BTS announced Wednesday they will not submit any music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards [1].
The decision by the seven-member group [2] marks a significant rift between the world's most successful K-pop act and the Recording Academy. By boycotting the ceremony, BTS is challenging how the industry categorizes non-Western music on a global stage.
In a statement posted to Instagram, the group confirmed the move. "We will not be submitting any of our music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards," BTS said [1].
The group said the boycott is a direct response to the creation of a new category titled Best Asian Pop Music Performance. This new award was introduced approximately one month before the group's announcement [3]. BTS described the addition of the category as tokenistic, a move they believe segregates Asian artists rather than integrating them into general categories.
"We hope music can be heard and loved for what it is," BTS said [4].
While some critics have attempted to link the decision to the reception of recent releases, the group explicitly tied their withdrawal to the Academy's structural changes. The group said, "We have decided not to submit our music for next year's Grammys," as a matter of principle regarding the new category [5].
The Grammy Awards are held annually in Los Angeles, where the Recording Academy determines winners across various genres. The introduction of the Asian pop category was intended to recognize the growing influence of music from the region, but the reaction from BTS suggests the move may be viewed as a step backward for artists seeking mainstream global recognition.
“We will not be submitting any of our music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards.”
This boycott highlights a growing tension between global superstars and traditional award structures. By rejecting a category specifically designed for their demographic, BTS is arguing that 'specialized' awards can act as a glass ceiling, effectively ghettoizing non-Western artists and preventing them from competing in general fields like Album of the Year or Record of the Year.
