Follow Us on Google
Global K-pop sensation BTS has announced it will boycott the 2027 Grammy Awards after the Recording Academy introduced a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, arguing that music should be recognised on artistic merit rather than regional or linguistic identity.
The seven-member South Korean group made the announcement on Wednesday through coordinated posts on their individual Instagram accounts, confirming they would not submit their music for consideration despite being widely tipped to compete for several of the ceremony’s highest honours following the commercial success of their comeback album, ARIRANG.
“We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year,” the group said. “We hope that music is heard and loved for what it is, rather than being defined by region or language.”
BTS’ decision follows the Recording Academy’s introduction of five new Grammy categories, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance. While the Academy described the award as an effort to celebrate the diversity and rapid growth of Asian pop music, the move has drawn criticism from industry observers who argue that it risks segregating Asian artists instead of recognising them alongside their global counterparts.
The group’s latest album, ARIRANG, emerged as one of the year’s biggest-selling releases and had been widely regarded as a strong contender for major awards, including Album of the Year. Although the album explores Korean identity following BTS’ return from mandatory military service, most of its songs are performed in English. Under the Academy’s eligibility rules, however, it would not qualify for the new Asian pop category because entries must make “meaningful use” of at least one Asian language.
Reacting to BTS’ decision, Recording Academy Chief Executive Harvey Mason Jr. said he was disappointed by the boycott, insisting the newly created category was designed to elevate Asian artists rather than restrict them.
“The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia,” Mason said. “The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists.”
He added that artists recognised in the category would remain eligible for the Grammys’ top honours, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
BTS became the first all-South Korean act to top the Billboard Hot 100 with Dynamite in 2020 and has since established itself as one of the most influential music groups in the world. Despite receiving multiple Grammy nominations and performing at previous editions of the awards, the group has never won a Grammy.
The band’s decision has intensified debate over diversity and representation within the global music industry. Critics argue that creating region-specific categories could reinforce barriers rather than provide equal recognition for international artists.
Lee Ji-young, a BTS supporter and professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said the boycott reflects the group’s growing influence and the diminishing authority of traditional music award institutions.
“By any objective measure, it is the Grammys that need BTS, not the other way around,” she said, adding that the group’s refusal to participate signals a shift in the balance of influence between global artists and major Western award bodies.
Beyond their musical achievements, BTS has earned global recognition for its advocacy on social issues through campaigns with UNICEF, support for the Black Lives Matter movement, initiatives against anti-Asian discrimination and efforts to promote mental health awareness. The group recently concluded a European tour and headlined the halftime entertainment during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in the United States.
The boycott is expected to fuel further discussion over whether international artists should compete within dedicated regional categories or on an equal footing across the Grammys’ most prestigious awards.
