The South Korean group BTS will not submit songs from their album “Arirang” for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards [2].
This decision represents a public challenge to how the music industry categorizes global artists. By opting out of the awards process, the group is questioning the validity of regional awards categories for non-Western music.
The group shared the announcement via their official Instagram accounts on July 29, 2026 [1]. In a joint statement, the seven members — Jimin, Jung Kook, Jin, Suga, J‑Hope, RM, and V — confirmed the move [3].
"We have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year," BTS said [4].
The group specifically highlighted the Recording Academy's introduction of a new category called Best Asian Pop Music Performance [5]. BTS said they desire for their work to be evaluated on its own merits rather than being segregated by geography or language [6].
"We hope our music can be heard and loved by itself rather than being divided by region or language," the group said [7].
This stance follows a long history of global artists debating the role of "world music" or regional labels in major award ceremonies. The group said they believe music should transcend these boundaries to be truly appreciated [8].
“"We have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year."”
The decision by BTS to boycott the 2027 Grammys underscores a growing tension between the Recording Academy's attempts to be inclusive through specialized categories and the desire of global superstars to be recognized in general fields. By rejecting the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, BTS is arguing that regional labeling can act as a ghettoization of non-English music, effectively capping its prestige by separating it from the primary global competition.
