BTS announced Wednesday that the group will not submit any music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards.
The decision marks a significant stand against the Recording Academy's categorization of global music, signaling a tension between the world's largest pop group and the industry's most prestigious awards body.
In a statement posted to Instagram on July 29, the seven-member group [2] expressed a fundamental disagreement with the introduction of the "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category. The group said the new category divides music by region or language, a practice they oppose.
"We have decided not to submit our music for the 2027 Grammy Awards," BTS said in the statement [2].
The group argued that artistic expression should transcend geographical and linguistic borders. "We hope that music can be heard and loved by itself rather than being divided by region or language," BTS said [1].
The announcement comes well ahead of the Grammy Awards ceremony, which is scheduled for Feb. 7, 2027 [1]. By opting out of the submission process, the group ensures they will not be eligible for nominations in the upcoming cycle, regardless of the commercial success of their recent work.
This move follows a broader conversation regarding how Western award institutions recognize non-English language artists. While the Recording Academy has introduced new categories to highlight global growth, some artists view these distinctions as a form of segregation that prevents them from competing in general fields.
“"We have decided not to submit our music for the 2027 Grammy Awards."”
This boycott highlights a growing conflict between the globalized nature of modern pop music and the traditional structures of the U.S. music industry. By rejecting a category specifically designed for Asian artists, BTS is challenging the Recording Academy to integrate non-English music into general categories rather than isolating it into regional silos.
