BTS withdraw from Grammys over new Asian pop category
South Korean band BTS has announced it will skip the 2027 Grammy Awards in protest of the newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
BTS, the biggest pop act in East Asia, have withdrawn themselves from the 2027 Grammy Awards, indicating their decision stems from the addition of a new award for Best Asian Pop Music Performance. On Instagram, each of the seven members posted: "We have decided not to enter 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."
The comments are a gentle but clear rebuke of the Recording Academy, which announced the new category last month. Academy President Harvey Mason Jr. stated that the category was added because the music community wanted more opportunities to celebrate different genres. Critics note that Asian and Latin pop markets are far from new; they are mature and lucrative, generating vast revenues and audiences.
Concerns have arisen that the new category could sideline Asian pop artists from competing in top categories. Historically, Asian pop artists have been overlooked at the Grammys—no K-pop act was nominated until BTS in 2021. This year, "Golden" from the film "KPop Demon Hunters" won Best Song Written for Visual Media, the first win for a K-pop act. It was also nominated for Song of the Year but lost to US or UK artists. Similarly, Rosé's "APT" with Bruno Mars received multiple nominations but failed to win any.
The category requires "meaningful use" of an Asian language, so BTS's recent Korean-language album "Arirang" would almost certainly have been placed in it. The Academy has not commented on BTS's decision. Other new categories for 2027 include Best R&B Collaboration, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Traditional Folk Album. The ceremony is scheduled for February 7 in Los Angeles.
