The South Korean K-pop group BTS announced that it will not submit its music for consideration at the 69th annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 7, 2027. The group's seven members—RM, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V, Jung Kook, and Jin—shared a statement on their individual social media accounts expressing their decision, emphasizing a desire for music to be appreciated without being segmented by region or language.
This move comes approximately one month after the Recording Academy, which organizes the Grammys, introduced a new category titled Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The category is meant to recognize the growth and diversity within Asian pop music, including genres such as K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop. In response to BTS’s announcement, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. expressed sadness but stated that he respects the group’s decision. Mason underscored that submitting music to genre-specific categories does not preclude eligibility for general field awards such as record, album, or song of the year.
BTS’s latest album, “Arirang,” released in March, achieved global chart success but will not be considered for Grammy nominations as a result of their non-submission. The group and its label, Hybe, have not provided additional commentary regarding their reasons beyond the statement.
The introduction of the Best Asian Pop category sparked mixed reactions among fans and observers. Some welcomed it as a step toward recognizing the significant impact and global reach of Asian pop music. However, others saw it as potentially segregating Asian artists and possibly hampering their chances of receiving nominations in general or top-tier categories. BTS has historically faced challenges at the Grammys: the group has received five nominations but has yet to secure a win. Their nominations include entries in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and a contribution to Coldplay’s album "Music of the Spheres," nominated for Album of the Year.
The Grammys have faced multiple artist boycotts in recent years related to perceived lack of diversity and transparency. Prominent musicians such as Frank Ocean, Drake, and the Weeknd have withheld submissions or publicly criticized the awards process for issues including underrepresentation of artists of color. The Recording Academy has made efforts to address some criticisms, such as reducing the use of secret nominating committees.
The establishment of the Asian pop category is part of the Academy’s broader initiative to globalize the awards and reflect the evolving international music landscape. In addition to the new Asian pop prize, the Grammys introduced a Best African Music Performance category in 2024 and have planned international programming, such as events in Egypt later this year.
BTS’s refusal to submit to the Grammys can be seen in the context of ongoing debates about cultural and linguistic barriers in the music industry. The group’s recent work reportedly involved negotiations over language use, balancing Korean and English lyrics to maintain artistic authenticity while appealing to global audiences.
While BTS opts out of Grammy consideration this year, the move highlights continuing tensions around how international and non-English-language artists are recognized in American-dominated music awards.