Korean pop group BTS has opted out of 2027 Grammys contention in apparent reaction to the awards’ newly created Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
“We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year,” the boy band’s seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — posted simultaneously, in Korean, on their respective Instagram accounts Wednesday. “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.”
ARMY is the name of BTS’ global fan base. BTS, shorthand for the Bangtan Boys, is the acronym for the group’s official name, Bangtan Sonyeondan, or “Bulletproof Boy Scouts” in English. After a four-year hiatus to pursue solo projects and fulfill mandatory military service, BTS roared back with the March 2026 release of “Arirang.”
The group is currently on its 85-show Arirang World Tour and will play to sellout crowds at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium Saturday and Sunday, where they memorably performed in the World Cup 2026 Final halftime show on July 19.
BTS has been nominated for numerous Grammy awards over the years. “Arirang” was predicted to be an Album of the Year contender, with nods also expected for its lead single “Swim,” according to Deadline.
The new Best Asian Pop Music Performance award is one of five new categories the Recording Academy unveiled last month. It “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 Recording Academy said in a statement.
Asian pop music “is distinct in its musical identity” and “continues to grow and shape music culture around the world,” Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. explained in a Q&A at the time, adding that the award “more accurately reflects the genre’s scale, artistry and global impact.”