BTS say they won’t submit music for next year’s Grammys
BTS Declines Grammy Submission Following New Asian Pop Category Announcement
Healfromzero.com – Members of the globally renowned K-pop ensemble BTS revealed on Wednesday that they will not be entering any music for consideration at the upcoming Grammy Awards ceremony. This announcement comes shortly after the Recording Academy officially confirmed that the 2027 event would feature a dedicated Asian pop music performance category for the very first time in its history. In a collective statement distributed across Instagram by all seven group members, the band explained their reasoning. “We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year,” they wrote, continuing with their sentiment: “I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.” Grammys chief executive Harvey Mason Jr. responded to the news with understanding. In his official statement to CNN, he expressed: “I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision.” Mason Jr. clarified that musicians submitting work within genre-specific categories like Asian pop retain the option to also enter general field categories such as Record of the Year. He emphasized that “The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists.”
A Legacy of Achievement
Since their formation in 2010, BTS has accumulated numerous accolades throughout their career. The group secured the Billboard Music Award for Top Social Artist on five separate occasions spanning from 2017 through 2021. Additionally, they received the Artist of the Year honor at the American Music Awards in both 2021 and 2026. By 2022, they had officially become the most decorated group in the history of the Billboard Music Awards. Despite this impressive track record, certain fans have expressed concerns that establishing an award based on geographic boundaries might diminish the perceived value of artists’ contributions.
Fan Perspectives on the Decision
Will Scragg, a 27-year-old English superfan, shared his thoughts with CNN. “BTS incapsulate everything I love about music,” he stated. Scragg has attended two BTS performances during the current summer—first in his native London, then traveling to Munich for another show. He praised the group’s dedication: “I really appreciate the amount of effort they put into everything. They truly love performing, and witnessing all of that live is such an amazing and worthwhile experience.” Scragg voiced support for BTS’s choice to step back from Grammy consideration, even though he anticipated the group would receive multiple nominations during this cycle. The band’s sixth Korean-language album, titled “Arirang,” achieved remarkable commercial success upon its March release. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and claimed the top position across 23 nations worldwide, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. When learning about the planned Asian music category, Scragg admitted feeling “disappointed, and a little confused.” He elaborated: “I feel like it’s a way to keep BTS out of the main, more prestigious, categories. It feels like it’s a way to sideline Asian artists.” While acknowledging that narrower categories can benefit lesser-known performers seeking global recognition, Scragg believes BTS has already surpassed that threshold and commended the group for maintaining their dignified position. Eleri Williams, a 22-year-old fan from Wales who has witnessed BTS perform on ten different occasions across cities including Seoul, Las Vegas, and Paris, echoed similar sentiments. “I believe that the Grammys need artists like BTS to remain relevant,” she told CNN. Williams highlighted how music transcends language barriers: “I think that the purpose of music is to bring people together, and this is just another form of segregation.”
Understanding Grammy Category Rules
Cultural and regional categories are not unprecedented within the Grammy framework. The ceremony has long presented awards for Best Latin Jazz Album, Best Tropical Latin Album, and Best African Music Performance on an annual basis. According to the official rules and guidelines released ahead of the 69th Grammy Awards scheduled for February of next year, a single song may only qualify for one performance category during any given year. This means that if BTS were to submit a track for the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, that same song would become ineligible for the broader Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category—where the group previously earned nominations in both 2021 and 2022. The reverse scenario would also apply. Matthew Pellegrino, a K-pop specialist and music instructor at NYU Steinhardt, offered his professional assessment to CNN. He characterized the Asian music category as “unnecessary,” noting that “It’s veiled under the guise of good intentions but all it does is place Asian artists into a separate box that makes them unequal to mainstream artists.”
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BTS say they won t submit?
BTS say they won t submit is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does BTS say they won t submit matter?
BTS say they won t submit matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.