K-pop powerhouse BTS say they will not submit music for 2027 Grammys
BTS declines Grammy submissions due to a new Asian Pop category they believe unfairly separates music by region and language.
- 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.
267 Articles
267 Articles
BTS opts out of Grammys over Asia category
Global K-pop sensation BTS on Wednesday said they would not submit their music for next year’s Grammy Awards, after the Recording Academy introduced a new Asian pop category criticized for restricting the success of regional artists. The South Korean megastars were widely tipped in the running for s
Ottumwa Courier
Madison CourierThe Recording Academy CEO responds to BTS decision not to submit to Grammys
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. has responded to the news that BTS will not submit their music for consideration at the forthcoming 2027 Grammy Awards. All seven members of the K-pop group shared the same note Wednesday, saying they…
Grammys CEO says new 'Asian Pop' category was “created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia” after BTS rule themselves out
The CEO of the Grammys, Harvey Mason Jr, has responded to BTS’s decision not to participate in the 2027 Awards due to the introduction of a new ‘Asian Pop’ category. On Monday just gone (27 July), the South Korean megastars put out a message via Instagram simply saying: “We decided not to participate in the Grammys this year” and adding that they “hope that music can be heard and loved by itself rather than being divided by region or language.”T…
Grammys Accused Of ‘Gaslighting’ After Statement Urging BTS To ‘Pursue’ Award Categories: ‘Tone Deaf’
RB/Bauergriffin.com / MEGARB/Bauergriffin.com / MEGA The Grammys have responded to BTS’s bold decision to withhold their music from award consideration entirely. The drama began shortly after the Recording Academy unveiled a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category to recognize excellence in the Asian markets. The move has since been interpreted as discriminatory, sparking intense backlash. However, the Grammys insist that it is the total o…
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