BTS refuses to submit music for 2027 Grammys, protesting Asian pop category

BTS refuses to submit music for 2027 Grammys

On July 29, the seven members of BTS (RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook) posted a joint statement on Instagram declaring they would not enter the upcoming Grammy Awards. "We have decided not to submit any music for the Grammys this year," the group wrote, addressing their global fanbase known as Army. The message went on to articulate a clear principle: "We hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, as music itself, and not defined by region or language." The decision comes just weeks before the August 21 submission deadline and appears to be a direct response to a newly announced award category by the Recording Academy.

A controversial new category

In June 2026, the Recording Academy revealed plans to introduce five new honors at the 69th Grammy Awards, among them "Best Asian Pop Music Performance". The category, according to official statements, intends to celebrate artists "who come from or are known in Asian markets," including pop musicians from South Korea, Japan, and China. To be eligible, a track must make "significant use" of an Asian language. Though the Academy frames the move as a step toward broader recognition, many artists and fans see it as a form of musical segregation that relegates Asian pop to a side lane rather than competing it against other, usually English-language, global hits. Opponents have called it a ghetto for Asian artists, and the band itself is reported to have used the phrase "musical ghetto branding" in its Instagram post, according to German weekly ZEIT. The backlash echoes longstanding discontent with the Grammys' separate categories for Latin music.

BTS's Grammy journey

BTS has a complex history with the Grammys. In 2021, the song "Dynamite" earned the group the first ever Grammy nomination for an all-South Korean act, competing for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Since then, the band has received several other nods, including in Best Music Video, and has performed live at multiple ceremonies, yet has never taken home a trophy. All seven members have been voting members of the Recording Academy since 2019. The group returned to active duty earlier this year after its members completed South Korea's mandatory military service, launching the comeback album "ARIRANG" in March 2026. The lead single "Swim" was widely tipped as a possible Song of the Year contender, and the album itself was expected to contend for Album of the Year. However, because more than 80 percent of the lyrics on "ARIRANG" are in English, it would not qualify for the new Asian pop category even if the band chose to submit.

What happens next

The boycott means that one of the best-selling acts of 2026 will be absent from the Grammy race. The submission window closes on August 21, 2026; the 69th Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 7, 2027. BTS's decision not to participate is likely to intensify the debate over how the music industry categorises global talent. In their statement, the band thanked its supporters, adding: "Thank you to Army and to everyone who is always with us."