[REVISION HISTORY]

BTS boycott of 2027 Grammys leads to category review

Updated 20 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-18 13:51 UTC → 2026-08-21 20:44 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.” ~~While the review has led to speculation regarding a potential reversal of~~ By August 20, 2026, the ~~BTS boycott, industry observers suggest~~ Academy confirmed that ~~the proximity~~ its Board of Trustees and Awards & Nominations Committee are seeking guidance on the ~~upcoming submission deadline makes a significant change or a reversal by~~ matter, including the ~~group unlikely.~~ broader process for introducing new categories. Discussions have expanded to include music labels such as HYBE.

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