BTS will not submit any music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. In a coordinated statement posted across all seven members’ Instagram accounts, the group said they hope music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.
The decision directly follows the Recording Academy’s introduction of a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category last month. Under the category’s rules, nominated songs must contain meaningful use of an Asian language. BTS’s recent comeback record, Arirang, includes more than 80% English-language lyrics, which would have disqualified it from that award. The band’s US number-one single Swim was also expected to be in contention for Song of the Year, but its English lyrics similarly created a categorical mismatch.
Why BTS Chose to Sit Out
The group’s statement stopped short of naming the Recording Academy directly, but the wording closely echoed complaints raised in K-pop spaces since the category’s announcement. Many fans argued that the new award pigeonholed Asian artists instead of recognizing them in the broader general categories. By mentioning both region and language, the band appeared to reflect that broader frustration rather than simply declining a single nomination.
BTS joined a notable list of artists who have boycotted or criticized the Grammys in recent years, including The Weeknd, Morgan Wallen, Frank Ocean, and Will Smith. Drake also publicly questioned the awards’ relevance in 2020, calling for the ceremony to be replaced because it habitually overlooked Black artistry and rap music.
A Grammy Track Record Without a Win
BTS was the first K-pop act to receive a Grammy nomination in 2021, for Dynamite — their first song performed entirely in English. They have since added four more nominations, but have never won. The group has performed on the Grammys stage multiple times, including appearances with Lil Nas X and Halsey.
Their world tour, launched after the Arirang comeback, is expected to rival Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour at the box office. The seven members — RM, Jimin, V, Suga, Jungkook, Jin, and J-Hope — have been voting members of the Recording Academy since 2019.
What Fans Are Saying
Reaction from the BTS Army has been sharply divided. Some fans expressed disappointment that the group will not attend, while others applauded the stand. Fan Ashia Davies, 27, called it a shame but understood the group’s reasoning. Fellow superfan Lauryn Adene, 22, said she was happy the group would not enter, adding that BTS has nothing left to prove.
“I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. Thank you to ARMY and everyone who is always with us.” — BTS
Why It Matters
BTS’s boycott puts the Recording Academy’s diversity strategy under fresh scrutiny. Adding a segregated category for Asian pop may have been intended as recognition, but the band’s rejection suggests it is being read as exclusion. The move also signals that K-pop’s biggest acts are willing to sacrifice mainstream award validation rather than accept what they see as tokenization. For music fans, the broader question is whether the Grammys can ever evolve fast enough to reflect who is actually shaping pop culture — or whether their authority is already in irreversible decline.
