In June, the Grammy Awards announced five new categories effective next year, one of which is Best Asian Pop Music Performance. According to the Recording Academy, the award recognizes “artistic excellence in Asian pop music” within Asian markets and is not limited to K-pop, J-pop, or C-pop, requiring the “meaningful” use of one or more Asian languages. More than a month after the category was announced, BTS revealed that they would not submit their music for consideration in this year’s Grammys as a reaction to the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
All members of the group, including RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, posted statements on their respective Instagram Stories, which have been widely interpreted as a protest against the Recording Academy’s Asian Pop category.
“We have decided not to submit our music to the Grammys this year,” the group said in a statement shared through the Instagram Stories of all seven members. “We hope music can be heard and loved as music itself, rather than being divided by region or language.”
On July 30, Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. released a statement on Instagram, expressing that while he is saddened by BTS’ decision not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, “as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision.”
Mason Jr. also clarified that submitting music in a genre category does not exclude an artist from also submitting and being considered in other categories.
“Those categories remain open to any eligible recording, regardless of genre. Recognition in a genre category and recognition in a General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can absolutely pursue both,” Mason Jr. says.
The world’s biggest K-pop group has never won a Grammy but has been nominated five times (thrice in the best pop duo /group performance category, and once in the album of the year for its contribution to Coldplay’s 2021 album “Music of the Spheres,” and for best music video for “Yet to Come”).
BTS announced its comeback this year with the album ARIRANG, and is currently on a world tour promoting said album across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Recording Academy has announced five new categories: Best Asian Pop Music Performance, Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, Best Traditional Folk Album, and Best Latin Song.
All members of the group, including RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, posted on their respective Instagram Stories saying that they have decided to not submit their music for consideration. The group “hopes that music can be heard and loved as music itself rather than being divided by region or language.”
BTS is currently promoting their comeback album, ARIRANG, on a world tour spanning North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
The Recording Academy announced that all five new Grammy categories, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance, will take effect beginning with next year’s awards on February 7, 2027.
The award will consider artists who recognize “artistic excellence in Asian pop music” within Asian markets and is not limited to K-pop, J-pop, or C-pop. The award requires the “meaningful” use of one or more Asian languages.
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