BTS, the South Korean supergroup, has announced that it will not submit its music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards. The decision comes one month after the Recording Academy confirmed the addition of a Best Asian Pop Music Performance category for the 2027 ceremony.
BTS Opts Out of Grammy Submission
In a statement shared on Instagram by all seven members, BTS said: "We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year. I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language." The statement signaled a clear rejection of the newly created genre-specific category.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. responded in a statement to CNN, expressing disappointment but respecting the group's choice. "I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision," Mason Jr. said. He noted that artists who submit in a genre category like Asian pop are also eligible to submit in general field categories such as Record of the Year.
Recording Academy's New Category Sparks Debate
The Best Asian Pop Music Performance category was unveiled weeks ago for the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled to air on February 7. Along with four other new categories, its introduction sparked widespread debate among fans and industry observers. Many argued that it could segregate Asian artists from main pop categories rather than promote integration. Others speculated that the category's timing was linked to BTS's anticipated return as a full group after members completed solo projects.
Mason Jr. defended the category, stating, "The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists." Despite this, BTS's decision has reignited conversations about how genre categories affect artists from non-Western backgrounds.
BTS's Legacy and Achievements
BTS has enjoyed massive success since forming in 2010. They won the Billboard Music Award (BBMA) for Top Social Artist five times between 2017 and 2021, were named Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards in 2021 and 2026, and became the most awarded group in BBMA history in 2022. With a global fanbase known as ARMY, the group has consistently broken records and barriers for non-English language music.
The group's rejection of the Grammy submission underscores their ongoing critique of how awards categorize music. While some fans support the decision as a stand against tokenism, others worry it may limit BTS's exposure to mainstream Grammy recognition. The Recording Academy has not indicated any further changes to the category in response.
