The late 2000s and early 2010s were an incredibly distinct time for pop culture. The reign of Tumblr and iPods made life feel much more luminous and tangible, with technology serving as a tool for our creative expression rather than an all-consuming digital space. Music during this era was also particularly bubbly and easy to swallow, with acts like Lady Gaga, LMFAO, and Black Eyed Peascompletely dominating radio airwaves. There was something very dance-centric about the catalog of the times, a particular focus on gathering and releasing inhibitions. While the artists who topped the charts were a diverse roster, there were only a few producers and songwriters who stood behind most of the smash hits that defined this period.
Nominated for 11 Grammy Awards across various categories, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Producer of the Year, Benny Blanco stood at the peak of his career during this time. The highly successful songwriter and producer is the force responsible for most of the hits that completely defined the 2010s sonic landscape. Some of his biggest successes include “Diamonds” by Rihanna, “Love Yourself” byJustin Bieber, “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera, “California Gurls” by Katy Perry, and nearly Kesha’s entire discography. With many, many more smashes under his belt, here’s a closer look at the perfect storm that lent to Blanco’s production reign in the 2010s and the mega hits you had no idea he was behind.
Who is Benny Blanco?
Most people are now getting introduced to Benny Blanco via his high-profile relationship with superstar Selena Gomez. The two have been very loud and proud about their engagement, encapsulating their love on the joint album venture “I Said I Love You First… And You Said It Back.” They met back in 2015 when Blanco worked on her Bieber-inspired track “Same Old Love.” By then, Blanco had already established himself as a producer every pop artist needed to work with if they wanted a new career-defining single to revitalize their catalog. But how did his legacy begin?
Born Benjamin Levin in Grand Prairie, Texas, Blanco felt a draw to music that would only be nurtured and cultivated over time. Feeling inspired at age six after hearing bodies of work like Nas‘ “The World Is Yours,” he explored his own inner world by producing hip-hop instrumentals and rapping over them. Dubbing himself Benny Blanco, his music earned the attention of The Source magazine and executives at Columbia Records. He soon secured an apprenticeship with producer Disco D and mentorship by Dr. Luke, lighting a fire and igniting the career that would eventually shape into a $50 million net worth. While he’s done his own music as a standalone artist, including his 2018 debut album Friends Keep Secrets, it’s his work behind the scenes that solidifies him as the incomparable artist we know today.
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Benny Blanco’s 2010 Hit Roster
The stride that Benny Blanco hit from 2008 onward was one to be studied by historians. In the years since his reign, Blanco has amassed 29 total number-one songs and gave form to the entire sonic ecosystem of the time.
While being guided by Dr. Luke, Blanco co-produced and co-wrote mega hits like Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream”, Kesha’s “TiK ToK”, and Taio Cruz‘s “Dynamite.” These songs were inescapable, blasting through every speaker at any given time. However, Blanco’s potential was truly put on display when he took part in writing and producing Britney Spears‘ “Circus.” Playing a major role in the revival of her career, it stands as her second-best-selling digital song in the United States and was one of the top 10 best-selling songs of 2009.
This win gave Blanco the confidence to work on his own, beyond Dr. Luke’s shadow, which led to charting hits like Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” and “Payphone,” and Gym Class Heroes‘ “Stereo Hearts,” and more recent smashes, like “Señorita” byShawn Mendes and Camila Cabello. His catalog only continued to deepen, even contributing to hip-hop tracks like Wiz Khalifa’s “Work Hard, Play Hard” and Trey Songz’s “Heart Attack.”
What helped shape this perfect storm was the pop landscape Blanco entered. A deeply intuitive producer and songwriter who keeps fun at the center of his practice, the tone of the times was light and youthful. Music was much more technicolor, leaving a playground where producers can be limitless and uninhibited. Blanco has always kept his inner child at the forefront of his artistic output, which is what ultimately helped him stand out and cultivate a warm relationship with his collaborators.
Beyond his many Grammys, he has undoubtedly been recognized for his achievements, including earning the Hal David Starlight Award at the 44th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame and being named Producer of the Year at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Frequent collaborator Halsey spoke to his magnetism, sharing during the award show, “He’s incredible. He’s a genius and he’s responsible for a lot of everyone’s favorite pop songs, whether they know it or not.” With his newest joint album earning hundreds of millions of streams, it’s clear Blanco is only getting started.
