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Published Jul 29, 2026Updated Aug 2 Major17
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BTS Boycotts 2027 Grammys Over New Asian Pop Category
BTS announced it will not submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, citing opposition to the Recording Academy's new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which requires "meaningful use" of an Asian language. The decision preceded global fan mobilization that pushed BTS's song "Aliens" to No. 1 on iTunes charts in 78 countries. The Recording Academy defended the category as expanding recognition for Asian artists, not dividing them.
Quick Facts
- BTS announced boycott of 2027 Grammy Awards
- Recording Academy introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category
- Category requires 'meaningful use' of Asian language
- BTS album 'Arirang' contains 80%+ English lyrics, ineligible for new category
- Song 'Aliens' reached No. 1 on iTunes Top Songs in 78 countries
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K-pop group BTS announced on July 29, 2026, that it will not submit music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards in February 2027. All seven members—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—posted an identical statement on Instagram saying: "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 announcement came one month after the Recording Academy introduced five new Grammy categories, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The new category requires "meaningful use" of an Asian language, a criterion that excludes BTS's comeback album "Arirang"—released in March 2026 after members completed mandatory military service—which contains more than 80% English-language lyrics. The album's lead single "Swim" topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was expected to contend for Song of the Year; "Arirang" itself was positioned as a leading Album of the Year candidate.
The Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. responded to BTS's decision on July 30, stating he was "saddened" but respected their choice. He emphasized that the Asian Pop category was designed to "celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia" and to "expand" recognition rather than divide artists. Mason Jr. clarified that submitting to a genre category does not exclude artists from general field categories like Album, Song, and Record of the Year.
BTS's boycott sparked widespread support from fans and figures including Korean academics, other musicians, and celebrities. The group's song "Aliens" from "Arirang"—which metaphorically addresses the group's experience as outsiders on the global stage—reached No. 1 on iTunes Top Songs charts in 78 countries following fan mobilization campaigns. Hashtags including "#WeStandWithBTS" trended on social media.
The controversy reflects broader questions about regional categorization in major awards. BTS has been nominated for five Grammys across three years but never won; they performed at the Grammy stage three times and have been voting members of the Recording Academy since 2019. The decision marks the first time the seven-member group has opted out of Grammy consideration. Other artists, including The Weeknd, Drake, Morgan Wallen, and Frank Ocean, have previously boycotted or critiqued the awards for different reasons.
Entities
- BTS
- Recording Academy
- Harvey Mason Jr.
- Arirang (BTS album)
- Aliens (BTS song)
- 69th Grammy Awards (2027)
- Best Asian Pop Music Performance (Grammy category)
- ARMY (BTS fanbase)
Why This Matters
BTS's Grammy boycott and the Recording Academy's defense of the new Asian Pop category represent a concrete disagreement over award structure affecting major artists' eligibility and strategy. The dispute involves measurable outcomes: submission deadlines for the 2027 Grammys, shifts in voting patterns among Academy members, and potential precedent for other international acts in balancing language-of-performance with eligibility criteria. Chart performance and fan engagement metrics ("Aliens" reaching No. 1 in 78 countries) document immediate commercial and cultural response to the boycott announcement.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2013
WireBTS formed
Jan 1, 2019
WireAll seven BTS members became voting members of the Recording Academy
Feb 7, 2027
Wire69th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony scheduled (Los Angeles)
Feb 7, 2027
Wire69th Grammy Awards scheduled to take place