BTS has made a striking decision ahead of the next Grammy Awards. The group’s move follows a major Recording Academy change involving Asian pop music.
BTS will not submit its music for Grammy consideration this year
Korea JoongAng Daily reported that BTS members announced the decision through their respective social media accounts July 29. “We decided not to submit to the Grammys this year,” they wrote. “We want music to be heard and loved for what it is, rather than categorized by region or language.”
The statement followed the Recording Academy’s introduction of five categories for the 69th Grammy Awards. One of them, Best Asian Pop Music Performance, recognizes performances originating from or widely recognized in Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, that meaningfully use one or more Asian languages.
BTS did not directly name the category. However, Korea JoongAng Daily described the decision as an apparent rebuke of the change. The group’s reference to regional and language-based classification also closely matched the debate surrounding the new award.
The Recording Academy opened its online entry period on July 7, and submissions will remain open through Aug. 21, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. The ceremony will air Feb. 7, 2027, on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu.
The decision means BTS will not seek Grammy recognition for music from its “Arirang” era. The group returned after a four-year hiatus with a comeback that included the “Swim” music video featuring Lili Reinhart. Its world tour also sparked predictions that BTS could challenge some of music’s largest touring acts.
The move stands out because BTS already has a notable Grammy history. The Recording Academy’s official artist profile lists five nominations and no wins. The group received recognition for “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “My Universe,” “Yet to Come,” and its credited work on Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres.”
BTS has found award success elsewhere this year. The group won all three of its nominated categories at the 2026 American Music Awards, including Artist of the Year. By withholding its work, BTS has turned a routine submission decision into a wider statement about how institutions categorize global music. For now, Best Asian Pop Music Performance remains part of the Recording Academy’s official 2027 Grammy rules.
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