BTS vs. Grammys: Videos Vanish After Boycott & Category Row

Grammys Spark Outcry After Removing BTS Performance Videos

BTS performs during a halftime show for the World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., July 19. AP-Yonhap

The K-Pop world is buzzing with controversy as The Recording Academy, hosts of the prestigious Grammy Awards, has quietly removed historic performance videos of global superstars BTS from its official website. This move comes immediately after the septet announced their decision not to submit any music for the upcoming 69th Grammy Awards.

The Disappearing Act: BTS Videos Vanish from Grammy Site

Fans quickly noticed that live recordings of BTS’s smash hits “Dynamite” from their 2021 performance and “Butter” from 2022 were no longer accessible on the Grammys site. While these iconic performances can still be found on the group’s official channels, their abrupt disappearance from the Academy’s platform has sparked widespread concern and speculation among ARMYs worldwide. The Recording Academy has remained silent on the reason behind the removals.

BTS Boycotts Grammys Over New “Asian Pop” Category

The timing of these deletions is critical. All seven members of BTS issued a joint statement on July 29, confirming their decision to boycott the 69th Grammy Awards, slated for February 7, 2027. Their statement read, “We decided not to submit our work for the upcoming Grammy Awards. We hope that music can be appreciated and loved for what it is, without being divided by region or language.”

This boycott is widely interpreted as a direct protest against the Recording Academy’s newly introduced “Best Asian Pop Music Performance” category. Announced just two months before the submission deadline, this category requires songs to feature at least one Asian language to qualify. Critics argue that this specific language requirement, particularly when BTS’s recent studio album “ARIRANG” features mostly English tracks, appears to be a deliberate attempt to segregate Asian acts, potentially preventing them from competing in major, genre-agnostic categories like Song of the Year.

Industry Voices Support BTS, Criticize Category

BTS performs during a halftime show for the World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., July 19. AP-Yonhap

The controversy quickly garnered significant support from prominent cultural figures in Korea. Among the most vocal was Ted Chung, CEO of Hyundai Card and a renowned music enthusiast, who publicly backed BTS’s stance. Chung voiced his concerns on social media, questioning, “Is it a misunderstanding to see this as isolating Asian musicians into their own separate box? By this logic, should Bad Bunny or Ricky Martin also be separated and only given Latin music awards? Most BTS songs use English, so how does that fit? I have never heard of dividing music by language.”

Recording Academy Responds Amidst “Ghettoization” Concerns

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has attempted to quell the escalating backlash, acknowledging BTS’s decision while defending the new category. Mason stated, “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,” further adding that the category aims to broaden recognition for Asian artists.

However, many music industry insiders remain skeptical, highlighting the potential pitfalls of creating regional-specific categories. They warn that such dedicated subcategories could inadvertently “ghettoize” non-Western music, confining artists from these regions within specific boundaries and ultimately limiting their opportunities for broader, global recognition within the industry.

ARMY Rises: Fans Re-Upload Missing Performances

In response to the video removals, the passionate BTS fandom (ARMY) wasted no time. Fans globally began re-uploading the missing Grammy clips across various social media platforms, powerfully demonstrating that mere deletion from a website cannot erase the band’s groundbreaking achievements and historic moments on the Grammy stage. This ongoing saga underscores a critical debate about inclusion, fairness, and the true appreciation of music on a global scale.