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K-pop powerhouse BTS say they will not submit music for 2027 Grammys
The group said the new Asian pop category could divide artists by region or language as its comeback album drew 641,000 first-week U.S. sales.
- On Wednesday, BTS announced it will not submit music for the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 2027. All seven members posted identical statements on Instagram Stories, signaling a potential protest against the Recording Academy's new Asian Pop Music Performance category.
- The Recording Academy introduced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category in June, intending to 'recognise artistic excellence in Asian pop music performance.' The timing has sparked debate in South Korea over whether the category celebrates Asian artists or effectively separates them from mainstream awards.
- Despite high expectations following their fifth studio album Arirang topping the Billboard 200 with 641,000 units, the group opted out. 'We hope music can be heard and loved as music itself, rather than being divided by region or language,' the members stated.
- Critics have called the new category a form of segregation that sidelines Asian acts, while others welcome it as long-overdue recognition. The Academy has historically responded to emerging genres by creating dedicated competitive fields, previously expanding categories for Latin music.
- BTS continues its World Tour Arirang following a July 19 performance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show. The group is set to resume the tour's U.S. leg on Aug. 1 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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212 Articles
The band is unhappy with the new award category for Asian pop music.
·Helsinki, Finland
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources212
Leaning Left59Leaning Right32Center59Last UpdatedBias Distribution39% Left, 39% Center
Bias Distribution
- 39% of the sources lean Left, 39% of the sources are Center
39% Center
L 39%
C 39%
R 22%
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