Wicked, #F1 and Timothée Chalamet's #ACompleteUnknown

www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
‘Sinners’ Wins Grammy For Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
Sinners won 2026 Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, beating out KPop Demom Hunters, F1, Wicked, and Timothee Chalamet's A Complete Unknown.
www.forbes.com
February 2, 2026 at 12:35 AM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
OUR GLOBAL PRINCESSES ARE HERE! #2026GRAMMYs performer and two-time nominees KATSEYE have hit the #GRAMMYs red carpet!

LET'S GO #KATSEYE!!
February 2, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Reposted by Jeff Benjamin
billboard.com
Kehlani Wins Her First Grammy Awards, Ends Speech With ‘F— ICE’
Kehlani Wins Her First Grammy Awards, Ends Speech With ‘F— ICE’
Kehlani used her platform at the 2026 Grammys to protest ICE as she accepted her first of two awards Sunday night (Feb. 1).
bit.ly
February 1, 2026 at 11:34 PM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
2026 GRAMMY performer and three-time nominee ROSÉ has ARRIVED and made a REGAL entrance to the #Grammys red carpet

LET'S GO ROSIE!!
February 1, 2026 at 11:35 PM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
"GOLDEN" FROM KPOP DEMON HUNTERS HAS WON A GRAMMY!

"Golden" won the 2026 Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media with the win going to songwriters EJAE, Park Hong Jun (Teddy), Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo and Mark Sonnenblick.
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbe...
KPop Demon Hunters ‘Golden’ Wins Best Song Written For Visual Media At Grammys
HUNTR/X's "Golden" from Netflix's 'KPop Demon Hunters' won the 2026 Grammy award for Best Song Written For Visual Media with EJAE, Teddy and more awarded.
www.forbes.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:51 PM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
'KPop Demon Hunters' and 'Sinners' will be the only Best Original Song-nominated movies to have live performances during The Academy Awards with "segments designed to honor how music helped these stories resonate worldwide"

The other songs are featured in packages www.billboard.com/music/awards...
Oscars Will Feature Performances of Only 2 Best Original Song Nominees
Academy Awards will feature performances by only two best original song nominees while other three are highlighted in packages
www.billboard.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:39 PM
jeffbenjamin.bsky.social
25 Songs That Shaped My 2025

A bit of an explainer of what my year was like and where I'm going now. I'm so thankful for all you readers and I'm excited to continue the journey with you all in 2026
www.the-xover.com/p/25-songs-t...
25 Songs That Shaped My 2025
Music journalist Jeff Benjamin's personal 2025 playlist featuring intimate moments and reflections from a year of transformation through song.
www.the-xover.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:07 PM