# BTS boycott of 2027 Grammys leads to category review > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bts-boycott-of-2027-grammys > Updated: 2026-08-20T06:48:41.000Z. Sources: 278. Developments: 9. BTS first announced a boycott on July 29, 2024, via Instagram, rejecting the Grammys’ new Best Asian Pop Performance category. The group reiterated the stance on August 2, 2026, stating it would not submit any material for the 2027 ceremony because the category’s language requirement would exclude English-language tracks such as “Swim.” On August 5, 2026, the band posted a joint statement confirming it would also withhold its comeback album, ARIRANG, from Grammy consideration, noting, “We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.” Following the boycott, controversy intensified when historic BTS Grammy performance videos were removed from the Recording Academy’s website. While CEO Harvey Mason Jr. defended the category as a way to “celebrate the depth, diversity and growth of Asian pop music” without barring artists from general fields, critics—including Indian composer Salim Merchant and Hyundai Card CEO Ted Chung—questioned if the category would unintentionally isolate Asian artists. In response to the backlash, the Recording Academy is actively reviewing the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. As of August 17, 2026, CEO Harvey Mason Jr. confirmed the organization has completed two weeks of consultations with stakeholders in the K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and Indian music sectors. He acknowledged that some artists feel the category does not represent their work as intended, reiterating that the Academy is working to ensure “no musical community is overlooked or misunderstood.” By August 20, 2026, the Academy confirmed that its Board of Trustees and Awards & Nominations Committee are seeking guidance on the matter, including the broader process for introducing new categories. Discussions have expanded to include music labels such as HYBE. ## Claims - BTS announced they will not submit any music for the 2027 Grammy Awards. (disputed by 27 sources) - BTS announced it will not submit music for the 69th Grammy Awards (2026). (disputed by 2 sources) - The 69th Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for 7 February 2027. (corroborated by 26 sources) - BTS has been nominated for Grammy awards five times but has never won. (corroborated by 24 sources) - More than 80% of the lyrics on BTS’s album Arirang are sung in English, making it ineligible for the new category. (corroborated by 20 sources) - The decision was made via coordinated Instagram posts by all seven BTS members. (corroborated by 20 sources) - BTS cited protest against the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category as the reason for their boycott. (corroborated by 20 sources) - The new Grammy category requires a “meaningful use” of at least one Asian language. (corroborated by 20 sources) - The Recording Academy introduced five new categories for the 69th Grammy Awards on June 16, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance. (corroborated by 20 sources) - The announcement was made through coordinated Instagram posts by all seven BTS members on July 29, 2026. (corroborated by 20 sources) - The Grammy organization aims to serve all musicians and ensure no community is misunderstood. (corroborated by 16 sources) - BTS will not submit their music to the Grammys this year to protest regional and linguistic categorization. (corroborated by 16 sources) - The Recording Academy is reviewing and potentially revamping the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. (corroborated by 16 sources) - BTS’s album Arirang topped the Billboard 200 chart for two consecutive weeks. (corroborated by 11 sources) - Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said the new category aims to celebrate Asian pop and does not exclude general categories. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said he was saddened by BTS's decision but respects it. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The Academy has held discussions with representatives from K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and Indian music industries. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The Board and Awards & Nominations Committee have been convened to consult on the new category. (corroborated by 8 sources) - BTS said the new category segregates artists by geography and limits visibility for non‑American musicians. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The album BTS is withdrawing from Grammy consideration is titled Arirang. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Indian composer Salim Merchant criticized the Recording Academy for favoring American artists. (corroborated by 6 sources) - BTS’s album “Arirang” debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and topped charts in South Korea, Japan, Germany, and the UK. (corroborated by 5 sources) - BTS released the album 'Arirang' in March 2026 and its lead single 'Swim' reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. (corroborated by 4 sources) - BTS’s album Arirang topped the Billboard 200 for two consecutive weeks. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The single “Swim” reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. (corroborated by 4 sources) - BTS announced on July 29 2026 that they will not submit music for the 2027 Grammy Awards. (corroborated by 4 sources) - BTS cited the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category as a reason for their withdrawal. (corroborated by 4 sources) - After BTS’s announcement, fans propelled the song “Aliens” to No. 1 on iTunes charts in 78 regions. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said he was saddened by BTS’s decision but respected it and defended the new category as celebrating Asian pop. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Recording Academy created the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category for the 2027 Grammys, covering K‑Pop, J‑Pop and C‑Pop. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Recording Academy introduced a new category, Best Asian Pop Music Performance, for the 2027 Grammys. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Best Asian Pop Music Performance category recognises excellence in performances originating from Asian markets, covering K‑pop, J‑pop and C‑pop and requiring use of Asian languages. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The decision was posted on Instagram by all seven BTS members. (corroborated by 3 sources) - BTS cited the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category as the reason for their boycott. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Recording Academy announced five new categories for the 69th Grammy Awards on June 16 2026, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance. (corroborated by 3 sources) - BTS members are RM, Jin, Suga, J‑Hope, Jimin, V and Jung‑Kook. (corroborated by 3 sources) - BTS’s album ARIRANG, released in March 2026, topped the Billboard 200 for two consecutive weeks. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The lead single “Swim” from ARIRANG reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The 69th Grammy Awards will be held on February 7 2027, with submissions open until August 21 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - BTS released the album Arirang in March 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said he was sad about BTS’s decision not to submit. (corroborated by 3 sources) - South Korean scholars described BTS’s boycott as a challenge to the Western‑centric music award system. (corroborated by 3 sources) - HYBE clarified that the boycott is a personal decision by BTS, not a company‑wide stance. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Indian composer Salim Merchant criticized the new category, saying it favors American artists. (corroborated by 3 sources) - BTS’s album “Arirang” will not be submitted for Grammy consideration. (corroborated by 3 sources) - BTS’s album ARIRANG debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 641,000 units in its first week. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The lead single “SWIM” from ARIRANG reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. (corroborated by 2 sources) - BTS have been nominated for four Grammys since 2019 but have not won a Grammy. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category requires a meaningful use of at least one Asian language in the submitted work. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The lead single “Swim” from Arirang reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The lead single “Swim” reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. (corroborated by 2 sources) - BTS’s single “Swim” reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The 69th Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 7 2027. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. expressed sadness over BTS's decision not to submit to the 2027 awards. (corroborated by 2 sources) - BTS announced the boycott via coordinated Instagram posts by all seven members on July 29 2026. (corroborated by 2 sources) - BTS's album “Arirang” debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and topped charts in South Korea, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. (corroborated by 2 sources) - BTS said they will focus on a world tour and new album production instead of the Grammys. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Recording Academy is taking criticism regarding the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category into consideration. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Academy has consulted with stakeholders from K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and Indian music communities over the past two weeks. (corroborated by 2 sources) - BTS decided not to submit their latest album, ARIRANG, for consideration for the 2027 Grammy Awards. (corroborated by 2 sources) - BTS performed at the Grammys in 2022, delivering a rendition of “Butter.” (single source) - The Grammy submission period for the 69th ceremony runs from July 7 through August 21. (single source) - BTS’s 2026 album Arirang topped the Billboard 200 chart for two consecutive weeks. (single source) - BTS’s boycott follows previous Grammy submission boycotts by artists such as Frank Ocean and The Weeknd. (single source) - A reversal of the BTS boycott is unlikely due to the upcoming Grammy submission deadline. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-20: Recording Academy reviews new Asian Pop category after BTS boycott The Recording Academy is reviewing its new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category following criticism that it isolates Asian artists, a debate intensified by BTS's decision to boycott submissions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/recording-academy-reviews-new-asian-pop-category-after-bts-boycott ### 2026-08-17: Recording Academy reviews Asian Pop Grammy category after BTS boycott The Recording Academy is reviewing its new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category after BTS announced a boycott of the 2027 Grammys, citing concerns over regional and linguistic segregation. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/recording-academy-reviews-asian-pop-category-after-bts-boycott ### 2026-08-14: Recording Academy reviews Asian Pop category after BTS boycott The Recording Academy is reviewing its new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category after BTS announced a boycott, citing concerns over regional and linguistic categorization of music. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/recording-academy-considers-revamping-asian-pop-category ### 2026-08-12: Recording Academy considers revamping Asian Pop category after BTS boycott The Recording Academy may redesign its new Best Asian Pop category after BTS announced a boycott, protesting the division of music by region or language. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/recording-academy-considers-revamping-asian-pop-category-after-bts-boycott ### 2026-08-07: BTS Boycotts Grammy's New Asian Pop Category BTS announced a boycott of the 2027 Grammys, rejecting the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category; the Recording Academy says the category will stay and submissions continue. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bts-boycotts-grammys-new-asian-pop-category ### 2026-08-05: BTS boycotts 2027 Grammys over new Asian pop category BTS announced it will not submit its ARIRANG album for the 2027 Grammys, protesting the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category and sparking global debate on regional segregation in award nominations. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bts-withdraws-from-2027-grammy-consideration-over-new-best-asian-pop-music-category ### 2026-08-02: BTS withdraws from 2027 Grammy consideration over new Asian pop category BTS will not submit music for the 2027 Grammys, protesting a new Asian pop category; the Recording Academy’s CEO said the category aims to celebrate, not segregate, Asian artists. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bts-withdraws-from-grammy-2027-over-new-asian-pop-category ### 2026-07-31: BTS withdraws from 2027 Grammys over new Asian Pop category BTS announced on July 29 they will skip the 2027 Grammys, protesting the new Best Asian Pop category; the Recording Academy’s CEO expressed sadness but defended the category, while fans boosted “Aliens” to iOS‑ 28 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bts-withdraws-from-2027-grammy-awards-over-new-asian-pop-category ### 2026-07-29: BTS Declares Boycott of 2027 Grammy Awards Over New Asian Pop Category BTS will not submit music for the 2027 Grammys, protesting a new Asian‑pop category that excludes English‑heavy songs, says the group in coordinated Instagram posts. 219 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bts-withdraws-from-2026-grammy-consideration --- Cite as: BTS boycott of 2027 Grammys leads to category review. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bts-boycott-of-2027-grammys