Maybe you spot his name on song credits and ask who is benny blanco. He reached the top ten on the Hot 100 chart with his debut single. This Introduction will show you his start in Reston, Virginia, his work with major artists, and his record label stories.
Read on.
Key Takeaways
- Benjamin Joseph Levin, known as benny blanco, was born March 8, 1988 in Reston, Virginia. He built his name by producing hits like Britney Spears’s “Circus” (2009), Kesha’s “Tik Tok” (2010), and Rihanna’s “Diamonds” (2012).
- He co-wrote chart-toppers for Katy Perry (“California Gurls”), Maroon 5 (“Moves Like Jagger”), Ed Sheeran (“Shape of You,” “Castle on the Hill”), BTS (“Bad Decisions” with Snoop Dogg, 2022), and Justin Bieber (“Love Yourself”).
- He launched Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets in 2014, relaunched A&M Records under Interscope in 2024, and released his debut album Friends Keep Secrets on December 7, 2018 (deluxe in March 2021).
- As a solo artist, he scored “Eastside” (#9 Hot 100, 7× Platinum, 2018) and “Lonely” (#12 Hot 100, 2× Platinum, 2020). He teases a Selena Gomez single, “I Said I Love You First,” due March 21, 2025.
- He holds 11 Grammy nominations, five BMI Songwriter of the Year awards, iHeartRadio Producer of the Year (2017), a Gold CLIO (2019), and a Spotify Secret Genius Award (2018). He released Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends on April 30, 2024 and got engaged to Selena Gomez on December 11, 2024.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Benjamin Joseph Levin was born in Reston, Virginia on March 8, 1988. He crafted hip-hop instrumentals on a laptop as a child. His Jewish roots mixed tradition with late-night beat sessions at home.
He sliced samples, juggled drums, and learned a DAW using a simple controller.
Levin teamed up with Spank Rock in 2007 on the EP Bangers & Cash. He adopted the name benny blanco and let the beats carry his first buzz. Blog posts and word of mouth spread his name across social feeds.
Interscope Records reps started knocking after that spark.
Breakthrough in the Music Industry
Benny Blanco scored his first major hit in 2009 with Britney Spears’s Circus. Dr. Luke guided him into a contract at Kasz Money Productions. He co-wrote Kesha’s Tik Tok in 2010, a song that topped the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2014, he launched Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets under Interscope Records. He relaunched A&M Records as general manager under Interscope in 2024. Audio software and mixing consoles helped him shape each beat.
Songwriting techniques and music production skills drove his work.
Notable Collaborations and Projects
Benny Blanco jammed with Katy Perry, Rihanna, BTS and Ed Sheeran on a DAW, mixing tracks in a digital audio workspace to craft chart-topping beats—keep reading.
Work with Katy Perry and Maroon 5
Katy Perry soared with Teenage Dream, a track co-written and produced by Benjamin Joseph Levin. He struck gold again when the single earned platinum certification in several regions.
She rode his beats again on California Gurls, released via Interscope Records.
Maroon 5 hit it big with Moves Like Jagger, thanks to his beats and pen work. Fans could not stop humming the riff. He then co-wrote Payphone, which raced to #1 on UK charts. The band rolled out another mega-hit, sealing his place among BMI Songwriter of the Year contenders.
Collaborations with Rihanna and Britney Spears
benny blanco teamed up with rihanna to co-write and produce “Diamonds.” It soared to number one on the UK charts in 2012, showing his skill at crafting bold pop hits. He built the song structure in mixing software, then added vibrant hooks, silky melodies and layered sounds.
He also co-wrote “Circus” for britney spears, adding punch to her pop act. That track pushed her album over the top and gave fans a wild vibe. The crisp beats and catchy chorus still make crowds roar.
Hits with BTS and Ed Sheeran
On August 5, 2022, Blanco teamed with BTS and Snoop Dogg on “Bad Decisions.” He drove the track’s hook in Pro Tools, mixing catchy synths and rapid-fire beats. The song climbed into the top ten on global charts.
Blanco co-wrote and produced Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill” and “Shape of You.” Logic Pro X helped him shape the melody concept over guitars and drums. Both singles raced into global top ten spots, earning platinum plaques.
Benny Blanco as a Solo Artist
Benny Blanco steps into the spotlight with solo tracks, firing up a DAW and punching rhythms on a MIDI controller like a one-man band. He teases catchy singles on Mad Love Records and drops hints at a full solo EP you can’t wait to spin.
Launch of Artist Projects
Blanco released his debut album Friends Keep Secrets on December 7, 2018 via Mad Love Records and Interscope Records. The deluxe version Friends Keep Secrets 2 dropped March 26, 2021 and climbed charts.
He pushed synth lines in a digital audio workstation session, and mixed vocals with a condenser microphone. Fans saw Benjamin Joseph Levin step from beatmaker to frontman.
Selena Gomez joins forces for I Said I Love You First, due March 21, 2025. The project uses a MIDI controller, sequencer and vocal chain. Industry buzz calls it a strong bid for a platinum certification.
It might boost his BMI Songwriter of the Year credentials.
Popular Singles and Albums
Benny Blanco hits the charts as an artist too. He crafts songs that fans play on repeat.
- Eastside (2018) hit #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a 7× Platinum certification by the RIAA. He teamed with Halsey and Khalid on that track under Mad Love Records and Interscope Records.
- Lonely (2020) climbed to #12 on the Hot 100 and grabbed a 2× Platinum plaque. He co-wrote and co-produced that cut with Justin Bieber for a raw, honest feel.
- Friends Keep Secrets album dropped in 2018 as his debut full-length. That record on Mad Love Records and Interscope Records marked his leap from behind-the-scenes producer to solo artist.
Songwriting and Production Highlights
He crafts hooks like a chef seasons meals, using an audio editor to layer vocals and beats. He wrangles chord progressions with music theory tricks, sending songs up the charts.
Chart-Topping Songs
Benny Blanco owns a big hit list. His real name is Benjamin Joseph Levin and he writes songs that top charts.
- California Gurls hit #1 on UK charts in 2010 and fueled Blanco’s tally of nine chart toppers.
- Diamonds topped UK charts in 2012, adding another #1 to his streak with Rihanna.
- Eastside, released on Mad Love Records and Interscope Records, earned 7x Platinum from RIAA after 7 million units sold.
- Lonely with Justin Bieber hit massive streaming numbers and grabbed a 2x Platinum RIAA plaque.
- Love Yourself for Bieber soared to #1 worldwide and earned him BMI Songwriter of the Year.
- Castle on the Hill by Ed Sheeran climbed major charts after Blanco added bold melodies.
- Moves like Jagger by Maroon 5 mixed beats and hooks that kept it at top spots.
- I Said I Love You First by Selena Gomez cracked the Top 20 and showed Blanco’s pop range.
- Better to Lie with Marshmello and Vance Joy earned solid radio spins and digital sales.
Signature Style in Music Production
He blends pop and hip-hop like two flavors in a smoothie. He lays down strong beats on a digital audio workstation, then pours in bright synths, hooky melodies, and tight 808 drums.
He co-wrote “Tik Tok” for Kesha in 2009, a track that shot to number one on the charts. His style eats the hook and spits it back with an extra dose of sugar, so songs climb charts.
Benjamin Joseph Levin adds layers in the mixing stage, tweaking the EQ, pushing compression, and weaving vocals into the riff. He uses analog synthesizers, drum samples, and vocal chops as his paintbrushes.
Listeners snap along to songs like a catchy earworm on playlists and in cars. This blend, a trademark of benny blanco, proves a craft built on memorable hooks.
Awards and Recognitions
He piled up Recording Academy honors, snagged BMI plaques, and earned nods from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, like a hype man grabbing every mic in the room. See how each trophy maps his climb from a home studio in Reston to sold-out arenas.
Grammy Nominations and Wins
Readers, Benny holds 11 Grammy nods from the Recording Academy, two in prime categories.
| Listing | Count | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Grammy nods | 11 | Annual Album Prize, Track of the Year, plus nine more |
| Grammy wins | 0 | Still chasing that golden gramophone |
Other Industry Accolades
Benny Blanco, born Benjamin Joseph Levin, stacks trophy after trophy. He snagged five BMI Songwriter of the Year awards and top nods from iHeartRadio, CLIO, and Spotify.
- Five BMI Songwriter of the Year Awards: BMI picked Blanco five times for his knack at writing hits like “California Gurls” and “Moves Like Jagger,” a streak few songwriters match.
- iHeartRadio Producer of the Year (2017): He earned this title after crafting tracks such as “Love Yourself” with Justin Bieber, driving streams and airplay to the stratosphere.
- CLIO Awards Gold for “I Found You / Nilda’s Story” (2019): This gold honor praised his score for a short film, showing his flair for soundscapes that tug at the heart.
- Spotify Secret Genius: Pop Award (2018): Spotify honored his songcraft in pop, nodding to his work with Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran, and other chart toppers.
Media and Public Appearances
He pops up in film clips and prime-time series, tweaking tunes under camera lights. He hops on live feeds on photo apps, short video apps, and audio hubs to share studio tales and laugh with fans.
Film and TV Cameos
Benny Blanco pops up in TV and film. Fans catch quick laughs from the music maker.
- Benny Blanco acts as himself in the FXX series Dave in 2020, joining Lil Dicky in a studio scene where he mixes beats and teases the rap flow.
- Benny makes a brief appearance in the 2021 doc JUICE WRLD: INTO THE ABYSS on HBO Max, chatting about his Interscope Records roots and showing off his platinum certification.
- Blanco hits The Eric Andre Show in 2023 on Adult Swim, riffing on a Gym Class Heroes nod and joking about Teenage Dream hooks.
Social Media Presence
He updates his photo app daily. He shows clips from Matty and Benny Eat Out America. He launched it on March 9, 2020 with chef Matty Matheson. Fans tune in for quick recipes and funny banter.
His feed also shows Stupid F*cking Cooking Show, which he dropped on March 31, 2021. People watch him cook wild dishes and drop beat jokes.
He teases new tracks with Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber on his microblogging site. He posts dance peeks with BTS and nods to Maroon 5. He uploads jam clips on short video app and streams live on video stream platform.
He calls himself benjamin joseph levin in some posts. His page feels like a jam session in a kitchen.
Personal Life and Interests
Benny loves cooking. Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends landed on shelves on April 30, 2024. Jess Damuck co-wrote and added tasty twists. Fans called it a bestseller. Friends Keep Secrets teamed with Interscope Records to push the book.
Benny started dating Selena Gomez in June 2023. Engagement came on December 11, 2024. Selena gave a big smile at the moment. Media sites lit up with fan cheers. Music producer and pop star mix studio nights and recipe swaps.
Takeaways
His tracks hit number one spots and earn top prizes. He works magic in Pro Tools and on mixing boards. Fellow artists praise his song craft skills. His own label lifts fresh talent.
Fans await new tunes at every turn.
FAQs
1. Who is Benny Blanco?
He is Benjamin Joseph Levin, or Benjamin Levin, a music producer and writer. He grew up in Reston, Virginia.
2. How did he break into hits?
He hit the ground running with Overexposed by Gym Class Heroes. Then he made Moves Like Jagger.
3. What pop songs did he craft?
He wrote California Gurls and Teenage Dream for Katy Perry. He also made Love Yourself for Justin Bieber, I Can’t Get Enough and I Said I Love You First for Selena Gomez, with Camila Cabello and Swae Lee.
4. Who else did he team with?
He wrote for Britney Spears, Taio Cruz, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, and Adam Levine. He often works with Claude Kelly in Friends Keep Secrets.
5. What awards did he win?
He earned BMI Songwriter of the Year and a Hal David Starlight Award. He sits in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has platinum certification on many tracks.
6. What labels did he start?
He began in Kasz Money Productions. He then built Friends Keep Secrets, co-founded Mad Love Records under Interscope Records.
