BTS declines to submit music for 2027 Grammy Awards over new Asian pop category

BTS will not submit any music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 2027. The seven-member group announced the decision on social media on 29 July, signalling opposition to the Recording Academy's recent introduction of a "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category.

In their statement, BTS said they hoped music could be "heard and loved for what it is, rather than being categorized by region or language." The announcement came less than two months after the U.S.-based Recording Academy unveiled five new award categories for the 2027 ceremony, with the Asian pop prize designed to honour contemporary pop recordings from or widely recognised in Asian markets.

Whilst the Academy positioned the change as an effort to improve recognition for Asian artists, the move sparked immediate backlash from fans and industry observers who characterised it as "musical segregation." Critics argued the separate category could marginalise major stars like BTS from the ceremony's top general-field prizes, where international acts compete alongside Western artists.

BTS's stance aligns with longstanding grievances about Grammy recognition of non-English-language music. The group has received three consecutive nominations for best pop duo/group performance between 2021 and 2023 but has not won. Despite topping both the U.S. Billboard's main singles and albums charts with its fifth studio album, "Arirang," released in March, BTS has never secured a Grammy win.

The decision echoes broader criticism of the Grammy Awards' track record with non-white artists. The Weeknd boycotted the ceremony in 2021 after receiving no nominations, calling the process "corrupt" and "lacking transparency." More recently, BLACKPINK's Rose went home empty-handed from the 2025 Grammy Awards despite strong chart performance for her collaboration "APT." with Bruno Mars.

BTS concluded its statement by thanking its fanbase, known as ARMY, and "everyone who has supported us," without indicating whether the group might reconsider in future years.