With their successful comeback album Arirang and sold-out world tour that extends until 2027, BTS has been having a great year. So, it wasn’t a surprise that many saw the group as having their highest chance yet at not only scoring nominations but potentially winning their very first Grammy next year. But in a move that shook music fans and especially the Recording Academy, RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook all announced via the same statement posted on their Instagram Stories that they would not submit their music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards next year.
“We have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year. We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. We thank ARMY and everyone who has always stood by us,” said the statement in an English translation.
In a time when Grammy success might seem the closest yet for the group and during one of their most successful eras to date, the decision might seem baffling to some. But for BTS, it was their way of saying that they aren’t going to be playing by the rules, as they want people to enjoy their music without putting themselves in a box.
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The Grammys and Their History With Non-White Artists
It should be noted that this move came just a month after the Grammys introduced a new category for the 2027 ceremony called Best Asian Pop Music Performance. In a bid to be more diverse and respond to the changing landscape of music, the Grammys are introducing a handful of new categories next year, one of those being for Asian Pop. In theory, the move is supposed to acknowledge the growing influence of Asian pop in the global music scene.
BTS, who have been voting members of the Recording Academy since 2019, have been nominated for five Grammys and performed at the awards ceremony three times. Considering that they are a K-pop boy group and Arirang topped the charts, it was assumed that BTS would be a shoo-in to be nominated, if not outright win the category.
But the problem lies when those categories do more to exclude rather than celebrate. Yes, it is nice seeing artists outside mainstream Western spaces get their recognition, and it’s not inherently wrong for artists to submit their work in said categories. But the Grammys have a history of setting up new glass ceilings whenever non-Westerners and people of color take home the major prizes.
When Beyoncé won Best Country Album and her long-overdue Album of the Year Grammy for Cowboy Carter in 2025, the Recording Academy responded by splitting the Country Album category into two the following year, one for Best Contemporary Country Album and another for Best Traditional Country Album. You can probably read between the lines what the Grammys mean by traditional and contemporary after a black woman won. When Bad Bunny took home Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos earlier this year, it felt like a step in the right direction. So, what did the Grammys do? Introduce a Best Latin Song category in 2027.
When You’re Not Beholden to the Genre
BTS isn’t the first artist to directly or indirectly call out the Grammys for this behavior and not submit their work for consideration. Pay attention enough times, and you notice that non-white success in the biggest categories at the Grammys could mean additional barriers erected in the future done in the guise of inclusivity. A Best Asian Pop category might mean a seat at a table for more Asian artists, including OPM artists, but if that’s the case, at what cost? Why not just nominate them in the main pop categories instead?
Creating new avenues and accolades to award artists around the world is a welcome development. However, doing so only to recognize them in a certain category and not in the main awards is not the way to go. Pop is pop regardless. A pop song from Korea, Japan, China, or the Philippines can be just as good as one made in the US or UK. Giving these artists a seat at the table is ok, but it should not stop at just that.
We are speaking theoretically here in the sense that we would never really know how many Grammys BTS would be nominated for next year. But for the biggest boy band in the world to do this speaks not only to who they are as artists, but also where they stand in how they would like their music to be seen, felt, and consumed. In a way, BTS is saying that genre-specific categories aren’t and shouldn’t be the only way for a song, album, and artist to base their worth on and that deserve to be engaged with.
It was only this year that Golden became the first K-pop song in history to win a Grammy, but K-pop has been and remains a global juggernaut. OPM may not receive any love from the Recording Academy, but it still is a powerhouse in the Philippines and a growing presence in many parts of the world. BTS is standing on business in their belief that having their own room that’s separate from the rest is not the same as being in the room. And the fact that it was the members themselves who posted the statement and not through their official account or HYBE shows that they mean it.
While artist recognition is great, there comes a point where you have to remind yourself that there’s more to music, art, and culture beyond stereotyping it into a genre or category.
Featured Image and Photos: BTS (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
BTS declined to submit their comeback album Arirang for Grammy consideration to protest regional and linguistic categorizations in music. The septet stated they want their work evaluated on artistic merit rather than being restricted by geographic or language boundaries.
The Recording Academy introduced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance award for the 69th Grammy Awards cycle. The category recognizes pop music from Asian markets, requiring eligible tracks to feature meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.
BTS has earned five Grammy Award nominations, including three consecutive nods in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category for “Dynamite,” “Butter,” and “My Universe” featuring Coldplay. They have also performed three times during the official telecast.
Critics and industry observers argue that introducing regional subcategories can ringfence non-Western acts away from major General Field honors like Album of the Year. Instead of broadening representation in main categories, regional awards risk siloing international pop artists.
BTS has not won a Grammy Award despite receiving five career nominations and attending as Recording Academy voting members. Their decision keeps their record-breaking 2026 album Arirang entirely out of the 69th Grammy Awards contention.
