By Danielle Broadway
LOS ANGELES, July 29 (Reuters) – K-pop group BTS said on Wednesday they will not submit any music for consideration at the 69th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2027, citing dissatisfaction with the academy’s new category for best Asian pop music performance.
The decision marks the first time the South Korean group, one of the biggest names in K-pop, have opted out of the awards ceremony. Each member of the group shared the news in a post on Instagram.
“We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year. I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language,” they wrote.
The Recording Academy announced the new category on June 16 for music from South Korea, Japan, China, and elsewhere in the region.
“This category recognizes artistic excellence in Asian pop music 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,” the Grammy website says.
The Recording Academy did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.
BTS released comeback album “ARIRANG” on March 20 after a hiatus for their members to complete military service. A global success, it topped the Billboard 200 chart for two consecutive weeks, setting a new record for a K-pop act.
Tickets for BTS concerts in South Korea sold out rapidly during January’s presale, driven by demand from the band’s devoted fanbase, known as ARMY. The North American and European legs of the tour also sold out within hours, according to Hybe, the agency that manages BTS.
At the 52nd American Music Awards in May, BTS beat Taylor Swift and other major artists to win artist of the year, in addition to taking home two other awards.
BTS consist of seven members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook. They are managed by Big Hit Music, an independent label under Hybe.
(Reporting by Danielle Broadway, Minwoo Park and Heekyong Yang, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)
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