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BTS withdraws from 2027 Grammys over new Asian Pop category
On July 29 the seven members of South Korean group BTS posted a joint Instagram story announcing that they will not submit any music for the 2027 Grammy Awards. The decision was presented as a protest against the Recording Academy’s newly created Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which the band said would segregate artists by geography and language. In their statement the members wrote, “We hope music can be heard and loved for what it is, without being divided by region or language.”
Recording Academy chief Harvey Mason Jr. responded that he was saddened by the boycott but respected the group’s choice, adding that the new category is intended to celebrate the growth of Asian pop and does not prevent artists from competing in general categories. Indian composer Salim Merchant also criticised the category, arguing it favours American artists. BTS’s recent album Arirang and the single “Aliens” were expected to be strong Grammy contenders; after the announcement fans streamed “Aliens” to No. 1 on iTunes charts in 78 regions. The group said they will instead focus on a worldwide tour and new album production.
Entities
ARIRANG · ARIRANG (album) · Arirang (album) · BTS · Best Asian Pop Music Performance · Grammy Awards · HYBE · Harvey Mason Jr. · RM · Recording Academy · Salim Merchant
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] After BTS’s announcement, fans propelled the song “Aliens” to No. 1 on iTunes charts in 78 regions. kpophit.com · leisure.harianjogja.com · mustsharenews.com · www.bolnews.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] BTS has received five Grammy nominations between 2021 and 2024 but has never won. mustsharenews.com · mediaindonesia.com · leisure.harianjogja.com · entrelineas.com.mx · metropolitanmagazine.it · +4 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] BTS cited the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category as a reason for their withdrawal. kpophit.com · mustsharenews.com · exame.com · leisure.harianjogja.com
- [● 12 SOURCES] BTS will not submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards. kpophit.com · entrelineas.com.mx · mustsharenews.com · exame.com · www.billboard.com · +7 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] South Korean scholars described BTS’s boycott as a challenge to the Western‑centric music award system. kpophit.com · mediaindonesia.com · leisure.harianjogja.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said the new category aims to celebrate Asian pop and does not exclude general categories. metropolitanmagazine.it · exame.com · mustsharenews.com · rollingstone.com.br · www.rollingstone.com · +4 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The Recording Academy introduced a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category for the 69th Grammy Awards. kpophit.com · mustsharenews.com · exame.com · rollingstone.com.br · www.rollingstone.com · +9 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] BTS’s album “Arirang” debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and topped charts in South Korea, Japan, Germany, and the UK. mustsharenews.com · rollingstone.com.br · www.rollingstone.com · exame.com · www.terra.com.br
- [● 8 SOURCES] BTS members posted a synchronized Instagram statement on July 29 expressing hope that music would not be divided by region or language. www.billboard.com · kpophit.com · entrelineas.com.mx · mustsharenews.com · rollingstone.com.br · +3 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said he was saddened by BTS's decision but respects it. metropolitanmagazine.it · mustsharenews.com · rollingstone.com.br · www.rollingstone.com · exame.com · +4 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] HYBE clarified that the boycott is a personal decision by BTS, not a company‑wide stance. www.billboard.com · kpophit.com · celebrity.okezone.com
- [● 7 SOURCES] BTS announced they will not submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards. www.advertimes.com · www.billboard.com · celebrity.okezone.com · basicfamouspeople.com · kpophit.com · +2 more