South Korean music sensation BTS has announced it will not submit its music for consideration at the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, rejecting the Recording Academy’s newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category in a move that has reignited global debate over regional genre classifications.
The seven-member group disclosed on Wednesday that it would boycott the 2027 Grammy Awards, marking the first time it has declined to participate in the awards process.
In a statement shared on Instagram, BTS said the decision was driven by its belief that music should be judged on its artistic merit rather than geographical or linguistic identity.
“We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year. I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language,” the group stated.
The Recording Academy unveiled the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category on June 16 to recognize pop music from South Korea, Japan, China, and other Asian markets.
According to the Academy, the category is intended to honour outstanding Asian pop performances, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, featuring meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.
Reacting to BTS’ decision, Recording Academy Chief Executive Officer Harvey Mason Jr. expressed disappointment but said he respected the group’s position.
Mason defended the creation of the category, describing it as an effort to celebrate the diversity and rapid growth of Asian pop music rather than limit artists’ recognition.
He emphasized that musicians nominated in the Asian Pop category remain eligible for the Grammy Awards’ top General Field categories, noting that genre-specific recognition does not prevent artists from competing for the ceremony’s highest honours.
Mason added that the Academy would continue engaging with the global music community to ensure its awards evolve in a way that reflects the industry’s diversity.
The controversy has also revived attention to comments made by Nigerian music star Wizkid, who in March 2024 criticised the practice of grouping African musicians under the single label of Afrobeats.
Ahead of releasing his sixth studio album, Wizkid argued that his music spans multiple genres and should not be confined to one regional classification. He maintained that such labels often result in African artists being limited to continent-specific award categories, regardless of the diversity of their musical styles.
The renewed conversation comes as BTS enjoys a successful return following the completion of members’ mandatory military service. The group’s comeback album, ARIRANG, has topped the Billboard 200 chart for two consecutive weeks, while its world tour has sold out venues across South Korea, North America, and Europe.
Earlier this year, BTS also claimed the Artist of the Year award at the American Music Awards, outperforming several global stars, including Taylor Swift, further cementing its status as one of the world’s leading music acts.
