BTS boycotts 2027 Grammys over new Asian pop category

South Korean group BTS announced on July 29 that it will not submit its comeback album ARIRANG for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. In a coordinated Instagram post the seven members wrote, “We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”

The boycott follows the Recording Academy’s June 16 decision to add five new categories, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance, to the 69th Grammys. Academy chief Harvey Mason Jr. said the new category is meant to celebrate the depth and growth of Asian pop and does not prevent artists from entering the general‑field awards.

BTS’s withdrawal has sparked worldwide commentary. Korean artists such as Tablo and Bang Yong‑guk shared support online, while academics and industry observers in the United States criticized the segregation implied by the new category. Media outlets in Brazil, Spain, Austria, Japan and elsewhere have debated whether the move signals a backlash against regional categorisation or a broader challenge to the Grammys’ relevance. The decision also raised questions about how other K‑pop acts, like Stray Kids, will respond to the new category.

The episode highlights ongoing tensions over how global music is recognised by major Western awards and whether language‑ or region‑based categories reinforce division rather than inclusion.