BTS skips 2027 Grammys over new Asian pop category

BTS will not submit its music for consideration at the upcoming Grammy Awards. The group announced the decision on social media this week, citing its discomfort with the Recording Academy's new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. The band stated that it prefers listeners to hear their music without it being divided by region or language.

The Recording Academy unveiled the new category earlier this year. It is designed to recognize contemporary popular music originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including K-Pop, J-Pop, and C-Pop. To be eligible, a submission must use one or more Asian languages in a meaningful way. The inaugural slate of nominees for this award is scheduled to be released next week.

BTS shared its statement roughly a month after the Academy announced its plans for the new award. The group is currently in the middle of a major comeback following a years-long hiatus for its members' mandatory military service in South Korea. The band released the album Arirang in March and has been on a sold-out global tour since then. Following BTS' announcement, the K-pop group Stray Kids also said it would not submit its music for the ceremony.

The band's statement was direct. It read, "We have decided not to submit for Grammys this year. Rather than music being divided by region or language, we hope music itself can be heard and loved for what it is." The group also expressed gratitude to its fan base, ARMY, and to everyone who has supported them.

Harvey Mason Jr., the CEO of the Recording Academy, responded to the decision on Instagram. He wrote that he was saddened but respected the group's choice. Mason Jr. clarified that the category was created to celebrate the depth and diversity of pop artistry from Asia. He noted that the goal is to shine a spotlight on these artists and expand recognition among the Academy's 15,000 voters, rather than to divide the industry.

Mathieu Berbiguier, a visiting assistant professor of Korean studies at Carnegie Mellon University, described the new category as a double-edged sword. He noted that while it offers an opportunity to highlight music from across the Asian continent, it may also sideline the gains made by K-pop in general categories. Berbiguier argued that the term K-pop itself was created outside of Korea as a way to define the genre in comparison to others. He suggested that placing the music in a separate category can make it seem like an outsider to the mainstream.

This controversy follows a long history of debate over the Grammys' categories. In 1989, artists including LL Cool J and Public Enemy boycotted the ceremony after the Academy chose not to televise the best rap performance award. In 2016, Frank Ocean declined to submit his album Blonde, calling the voting system dated. More recently, Tyler, the Creator won best rap album in 2020 but described the category as a backhanded compliment, noting that he disliked the term "urban" when applied to artists of color.

The Recording Academy has made various adjustments over the years to address these concerns. In 2011, it consolidated several categories, including those for Native American, Zydeco, and Cajun music, into a single best regional roots music award. That move prompted a class-action lawsuit from four Latin jazz musicians, which was later dismissed. The Academy has since widened its global field to include awards for best global music album and best African music performance.

The new Asian pop category is intended to further expand this inclusion. Miist, a Chinese singer and voting member of the Academy, said she feels excited about the new option. She noted that it provides a chance for artists who record in multiple languages to be heard by the full voting body. The first nominees for the award are set to be announced next week, ahead of the ceremony.

The Recording Academy continues to refine its terminology and categories to reflect changes in the music industry. The decision by BTS and Stray Kids to sit out this year adds a new chapter to that ongoing process. The band will remain eligible for future awards if it submits work that meets the general criteria. The next step in the process is the release of the nominee list for the new Asian pop category.