BTS is making a daring statement ahead of the subsequent Grammy Awards by opting out of the competition entirely.
Slightly than submitting their latest music for consideration, the worldwide K-pop superstars announced they’re stepping away from this yr’s awards cycle, citing concerns over how music is categorized.
The choice comes just weeks after the Recording Academy unveiled a brand new Grammy category specifically recognizing Asian pop performances, sparking mixed reactions across the music industry.
Because the Recording Academy continues accepting submissions for the 69th Grammy Awards, BTS has confirmed it would not be participating in the method.
The group shared the announcement through its members’ individual social media accounts, explaining that the choice reflected its wider views on how music ought to be evaluated.
“We decided to not undergo the Grammys this yr. We would like music to be heard and loved for what it’s, slightly than categorized by region or language,” the statement read per Korean JoongAng Every day.
Although the group did indirectly reference the Recording Academy’s newest rule changes, the timing of the announcement quickly fueled speculation that the statement was geared toward the organization’s decision to introduce a dedicated category for Asian pop music.
BTS Decision Fuels Debate Over The Recording Academy’s Latest Category
In line with a report from Korean JoongAng Every day, slightly than uniting the music world, the Academy’s newest category has opened one other debate.
Amongst five additions announced for the upcoming Grammy Awards is Best Asian Pop Music Performance, an honor intended for recordings that originate from, or are strongly related to, Asian music markets while making meaningful use of a number of Asian languages.
To supporters, the category acknowledges the explosive global rise of Asian pop after years of international success.
Others, nonetheless, have questioned whether making a separate award risks placing Asian artists on a parallel track as a substitute of recognizing them alongside all other performers within the Grammys’ biggest races.
Responding to those concerns, the Recording Academy described the changes as a part of “its ongoing commitment to reflecting today’s dynamic musical landscape.”
CEO Harvey Mason Jr. added, “The changes advanced by our Recording Academy members speak to the breadth of today’s music industry and the various genres, crafts and creators shaping it. We’re excited to see these updates come to life within the yr ahead as we rejoice the […] people who find themselves driving music forward.”
BTS Has Long Viewed The Grammys As An Vital Goal
The group’s decision carries extra weight due to its long history with the Recording Academy.
Although BTS has collected countless awards all over the world, a Grammy victory has remained one in every of the few major milestones still missing from its résumé.
The members have never hidden their ambitions. During a 2020 interview with Esquire, leader and most important rapper RM described the Grammys as “the ultimate a part of the entire American journey.”
That journey began with the group’s first Grammy nomination for “Dynamite” before “Butter” earned one other nomination the next yr.
In 2022, BTS returned to the ballot with “My Universe,” its collaboration with Coldplay, together with recognition for its appearance on “Music of the Spheres” and “Yet To Come.”
BTS’s Latest Music Still Raises Eligibility Questions
Even when BTS had chosen to compete this yr, uncertainty remained over how a few of the group’s newest songs would fit throughout the Recording Academy’s updated rules.
The Academy has stated that multilingual recordings must feature an Asian language in a big approach to qualify for Best Asian Pop Music Performance, noting that isolated words, ad-libs, or short phrases alone wouldn’t meet the usual.
That guideline leaves questions surrounding tracks from BTS’s latest album, “Arirang.” While lead single “Swim” accommodates no Korean lyrics, songs including “Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” and “2.0” incorporate Korean verses, making their eligibility unclear under the Academy’s criteria.
BTS Swept The 2026 AMAs Before Turning Down The Grammys
BTS’s decision to skip this yr’s Grammy race is much more striking considering the group’s momentum on the international awards circuit.
Just months earlier, the K-pop superstars emerged as one in every of the largest winners on the 2026 American Music Awards, taking home three trophies, including the night’s top honor, Artist of the Yr.
The group also won Favorite K-Pop Male Artist and Song of the Summer, cementing its continued dominance despite an prolonged period focused on solo activities and military service.
The ceremony also marked a serious night for K-pop overall, with TWICE winning Favorite K-Pop Female Artist and rookie girl group KATSEYE earning Latest Artist of the Yr, showing the genre’s expanding influence on the worldwide music scene.