Entertainment: South Korean pop group BTS has withdrawn from the 2027 Grammy Awards, saying the Recording Academy's decision to introduce a new award for Best Asian Pop Music Performance influenced its decision.
In separate Instagram posts, all seven members said they would not submit their work for this year's Grammys because they believe music should be appreciated without being divided by region or language.
The move amounts to a rebuke of the Recording Academy's newly created category, announced last month alongside a new award for Best Latin Song. Academy president Harvey Mason Jr had said the categories were introduced to create more opportunities to recognise different genres of music.
The announcement has sparked concerns within the Asian pop industry that the new category could isolate Asian artists instead of improving their chances in the Grammys' top honours. Responding to BTS's decision, Mason said he respected the group's choice while maintaining that the category was intended to recognise the growth and diversity of Asian pop, not limit artists' eligibility for the general-field awards.
Asian pop acts have historically struggled for recognition at the Grammys. BTS became the first K-pop act to receive a nomination in 2021. At this year's ceremony, Golden from KPop Demon Hunters became the first K-pop winner, while Rosé earned nominations in three major categories but failed to win.
The report notes that BTS's latest album, Arirang, contains significant Korean-language content, making the group a strong contender for the new Asian pop category. The 2027 Grammy Awards are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles on February 7.