BTS Withdraws From Grammy Consideration In Over New Asian Pop Category
Korean pop group BTS will not submit its music for Grammy consideration this year, apparently in protest over the Recording Academy’s recent decision to launch a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
“We have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year,” the group’s seven members – RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook – posted on their Instagram accounts. “We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. We thank Army and everyone who has always stood by us.”
The “Army” reference is a nod to the group’s global fanbase.
Last month, the Recording Academy announced several new categories including the Best Asian Pop Music Performance, which is designed to recognize artistic excellence in “performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including but not limited to K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, with meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.” Awards are presented to the performing artist or artists.
BTS was generally expected to land multiple Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year, for its huge-selling comeback record Arirang. The album’s #1 lead single “Swim” was also expected to perfrorm well in the nominations.
BTS fans – and, no doubt, the Recording Academy – had hoped the group would perform at this year’s Grammy ceremony, which airs on February 7, 2027, for the first time on ABC, Hulu and Disney+ after airing on CBS for more than 50 years.
BTS is currently on a world tour and recently appeared at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The 11-minute halftime show, during which the group performed its 2020 single “Dynamite,” also featured Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber. BTS returns to MetLife on August 1 to begin the U.S. leg of its tour.
