ArtistDirect News
BTS Declares Boycott of 2027 Grammy Awards Over New Asian Pop Category
On July 29, 2026, every member of South Korea’s BTS—RM, Jin, Suga, j‑hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook—used their individual Instagram stories to announce a collective boycott of the 69th Annual Grammy Awards. The Korean‑language message, translated for international audiences, read: “We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year. I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. Thank you to ARMY and everyone who is always with us.”
The statement was a direct response to the Recording Academy’s June 2026 announcement that the 2027 ceremony will feature a brand‑new category, Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The Academy added the new award alongside four others—Best Latin Song, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance, and Best Traditional Folk Album—claiming the Asian Pop category is meant to recognize “artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances” and to highlight the diversity of pop originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets.
BTS’s decision follows the group’s return to the studio after all members completed mandatory South Korean military service in 2025. Their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, dropped in March 2026 and produced the English‑language single “SWIM,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. “SWIM” was widely regarded as a contender for Song of the Year, and ARIRANG could have been entered for Album of the Year had the group opted to submit.
The boycott has sparked a broader debate within the Korean music industry. Critics question whether the new category genuinely represents Asian pop or simply segregates Asian artists from the general field. Some artists and fans view it as a “consolation prize,” while others see it as an opportunity for increased visibility and recognition.
The Recording Academy responded with a statement from CEO Harvey Mason Jr., who expressed regret that BTS would not participate but clarified that the Asian Pop category was created to “celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia.” Mason added that submitting a recording for a genre category does not preclude an artist from entering the General Field, citing Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” and Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open” as examples of works that won in both genre‑specific and general categories.
BTS has earned five Grammy nominations to date, including three consecutive Best Pop Duo/Group Performance nods for “Dynamite” (2021), “Butter” (2022), and “My Universe” (2023). Their high‑profile performance at the 2026 World Cup halftime show—sharing the stage with Shakira, Justin Bieber, and Madonna—underscored their global reach and the industry’s appetite for cross‑cultural collaborations.
The 2027 ceremony will take place on February 7 at Crypto .com Arena in Los Angeles and will be broadcast on ABC, Disney+, and Hulu under a new ten‑year partnership with the Recording Academy. With 95 categories, including the debut of Best Asian Pop Music Performance, the event promises to reflect a broader array of musical styles.
BTS’s boycott marks the first major act to publicly withdraw from the Grammys in reaction to a new category. While the Academy has yet to announce any changes to the nomination or voting process for 2027, the move is likely to influence other artists’ submission strategies and could prompt further discussion about how the Academy structures its awards to mirror global music trends.
Industry observers will watch the 2027 Grammys closely, as the new categories and the absence of a high‑profile act like BTS may reshape the landscape of award recognition for Asian pop music.
The statement was a direct response to the Recording Academy’s June 2026 announcement that the 2027 ceremony will feature a brand‑new category, Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The Academy added the new award alongside four others—Best Latin Song, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance, and Best Traditional Folk Album—claiming the Asian Pop category is meant to recognize “artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances” and to highlight the diversity of pop originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets.
BTS’s decision follows the group’s return to the studio after all members completed mandatory South Korean military service in 2025. Their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, dropped in March 2026 and produced the English‑language single “SWIM,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. “SWIM” was widely regarded as a contender for Song of the Year, and ARIRANG could have been entered for Album of the Year had the group opted to submit.
The boycott has sparked a broader debate within the Korean music industry. Critics question whether the new category genuinely represents Asian pop or simply segregates Asian artists from the general field. Some artists and fans view it as a “consolation prize,” while others see it as an opportunity for increased visibility and recognition.
The Recording Academy responded with a statement from CEO Harvey Mason Jr., who expressed regret that BTS would not participate but clarified that the Asian Pop category was created to “celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia.” Mason added that submitting a recording for a genre category does not preclude an artist from entering the General Field, citing Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” and Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open” as examples of works that won in both genre‑specific and general categories.
BTS has earned five Grammy nominations to date, including three consecutive Best Pop Duo/Group Performance nods for “Dynamite” (2021), “Butter” (2022), and “My Universe” (2023). Their high‑profile performance at the 2026 World Cup halftime show—sharing the stage with Shakira, Justin Bieber, and Madonna—underscored their global reach and the industry’s appetite for cross‑cultural collaborations.
The 2027 ceremony will take place on February 7 at Crypto .com Arena in Los Angeles and will be broadcast on ABC, Disney+, and Hulu under a new ten‑year partnership with the Recording Academy. With 95 categories, including the debut of Best Asian Pop Music Performance, the event promises to reflect a broader array of musical styles.
BTS’s boycott marks the first major act to publicly withdraw from the Grammys in reaction to a new category. While the Academy has yet to announce any changes to the nomination or voting process for 2027, the move is likely to influence other artists’ submission strategies and could prompt further discussion about how the Academy structures its awards to mirror global music trends.
Industry observers will watch the 2027 Grammys closely, as the new categories and the absence of a high‑profile act like BTS may reshape the landscape of award recognition for Asian pop music.