K-pop sensation BTS will not be submitting any music for consideration at the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 7, 2027, nor will the group attend the ceremony. BigHit Music, the band's agency, announced Wednesday that the decision stems from a protest against the Recording Academy's introduction of a new category: best Asian pop music performance.
In a statement, BigHit Music expressed a desire for music to be appreciated for its artistic merit, independent of regional or linguistic divisions. "Rather than music being divided by region or language, we hope music itself can be heard and loved for what it is," the statement read. The agency also conveyed gratitude to the group's fanbase, ARMY.
The newly established category is defined as recognizing "artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including but not limited to K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, with meaningful use of one or more Asian languages."
Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. acknowledged BTS's decision, stating, "I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision." Mason clarified that the intention behind the new category was to "celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia" and to "shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists." He emphasized that inclusion in this new category does not preclude artists from being considered in general field categories such as Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.
This marks a significant departure for BTS, who have been nominated five times between 2021 and 2023 and have performed at three Grammy ceremonies. Despite their multiple nominations, the group has yet to win a Grammy Award. The members, aged 28-33, have achieved considerable success, with BTS selling over 50 million records and maintaining 35.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Individually, each of the seven members has surpassed 2 billion streams on the platform.
The decision has sparked a strong reaction from the group's dedicated fanbase, ARMY, who voiced their outrage on the Grammys' Instagram account. Many fans argued that music categories should be based on genre rather than origin. User @doubledragontwins commented, "'Asian music'? What does that even mean? Asia is a continent, not a music genre. BTS makes pop music. You can call it K-pop, but at the end of the day, it is still pop. Their nationality should not determine which category they belong in."
Another user, @eraofjeon, suggested the new category was intended to prevent BTS from competing in major categories, stating, "You just don't want BTS outshining your darlings in the major categories. You know it, we know it, so who is this [actually] for!?"
BTS is currently promoting their new single "Normal," which has reached No. 33 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The group is also preparing for their 88-date "Arirang World Tour," with upcoming performances scheduled at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This tour follows the members' completion of South Korea's mandatory 18-month military service.