K-pop boy group BTS / Courtesy of BigHit Music
For years, BTS spoke openly of the Grammys as a goal, the “last summit” left to climb in their unprecedented global journey. Yet, in a seismic shift that sent ripples across the K-pop and music industries, the group has decided to walk away from the very awards they once coveted, at a moment when their chances of finally securing a win appeared stronger than ever.
In a joint statement posted to their individual Instagram accounts on Wednesday, the seven BTS members announced their decision not to submit any music for consideration at this year’s Grammy Awards. Their powerful message underscored a desire for music “to be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”
This announcement comes just over a month after the Recording Academy unveiled five new categories for the 69th Grammy Awards, notably including “Best Asian Pop Music Performance.” This new prize is specifically for performances rooted in Asian markets that make “meaningful use” of one or more Asian languages. While BTS’s statement meticulously avoided naming the category, it has been almost universally interpreted as a direct response to this perceived pigeonholing.
K-pop boy band BTS performs at the Half Time Show during the 2026 World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., July 19. AFP-Yonhap
The Long Road to the “Last Summit”
The decision carries the immense weight of BTS’s history with the prestigious awards. Between 2021 and 2023, BTS amassed five Grammy nominations for hit singles like “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “My Universe,” and “Yet to Come,” as well as for their credited work on Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres.” Despite their groundbreaking success and multiple nominations, a win remained elusive. Each award cycle, the members candidly described the Grammys as the ultimate “last summit” to conquer.
What has dramatically changed since those near misses is BTS’s own unparalleled standing in the global music landscape. The group made a triumphant return in March from their military service hiatus with “ARIRANG,” their fifth studio album. “ARIRANG” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and topped charts in 23 countries, showcasing their undiminished power. Its lead single, “SWIM,” debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100, marking the group’s highest entry to date.
Their meteoric rise continued to defy expectations. On May 25, BTS swept all three of their nominated categories at the 52nd American Music Awards, including the coveted Artist of the Year award. Less than two months later, on July 19, the septet commanded the stage at the FIFA World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium, sharing the spotlight with global icons such as Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. By the time the Recording Academy opened submissions on July 7, BTS was widely projected as a strong frontrunner, even for the highly competitive Album of the Year category.
Las Vegas landmarks glow red as part of “BTS THE CITY ARIRANG – LAS VEGAS,” a citywide campaign launched July 20 ahead of K-pop boy band BTS’ concerts in the city, July 23-24 and 27-28. Courtesy of BigHit Music
A Category That Excludes K-Pop’s Biggest Hit?
The crux of the matter lies in the new “Best Asian Pop Music Performance” category itself. BTS’s chart-topping lead single, “SWIM,” is performed entirely in English. This means that despite its immense global success and its origin from a K-pop group, “SWIM” would not even qualify for the very category ostensibly designed to honor Asian pop music. An award that explicitly cites K-pop among the genres it honors paradoxically has no room for K-pop’s biggest hit of the year.
The timing of BTS’s decision is particularly delicate for the Recording Academy. The upcoming ceremony on Feb. 7, 2027, will be the first to air on ABC, Disney+, and Hulu after more than five decades on CBS. A performance by BTS, known for its electrifying stages and massive global fanbase, would have undoubtedly served as a ratings centerpiece for this pivotal debut.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. responded on Wednesday (local time), expressing his sadness “to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year,” but added that “as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision.” Mason also attempted to push back on the interpretation that the new category sidelines Asian acts. “Submitting music in a genre category such as Asian Pop, or Jazz or Country does not exclude an artist from also submitting and being considered in the General Field categories,” he stated. “Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can absolutely pursue both.”
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of The Recording Academy, poses amongst commemorative records he has worked on during his career at Harvey Mason Media music production studios in Burbank, Calif., Oct. 11, 2021. AP-Yonhap
A Challenge to “Segregation”
However, Korean critics have largely interpreted BTS’s decision as a profound challenge to the academy’s broader approach to categorizing music. They argue that the dispute extends beyond mere award eligibility and delves into the deeper issue of separating artists by region and language.
Lee Gyu-tag, a professor of cultural studies at George Mason University Korea, articulated this sentiment, explaining that the issue goes beyond whether K-pop acts remain eligible for the Grammys’ general categories. “Creating a separate award for Asian music, including K-pop, amounts to declaring that non-Western and non-English-language music will be treated apart from the Grammys’ main stage,” Lee told a local media outlet. “For BTS, which already occupies a place among global musicians rather than simply Korean or Asian acts, there is little reason to remain fixated on Grammy recognition.”
By declining to submit, Professor Lee emphasized, BTS has not only removed itself from another cycle of intense speculation over whether they would finally win, but has also unequivocally made clear its opposition to what he starkly described as the academy’s “segregation” of non-Western music.
Girl group KATSEYE performs “Gnarly” during the 68th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Feb. 1. The group, nominated for Best New Artist, became the first act rooted in the K-pop system to earn a nod in the Grammys’ general field, less than two years after its debut. Courtesy of HYBE
Broader Industry Impact
Despite the monumental statement made by BTS, the move is unlikely to trigger an immediate, industry-wide boycott, according to an international public relations official at a major Korean entertainment company. The official noted that while BTS possesses enough global stature to forgo the Grammy exposure, most other K-pop acts still view even a genre-category nomination as an invaluable opportunity to expand their global profiles and gain crucial visibility.
“BTS is in a position that very few artists can replicate. For most agencies, submitting to the Grammys still offers significant promotional value,” the official explained. “But companies will be watching closely to see whether the new category expands opportunities for Asian artists or ultimately keeps them confined to a separate space,” they added, highlighting the ongoing tension and the watchful eyes of the industry on this evolving situation.
