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Articles by Jeff Benjamin
ATEEZ, BTS, LE SSERAFIM Take Top Honors At 2026 K-World Dream Awards Original
Yunho, Seonghwa, San, Yeosang, Hongjoong, Wooyoung, Jongho and Mingi of ATEEZ attend the '2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon Summer' Music Festival Blue Carpet at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Goyang, South Korea on August 09, 2026 (Photo by HLL/Imazins via Getty Images) ImaZins via Getty Images The 10th edition of the K-World Dream Awards saw ATEEZ as the night’s most-decorated act, collecting four trophies at the ceremony held Thursday, August 27 at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Goyang,...
All The Celebrities Spotted At 2026 US Open In New York City Original
Anna Wintour and Serena Williams are seen at The US Open on August 25, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by XNY/Star Max/GC Images) GC Images Festivities for the 2026 US Open began the week of August 24 before the world’s top tennis stars played a single point of the main competitions.
Dolly Parton Died From Brief Cancer Battle, Spokesman Says Original
Dolly Parton speaks onstage at Dolly Parton's Threads: My Songs In Symphony World Premiere at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on March 20, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) Getty Images As the world mourns the tragic loss of Dolly Parton, the beloved country-music legend who died at age 80, a spokesman shared that the superstar had died in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones, following a brief battle with cancer.
Celebrities Tribute Dolly Parton: Reba, Lily Tomlin, Donald Trump & More React Original
LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire pose on the set of The WB's "Reba" at 20th Century Fox Studios on February 15, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Getty Images After the news that Dolly Parton passed away at age 80, tributes from across the entertainment world poured in to honor the legendary musician, actor, author, and philanthropist.
Dolly Parton, Country Music Icon And Philanthropist, Dies At Age 80 Original
1974: Country singer Dolly Parton performs onstage with an acoustic guitar in circa 1974. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) getty Legendary singer, songwriter, producer, actor, author and philanthropist Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. The news was shared on Dolly Parton’s official Instagram (below) through her nephew, Brian Seaver, as a representative of the family.
Jennie Takes You Inside Her ‘Less Than A Lover’ Music Video Villa, Now Open Via Airbnb Original
JENNIE "Less Than a Lover" Music Video Behind-the-Scenes for AIrbnb Courtesy of Airbnb / OA (OddAtelier) Entertainment Superstardom at JENNIE’s scale requires a certain distance, but for three nights this September, a lucky handful of travelers can get close by booking an Airbnb.
KCON LA 2026 Draws Record 142,000 Fans, Biggest Crowd In Festival History Original
Fans line up to enter day one of KCON inside the Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles , California. KCON is a K-culture and K-pop festival, spanning three days features K-beauty, interactive panels, dance workshops, and concerts. (Arwen Clemans/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Los Angeles Times via Getty Images KCON LA 2026 closed this past Sunday with the biggest crowd in the Korean-culture festival’s history.
The Best Moments From KCON LA 2026 (So Far)
The Best Moments From KCON LA 2026 (So Far) This year's festival officially opened Friday (Aug. 14) at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena. NCT 127 performs at KCON LA 2026 on Aug. 14, 2026. Courtesy of CJ ENM Los Angeles officially belongs to K-pop this weekend with KCON LA 2026, but the city has been deep in K-pop all week. This year’s KCON festival officially opened Friday (Aug. 14) at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena.
ATEEZ, P1Harmony To Headline Hello82’s First Festival 82WORLD : LA Original
Ateez perform onstage during BST Hyde Park at Hyde Park on June 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by James Smith/Sam Snap/Getty Images for ABA) Getty Images for ABA After establishing itself as an important independent label and fan-experience partner for the global-pop industry, hello82 is officially revealing the lineup for its first-ever festival, 82WORLD: LA, set for October 17-18 at Los Angeles State Historic Park.
Jennie’s ‘Less Than A Lover’ Video Villa Is Open For Airbnb Bookings
JENNIE behind-the-scenes of her "Less Than a Lover" Music Video Courtesy of Airbnb / OA (OddAtelier) Entertainment For most of the last decade, Jennie’s fantastical and luxurious world has been something fans watched from the outside through a screen, in concert crowds, or from the distance that stardom at her scale tends to require. But beginning today, several will have the chance to live and sleep inside it via an Airbnb booking.
Jennie’s ‘Less Than A Lover’ Video Villa Is Open For Airbnb Bookings
Maya Jama’s secret side hustle is a smash hit with fans – as she charges more than some of London’s top five-star hotels MAYA Jama may be a millionaire – but she’s not making all her cash through TV jobs and ads. The Sun was the first to reveal that the canny Love Island …
The ‘Baby Shark’ Boy Is Debuting As A Singer 10 Years Later
"Baby Shark Dance," "Baby Shark Boy 'WAVE' MV Teaser 1" Screen Capture Photos Courtesy of YouTube The adorable little boy who danced beside the animated “Baby Shark” family in the most-watched video ever on YouTube is all grown up and now making music of his own. “Baby Shark” creators The Pinkfong Company announced Monday that the young performer from its 2016 “Pinkfong Baby Shark Dance” clip will debut as a recording artist under the name Baby Shark Boy.
The ‘Baby Shark’ Boy Is Debuting As A Singer 10 Years Later
The adorable little boy who danced beside the animated "Baby Shark" family in the most-watched video ever on YouTube is all grown up and now making music of his own. "Baby Shark" creators The Pinkfong Company announced Monday that the young performer from its 2016 "Pinkfong Baby Shark Dance" clip will debut as a recording artist under the name Baby Shark Boy.
CORTIS Tells NYC to Put Their Phones Down at First U.S. Solo Concert: The 7 Best Moments
CORTIS Tells NYC to Put Their Phones Down at First U.S. Solo Concert: The 7 Best Moments With less than a year on the scene, the five-piece performed like pros at its first full concert in the States for a sold-out show at Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden. CORTIS performs at The Theatre at Great Canadian on August 4, 2026 in Toronto.
Stray Kids’ ‘THIS & THAT’ Album: All 7 Tracks Ranked
Stray Kids’ ‘THIS & THAT’ Album: All 7 Tracks Ranked After eight years together, the group best known for maximalism makes a strong case for pulling back. Stray Kids Courtesy of JYP Entertainment At this point in their careers, Stray Kids have turned topping the Billboard 200 into something of a tradition.
Karina Of Aespa Named Newest Global Face Of Converse
KARINA of aespa for Converse Courtesy of Converse, Nike Karina of aespa has joined Converse as a new face of the brand with her first campaign for the iconic footwear and lifestyle label arriving today. The K-pop singer, rapper and dancer makes her brand debut with two shoes drawn from opposite ends of a shared lineage: the Chuck 70 X, a refined update of the most recognizable silhouette in the company’s catalog, as well as the Run Star Crush, a platform-heavy variation of the classic.
Karina Of Aespa Named Newest Global Face Of Converse
Karina of aespa has joined Converse as a new face of the brand with her first campaign for the iconic footwear and lifestyle label arriving today. The K-pop singer, rapper and dancer makes her brand debut with two shoes drawn from opposite ends of a shared lineage: the Chuck 70 X, a refined update of the most recognizable silhouette in the company's catalog, as well as the Run Star Crush, a platform-heavy variation of the classic.
Karina Of Aespa Named Newest Global Face Of Converse
7 hours ago The category was ethereal and romantic, and she nailed it. We don't often get new looks from The Summer I Turned Pretty star Lola Tung, but when we do, she makes sure it's one to remember. Case in point: Her latest outing in her native New York. On August 5, Lola Tung was photographed in the city's …
Stray Kids Have The Happiest Fans In Music, According To New Study
Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. of Stray Kids visit the SiriusXM Studios on June 16, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images) Getty Images Traditionally, fandoms are measured in units of intensity via streaming numbers, first-week album sales, trending hashtags, tour sellouts, crowd size and beyond.
Stray Kids Have The Happiest Fans In Music, According To New Study
Jeff Benjamin, Senior Contributor Updated Tue, 4 August 2026 at 10:00 pm UTC 7 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. of Stray Kids visit the SiriusXM Studios on June 16, 2025 in New York City.
BTS Return to MetLife Stadium With a Full ARIRANG World Tour Show: 15 Best Moments Original
BTS Return to MetLife Stadium With a Full ARIRANG World Tour Show: 15 Best Moments Two weeks after their World Cup Final Halftime Show performance in the same stadium, BTS gave New Jersey the complete two-and-a-half-hour version. BTS onstage in Madrid in June.
BE:FIRST Is Ready for the World: Inside the J-Pop Superstars’ Long-Planned U.S. Breakthrough
Trending on Billboard BE:FIRST boasts a dozen No. 1s on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, played its first stadium concerts this past spring and has a world tour set for the fall. Now, the group is officially unveiling the first step in its effort to rise to greater prominence in the U.S. market.
BTS’ Grammy Decision: Was the Band Getting Ahead of Another Awards Show Sidelining? (Critic’s Take)
Trending on Billboard On Wednesday (July 29), the seven members of BTS posted to their individual Instagram accounts a short, identical and pointedly undramatic statement: They will not submit their music for consideration at the upcoming 69th Grammy Awards. They shared their hope that “music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.” No category was named and there was no mention of past Grammy experiences.
Madison Beer Engaged To NFL Star Justin Herbert Original
Justin Herbert and Madison Beer attend the 68th GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Avery Lipman & Monte Lipman on January 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
K-Pop’s ‘Big Boy’ From20 Made ‘Rated R’ For A Borderless Audience Original
The phrase behind from20’s most talked-about song started as a joke between friends over drinks. “We were joking around and complimenting each other, saying things like, ‘Oh, look at you, big boy,’ ‘No, you’re a big boy,’ we just kept calling each other that and at one point I thought, ‘Wow, ‘big boy’ really conveys a great message,’” the Korean singer-rapper-video director says via translator. “It’s not just about gender, it’s about confidence. Isn’t it great when someone calls you a big boy?
World Cup Final Game Ball, BTS And Shakira Items Featured In Christie’s Global Citizen Auction Original
Jungkook of South Korean boy band BTS performs during the half time show of FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA on July 19, 2026. (Photo by Evrim Aydin/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu via Getty Images As tens of thousands of fans petition FIFA to replay the 2026 World Cup final match, those who want to hold on to a physical piece of the game can do so through a new charity auction.
NewJeans Signal Return As 4 Members With New Photos, Videos Original
NewJeans via @NewJeans_ADOR Courtesy of ADOR Coinciding with NewJeans’ fourth anniversary, the chart-topping K-pop group signaled their return to the spotlight with a series of new photos and videos declaring “2026 Summer of NewJeans.” In a series of group and individual photos, videos and vignettes, Minji, Hanni, Haerin and Hyein return to viewers with visuals that include references to their history together.
The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2026 (So Far), Ranked: Staff Picks Original
The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2026 (So Far), Ranked: Staff Picks From BTS' chart-dominating ARIRANG to standouts from SHINee, AKMU, Yves, NMIXX and more, see which album takes the No. 1 spot. From left: SHINee, ATEEZ, NMIXX, Yves SM Entertainment; KQ Entertainment; Bang kyuhyeong; PAIX PER MIL Español At the halfway point of 2026, albums from the K-pop scene have rewritten history for new chart records while also delivering projects to expand the scope of Korea’s music scene.
All The Celebrities Spotted At 2026 FIFA World Cup Final Match Original
Performer Post Malone during the closing ceremony ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at the New York-New Jersey Stadium. Picture date: Sunday July 19, 2026.
GIRLSET Will Tell You Everything, But A ‘CHAT’ Comes First Original
GIRLSET, "CHAT" Linus Johnson The last time GIRLSET performed on Korean television, the four women went by a different name, boasted a different look and rocked a completely different sound to first introduce themselves to the world. Nearly three years later, members Lexi, Camila, Kendall and Savanna are back on a music show stage in Seoul, reintroduced as a global girl group, dancing to a Hyperpop song in the midst of the K-pop world that trained them.
The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2026 (So Far): Staff Picks Original
The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2026 (So Far): Staff Picks From BLACKPINK to P1Harmony and BTS' ARIRANG standouts, see which song takes the take spots. Clockwise from top left: TAEYONG, BTS, Hearts2Hearts, KiiiKiii. TAEYONG, Hearts2Hearts: SM Entertainment. BTS: BIGHIT Music. KiiiKiii: Starship Entertainment.
The Rose Found Clarity In The Calm To Take ‘100% Control’ Of Their Story Original
The Rose performs live on the ROSETOPIA Tour in Los Angeles AKHET There’s a certain kind of quiet that can only be appreciated after years of noise and The Rose have finally found their way into it. On the first Friday of June, Madison Square Garden was the loudest place in New York from just the outside fervor. Hours before tip-off of Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Knicks fans were already flooding the plaza as well as MSG security and staff for the Garden’s outdoor watch party.
Lim Kim, Bree Runway Crossover Collab Brings Korean ‘Insa’ To The Ballroom Original
Lim Kim for "INSA" featuring Bree Runway KIM KIM From her early K-pop days to rising to critical acclaim as an independent artist, Lim Kim has rarely taken the easy road to crossover and her newest single finds the art-pop auteur turning an everyday Korean word into a track ready for the runway. The singer-songwriter released “INSA” on Thursday, July 9, featuring British pop provocateur Bree Runway, as the pre-release buzz single from her forthcoming album Exit to Nowhere.
2026 Q3 Release Calendar Of New KPop Albums, Singles And Comebacks Original
Ye-on, Stella, Yuha, Ian, A-na, Juun, Carmen and Jiwoo of Hearts2Hearts pose during the showcase for the group's second mini album 'Lemon Tang' at Blue Square on June 22, 2026 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by KCNA/Imazins via Getty Images) ImaZins via Getty Images While the first quarter of 2026 saw record-breaking new BTS and BLACKPINK albums, plus Grammy and Oscar wins from KPop Demon Hunters, Q2 did not disappoint.
ATEEZ Dominate Billboard 200; i-dle Comeback, VAYONN Debut
Happy July! XLOV, K-pop’s firstgroup with a “genderless” concept, was in New York for two fanmeeting events over the holiday weekend, on July 4th and 5th. It was so fun not only to see this group perform their (excellent) music onstage but see the diverse range of fans coming to see them. More with XLOV soon. Also, if you enjoy listening to your newsletters, I went through today’s newsletter and more live on YouTube as something new. Be sure to subscribe if you’d like to join in on future streams.
Pacha New York’s Global Lineup Made Planet Pride ‘A Space Where Everyone Feels Welcome’ Original
Pacha New York - Planet Pride Richard G Burrowes For the final weekend of this year’s Pride Month, thousands packed Pacha New York on Saturday, June 27, as Planet Pride staged its first takeover in the newly reborn venue for one of the largest LGBTQ+ celebrations in New York City. Spanning nearly 12 hours, the festivities were produced by veteran nightlife promoter Jake Resnicow and spread across multiple stages from Saturday afternoon to deep into Sunday morning.
AtHeart Reference The Cardigans’ ‘90s Hit For New Crossover K-Pop Song Original
AtHeart, "Say It" Courtesy of TITAN CONTENT Thirty years ago, a Swedish band reached the top of the American radio charts when The Cardigans’ “Lovefool” soundtracked an integral party scene in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, becoming a defining crossover single of the '90s. Now, the globally focused girl group AtHeart — pointedly, a K-pop act built from the U.S.-based TITAN CONTENTS — is betting that the same melody can cross over all over again.
XLOV Nearly Triples Best Sales Week With ‘I,God’ Before U.S. Fanmeetings Original
XLOV WM Entertainments Co., Ltd. While shattering traditional gender norms in the K-pop industry, XLOV are also breaking new sales figures in their career. The four-member group earned the biggest sales week of their career with their second mini album I,God, which moved 224,291 physical copies in its first week, according to South Korea’s real-time sales chart Hanteo Chart.
Boy George Isn’t Afraid Of AI; A Reborn ‘Karma Chameleon’ Proves Why Original
When Boy George first played his Culture Club bandmates a country-tinged hook of the song he was certain would go to No. 1, they told him it was “the worst idea ever.” He says he threatened to leave the band if it didn’t make the album, “absolutely convinced based on zero evidence that this song was going to be No. 1.” But he was right.
REPUBLIC Collective, WAKEONE Set Strategic Partnership for K-Pop Groups izna and ALPHA DRIVE ONE
Exclusive REPUBLIC Collective, WAKEONE Set Strategic Partnership for K-Pop Groups izna and ALPHA DRIVE ONE The team-up kicks off with the just-released EP from girl group izna, whose music is helmed by BLACKPINK and KPop Demon Hunters producer Teddy. izna Courtesy of WAKEONE Trending on Billboard ALPHA DRIVE ONE and inza were both built by fans, backed by one of Korea’s strongest cultural conglomerates and now two of K-pop’s most-watched acts have a major U.S. partner.
AND2BLE Become Instant Breakout K-Pop Group With 731,000-Selling Debut Original
Boasting some of K-pop’s established superstars, AND2BLE have officially arrived on the scene as one of 2026’s biggest new acts and an instant breakout group. According to South Korea’s real-time album sales chart Hanteo, the newly formed five-member boy band under YH Entertainment moved 731,673 physical copies of their debut EP Sequence 01: Curiosity in its first week of release.
BTS And Cardi B Lead 2026 IHeartRadio Music Festival Lineup
BTS for 'BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN BUSAN: LIVE VIEWING' PR Photos Courtesy of Trafalgar Releasing, BIGHIT MUSIC The 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival features superstar performers BTS and Cardi B alongside a deep roster of genre-spanning acts anchoring the two-day event in Las Vegas this fall.
LE SSERAFIM Earn Fifth Top 10 Album In U.S., Half Million In Global Sales Original
LE SSERAFIM for 'PUREFLOW' PT. 1 Photo Courtesy: SOURCE MUSIC LE SSERAFIM continue to prove their staying power around the world as they share their second full-length project. The HYBE girl group lands its fifth career Top 10 on the Billboard 200 with PUREFLOW Pt. 1 while simultaneously moving more than half a million physical copies worldwide in the album’s first week — a dual showing that underlines the quintet has cemented itself as one of K-pop’s most consistent chart forces.
LE SSERAFIM Earn Fifth Top 10 Album In U.S., Half Million In Global Sales
LE SSERAFIM for 'PUREFLOW' PT. 1 Photo Courtesy: SOURCE MUSIC LE SSERAFIM continue to prove their staying power around the world as they share their second full-length project. The HYBE girl group lands its fifth career Top 10 on the Billboard 200 with PUREFLOW Pt. 1 while simultaneously moving more than half a million physical copies worldwide in the album’s first week — a dual showing that underlines the quintet has cemented itself as one of K-pop’s most consistent chart forces.
Ariana Grande’s New Single Is A Bold Business Declaration Betting On Talent Original
Ariana Grande attends the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 11, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images) Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Any Ariana Grande single release is a pop-culture moment in and of itself, but the release of “Hate That I Made You Love Me” speaks to something larger in a bold, brave move for an artist who is ultimately betting on herself.
Netflix’s ‘K-Pops!’ Movie Has A Big Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic Gap Original
Anderson .Paak at Los Angeles Premiere of Anderson .Paak's "K-POPS!" held at AMC The Grove on February 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chad Salvador/Variety via Getty Images) Variety via Getty Images Anderson .Paak’s directorial debut K-POPS! lands on Netflix on May 30, but if you head to the two biggest review aggregators to decide whether it’s worth your Saturday night, you may leave torn. On one site, it’s a certified crowd-pleaser. On the other, it’s a shrug.
Tiffany Young Always Just Wanted To Sing. Now, She Really Gets To Original
Tiffany Young Pacific Music Group (PMG) It’s the afternoon in Seoul when Tiffany Young shimmers onto the screen with her signature warm smile. Her dark hair falls in loose waves against a simple black top from a room that’s startlingly spare: white walls, white furniture, a white lamp, and minimal decoration, save for a single olive-green wall accent. The whole composition feels intentional and that’s likely because, it turns out, everything in Tiffany’s life right now moves with purpose.
Xikers Earn Career-Best Sales Week With ‘Route Zero : The ORA’ Original
xikers for 'ROUTE ZERO: The ORA' KQ Entertainment Just over two years into their run, xikers have embarked on a new musical era, which has led to another sales record. The 10-member KQ Entertainment crew earned the biggest sales week of their career with their seventh EP, ROUTE ZERO : The ORA, which moved 364,152 physical albums worldwide in its first week, according to South Korea’s real-time sales chart Hanteo.
T.O.P Is Back on the Charts With Nothing to Hide on His First Full-Length Album Original
Trending on Billboard T.O.P knows exactly what he was doing when he opens his first-ever solo album with a baby voice cooing, “I may be 99 percent angel, but that one percent gets me in trouble.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news It’s unexpectedly disarming, slightly devastating, but also funny, and ultimately sets the tone for TOP SPOT – ANOTHER DIMENSION.
BTS And OREO Drop Limited-Edition Cookie Dedicated To Korea, ARMY Fans Original
BTS OREO Press Photo Courtesy of OREO America’s favorite cookie meets Korea as Oreo and BTS collaborate for a limited-edition flavor inspired by the group’s home country. In BTS’ first-ever global snack partnership, set to hit more than 80 markets worldwide, members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook designed the “OREO & BTS Cookies” to feature a hotteok-inspired, brown-sugar pancake flavor.
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