Global K-pop sensation BTS has announced it will not submit its music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, expressing concerns over the Recording Academy’s newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
The decision was shared by all seven members through identical statements posted on their individual Instagram Stories.
RM shares group’s decision
BTS leader RM (Kim Nam-joon) confirmed the group’s stance, writing: “We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year.”
He added that music should be appreciated for its artistic value rather than being separated by language or region.
“I hope music itself can be heard and loved rather than being distinguished by region or language.”
RM concluded the message by thanking BTS fans, known as ARMY, for their continued support.
The same statement was also posted by Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook on their respective social media accounts.
New Grammy category sparks debate
The announcement comes shortly after the Recording Academy introduced a new award category for the 2027 Grammy Awards titled Best Asian Pop Music Performance.
According to the eligibility rules, songs submitted in the category must be performed primarily in one or more Asian languages.
The guidelines specify:
- Songs performed entirely in English are not eligible.
- Recordings must feature meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.
- Awards will be presented to the performing artist(s).
The Recording Academy reportedly used BTS’s global hit “Dynamite” as an example of an ineligible song because it was performed entirely in English despite being released by a Korean group.
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Language-based classification questioned
BTS’s decision appears to reflect concerns about categorising music based on language rather than artistic merit.
The group’s latest album, Arirang, includes several English-language tracks alongside songs featuring Korean verses, raising questions about how multilingual music would be classified under the new rules.
Fans react
The announcement quickly generated discussion across social media, with many fans supporting BTS’s position and arguing that music should compete on equal terms regardless of language or origin.
Others viewed the new Grammy category as an effort to recognise the growing global influence of Asian pop music, while critics argued it could unintentionally separate Asian artists from the main competition.
BTS has previously earned multiple Grammy nominations, but the group has yet to win a Grammy Award despite its global commercial success and record-breaking achievements.
