Stray Kids Join BTS in Grammy Boycott Over New Category

K-pop group Stray Kids has announced they will not submit songs for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, following a similar decision by BTS. This boycott comes in protest against the Recording Academy's introduction of a new category for Asian pop music, which critics argue may ghettoize genres like K-pop and J-pop.

In a brief statement, Stray Kids' record label JYP confirmed the group's decision, stating simply, "Stray Kids did not submit for the Grammys." The group had previously avoided direct commentary on their participation in the awards. During a press conference for their album "This and That" in August, singer Hwang Hyun-jin emphasized their focus on fan satisfaction over award recognition.

The move represents a significant development for the Recording Academy, as Stray Kids are highly popular in the United States. The group recently headlined the Governor's Ball festival in New York and had all eight members granted voting privileges within the Academy earlier this year. BTS members are also voting members.

The Recording Academy introduced the "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category in June, intended to recognize "artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets." The category's creation followed the success of the song "Golden" from the movie "K-pop Demon Hunters," which became the first K-pop song to win a Grammy in February.

"As Asian pop's influence has continued to grow within our process, our members and trustees felt this was the right moment to create a category that more accurately reflects the genre's scale, artistry and global impact," the Academy stated at the time. However, the award has faced criticism, with many believing it will hinder Asian artists from receiving recognition in broader categories. A stipulation requiring nominated songs to make "meaningful use" of an Asian language further complicated matters, ruling out primarily English-language releases from prominent groups like BTS and Blackpink.

These concerns echo debates within other music genres, such as the arguments made by Latin artists regarding categories like best música urbana. While intended to acknowledge music from specific geographic or linguistic origins, some artists feel such categories can lead to segregation from mainstream awards like album or song of the year. This perception was challenged when Bad Bunny's "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" became the first Spanish-language album to win album of the year, and Rosalía's "Lux" is also expected to be a strong contender in upcoming nominations.