BTS Opts Out of Upcoming Grammys Following Launch of New Asian Pop Category
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| BTS (Bangtan boy) |
Global K-pop group BTS announced on Wednesday that they will not submit their music for consideration at the upcoming Grammy Awards, following the Recording Academy's introduction of a new Asian pop category that critics argue sidelines regional talent.
The South Korean megastars were widely expected to contend for the Grammys' top honors—including Album of the Year—on the heels of their massive comeback record, ARIRANG, which stands as one of the year's top-selling releases.
However, the seven-member act confirmed they will bypass the submission process altogether in response to the Academy’s unveiling of five new award categories, among which is Best Asian Pop Music Performance.
“We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year,” BTS members said in coordinated posts on their individual Instagram accounts.
“We hope that music is heard and loved for what it is, rather than being defined by region or language,” they said.
BTS made history in 2020 as the first all-South Korean act to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with their first English-language single, "Dynamite." Yet despite securing several nominations over the years—including a nod for Best Music Video—and delivering high-profile performances at the ceremony, an actual Grammy win has eluded them.
Addressing the withdrawal, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. expressed regret over the group's choice, clarifying that inclusion in the new Asian pop category does not disqualify artists from competing for top-tier honors.
“The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia,” he said.
“The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists.”
According to the Recording Academy, the newly introduced award was designed to celebrate “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.”
However, industry critics contend that the category effectively marginalizes Asian creators, placing them in a secondary field rather than evaluating their work alongside global peers in general categories.
Highlighting the group’s immense influence, Lee Ji-young, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and a BTS scholar, noted that “by any objective measure, it is the Grammys that need BTS, not the other way around.”
“The fact that BTS turned its back on the Recording Academy first is also a sign that the authority the Grammys have long wielded as the gatekeeper — the one extending the invitation — is beginning to erode,” she told AFP.
Beyond their musical achievements, BTS has built a legacy of global social advocacy. The group has championed campaigns for UNICEF and notably donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020—a gesture that inspired their fanbase to match the contribution dollar-for-dollar.
In 2022, the members visited the White House to address anti-Asian hate and advocate for broader inclusivity, while consistently using their platform to destigmatize mental health discussions.
Their immense cultural footprint was recently on display in the United States, where they concluded a European tour and headlined a Super Bowl-style halftime show at the World Cup final.
