K-pop group BTS announced Wednesday that they will not submit any music for consideration at the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, set for February 2027, citing dissatisfaction with the Recording Academy’s newly introduced category honoring Asian pop music.
The decision marks the first time the South Korean group, among the most successful acts in K-pop history, has opted out of the awards entirely. Each member shared the news individually on Instagram, writing that they had decided not to enter the Grammys this year and expressing hope that music could be appreciated for what it is, rather than divided along lines of region or language.
The Recording Academy unveiled the new category on June 16, intended to recognize music from South Korea, Japan, China and other parts of the region. According to the Grammy website, the category honors artistic excellence in Asian pop performances that originate from or are widely recognized within Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, with meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement that he was saddened by BTS’s decision, though as a fellow music creator, he understood and respected it. He said he wanted to clarify what he felt had been lost in the broader conversation surrounding the group’s boycott, explaining that the Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and remarkable growth of pop artistry emerging from Asia.
Read more: Jared Leto accused of abuse and sexual assault by several women (with video)
Mason also stressed that submitting music to any specific category, including Asian Pop, does not disqualify an artist from being considered in the Grammys’ general field categories, such as record of the year, album of the year and song of the year.
BTS returned from a hiatus, during which members completed mandatory military service, with the release of their comeback album “ARIRANG” on March 20. The album became a global success, topping the Billboard 200 chart for two consecutive weeks, a new record for a K-pop act.
Tickets for the group’s South Korean concerts sold out rapidly during a January presale driven by their devoted fanbase, known as ARMY, and the North American and European legs of the tour reportedly sold out within hours as well, according to Hybe, the agency that manages BTS.
BTS is composed of seven members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, and is managed by Big Hit Music, an independent label under the Hybe umbrella.
