Stray Kids Join BTS in Boycotting 2027 Grammy Awards

Stray Kids have joined BTS in boycotting the 2027 Grammy Awards, with both groups opposing a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category that critics argue segregates Asian artists from mainstream Grammy recognition. Despite Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. confirming the category will proceed, the boycotts highlight ongoing industry tensions over whether genre-specific awards recognise or marginalise particular music styles.

Quick Facts

Stray Kids did not submit any entries for the 69th Grammy Awards
BTS announced non-submission in July 2026
Recording Academy introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category in June 2026
All eight Stray Kids members appointed as Recording Academy voters
Recording Academy CEO confirmed category will proceed

Stray Kids have declined to submit any entries for the 69th Grammy Awards, following BTS in opposing the Recording Academy's new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. JYP Entertainment confirmed on October 2, 2026, that the eight-member group did not submit material before the August 21 deadline, though the agency declined to state a specific reason. The decision carries particular significance as all eight Stray Kids members were recently appointed as Recording Academy voters, granting them full voting rights despite withdrawing their own music from consideration.

BTS announced their non-submission in July, stating they hoped their music "can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language." The Recording Academy introduced the new Asian pop category in June 2026, defining it as recognising "artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets." A key requirement stipulates that nominated songs must make "meaningful use" of an Asian language—a restriction that excludes artists like BTS and Blackpink, whose recent releases are primarily in English.

Industry criticism centres on concerns that the category could segregate Asian artists based on geography and language rather than musical merit, effectively marginalising K-pop and J-pop from mainstream Grammy categories such as Album of the Year or Record of the Year. Similar tensions have historically surrounded Latin Grammy categories. During an August press conference for their album *This & That*, Stray Kids member Hwang Hyun-jin stated: "We have never once set award results or records as our goal. Our top priority is for our fans to be happy and satisfied."

Despite the boycotts, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. confirmed on October 2 that the Asian pop category will proceed for the February 7, 2027, ceremony. He stated that the Academy had conducted listening sessions with Asian music community leaders and heard both opposition and strong support for the category. "By far, the loudest feedback we heard was from people who were enthusiastic supporters of the category, fellow music creators expressing their encouragement for keeping it," Mason said, while acknowledging the decision "will not satisfy everyone." The Academy noted it received a "robust" number of submissions for the category's first year.

Stray Kids are among the world's most commercially successful K-pop acts, with nine US number-one albums and a recent headline performance at New York's Governor's Ball festival. Only The Beatles have scored more number-one albums on the US chart. The group's withdrawal represents a significant symbolic setback for the Recording Academy, as the Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 7, 2027, with nominee announcements set for November 16, 2026.

Topics

Entertainment Music

#K-pop #Recording Academy #Grammy Awards #music awards #Stray Kids #BTS #Asian Pop Music #boycott

Entities

Why This Matters

Two commercially dominant K-pop groups are withdrawing from the world's highest-profile music awards ceremony over a structural policy change. The Recording Academy's new Asian pop category restricts nominations to songs with meaningful Asian-language content, which excludes English-language releases by major Asian artists. This creates measurable consequences: reduced prestige and submission volume for a new category; potential precedent for future regional classification debates; and a test of whether elite voting members (Stray Kids now holds full voter status) can influence policy through non-participation. The February 2027 ceremony and November 2026 nominee announcements are the key dates for observing how the industry responds.

Timeline & Sources

Aug 6, 2026

Wire

Stray Kids hold press conference for album 'This & That'; members sidestepped questions about Grammy plans

Aug 21, 2026

Wire

Grammy Awards submission deadline passes; Stray Kids do not submit

Oct 2, 2026

Wire

JYP Entertainment confirms Stray Kids non-submission; Harvey Mason Jr. confirms Asian pop category will proceed

Nov 16, 2026

Wire

69th Grammy Awards nominees scheduled to be announced

Feb 7, 2027

Wire

69th Grammy Awards ceremony scheduled