BTS Boycotts 2027 Grammys Over New Asian Pop Category
On July 29, 2026, BTS announced via Instagram they will not submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, boycotting the ceremony. The decision follows the Recording Academy’s creation of a “Best Asian Pop Performance” category, which BTS and label HYBE view as segregationist. The group’s English-heavy album *ARIRANG*—a global chart-topper—would be ineligible for the new category. BTS, with five nominations and no wins, argue music should not be divided by region or language, sparking debate on racial categorization in awards.
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BTS Boycotts Grammys Over New 'Best Asian Pop' Category
The South Korean boy band BTS has announced they will not submit songs for the 2026 Grammy Awards, protesting the newly introduced category 'Best Asian Pop Music Performance.' The band stated they want music to be judged on its own merit, not by region or language. Cultural scientist Annekathrin Kohout argues the category reinforces Western pop hegemony by marking Asian music as 'other.' The article also compares the move to other controversial award categories, such as the Oscars' 'Best International Film' and the Golden Globes' 'Cinematic and Box Office Achievement,' suggesting the new category may be a consolation prize for popular artists that juries do not consider worthy of main awards. BTS, who previously topped US charts with their album 'Arirang,' has been nominated for Grammys before but never won.
Read sourceBTS boycotts Grammys over new Asian pop award category
K-pop group BTS announced on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, that they will boycott the Grammy Awards by not submitting an entry for consideration. The decision comes in response to the Recording Academy's creation of a new 'Asian pop' award category. BTS stated that music should not be divided by region or language, arguing that the new category is regressive and reinforces racial and cultural divisions rather than celebrating artistic merit. The group, which has previously been nominated for and performed at the Grammys, has taken a principled stand against what they see as a form of segregation in the music industry. The boycott has sparked debate about the role of genre-based and region-based awards in global music. The article was published by The Business Times Singapore on July 30, 2026.
Read sourceBTS boycotts Grammys over new Asian Pop award category
K-pop group BTS announced on July 29, 2026, that they will not submit any music for consideration for the Grammy Awards, boycotting the ceremony over the newly created 'Asian Pop' award category. The South Korean group stated that music should not be divided by region or language, rejecting the categorization as inherently limiting and contrary to the universal nature of music. The decision marks a significant escalation in the ongoing debate about how Western award shows recognize non-English and non-Western artists. BTS, one of the world's best-selling musical acts, has previously been nominated for and won Grammy awards. The boycott has sparked widespread discussion in the music industry about the implications of creating genre categories based on ethnicity or geography.
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BTS withdraws from Grammy Awards after introduction of Asian pop category
Global K-pop sensation BTS announced on July 29, 2026, that they will not submit their music for the next Grammy Awards, following the Recording Academy's introduction of a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. The South Korean megastars, whose comeback album ARIRANG became one of the year's best-selling hits, had been widely expected to compete for top honors including Album of the Year. In coordinated Instagram posts, BTS members stated they hope music is 'heard and loved for what it is, rather than being defined by region or language.' Notably, ARIRANG—which includes extensive English lyrics and explores Korean identity—would not have qualified for the new category, which requires 'meaningful use' of at least one Asian language. The Recording Academy said the award honors artistic excellence in Asian pop from markets including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop. The decision drew mixed reactions online, with critics arguing it segregates Asian artists rather than recognizing them alongside global peers. BTS has never won a Grammy despite multiple nominations and performances.
Read sourceBTS Will Not Submit Music for 2027 Grammy Awards Consideration
K-pop group BTS announced via Instagram on July 29 that they will not submit their music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, scheduled for February. All seven members posted an identical statement in Korean, saying they want their music to be heard and loved for what it is, rather than divided by region or language. The decision comes after the Recording Academy introduced a new 'Best Asian Pop Music Performance' category, which requires meaningful use of Asian languages. BTS's recent album Arirang is 80% in English, potentially making them ineligible. The group, who have multiple Grammy nominations but no wins, are currently on their Arirang World Tour and recently performed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show. The announcement has drawn attention to ongoing debates about how the Grammys categorize and recognize non-English and Asian pop music.
Read sourceBTS Will Not Submit Music for 2027 Grammy Awards Consideration
K-pop group BTS announced via Instagram on July 29 that they will not submit their music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, scheduled for February. All seven members posted an identical statement in Korean, expressing a desire for their music to be appreciated without being divided by region or language. The decision follows the Recording Academy's recent introduction of a new 'Best Asian Pop Music Performance' category, which requires meaningful use of Asian languages. BTS's latest album 'Arirang' features 80% English lyrics, potentially making it ineligible. The group, currently on their Arirang World Tour and fresh from performing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final halftime show, has been nominated for multiple Grammys but has never won. The announcement has sparked discussion about the categorization of global pop music.
Read sourceBTS Won’t Submit For 2027 Grammys Consideration — And Why It Matters
Global K-pop superstars BTS announced via their individual Instagram stories that they will not submit their music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. This decision comes one month after the Recording Academy introduced a new Best Asian Pop Performance category. BTS's latest album, ARIRANG, released in March 2026, was a massive commercial success, debuting at No. 1 on multiple global charts and breaking sales records, leading many experts to consider it a frontrunner for major awards including Album of the Year. The group's statement expressed a hope that music be heard and loved without distinction by region or language. BTS has been nominated for five Grammys across three years but has never won, despite performing at the ceremony three times. The article suggests the decision reflects growing disillusionment with the American awards show after repeated snubs.
BTS Announce Boycott of Grammy Awards, Will Not Submit Music for 2027
K-pop supergroup BTS has announced they will not submit their music for consideration for the 2027 Grammy Awards, effectively boycotting the ceremony. The decision stems from the Recording Academy's introduction of a new 'Asian Pop' category, which the group and their label, HYBE, view as a form of segregation that undermines their ability to compete in mainstream categories like Album of the Year or Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. BTS, who have been nominated multiple times but have never won a Grammy, argue that the new category boxes in Asian artists. The move has been widely reported by outlets including BBC, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Korean media, signaling a significant rift between one of the world's biggest musical acts and the premier awards body.
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