Global K-pop group BTS has announced it will not submit its music for next year’s Grammy Awards.
The move is seen as a protest against the Recording Academy’s new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which critics say separates rather than recognizes Asian artists equally
The seven-member South Korean group made the announcement in coordinated posts on their individual Instagram accounts.
“We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year. We hope that music is heard and loved for what it is, rather than being defined by region or language,” the members said.
The decision is significant given that BTS was widely tipped to contend for several top honours, including Album of the Year, following the release of their comeback album ARIRANG, one of this year’s best-selling records.
ARIRANG, named after a traditional South Korean folk song, explores themes of Korean identity in the aftermath of the group’s hiatus for mandatory military service.
Ironically, the album would not even have qualified for the new Asian pop category it helped spark controversy over, as the award requires entries to make meaningful use of at least one Asian language, and ARIRANG features mostly English lyrics.
Despite a long and celebrated relationship with the Grammys, including multiple performances and nominations, BTS has never won an award at the ceremony.
They remain the first all-South Korean act to top Billboard’s US singles chart, a milestone they achieved with their 2020 English-language hit Dynamite.
Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr said he was saddened by the group’s withdrawal and pushed back on the idea that the new category limits artists’ chances at top awards.
“The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists,” he said.
Beyond music, BTS has used its platform for broader causes, championing UNICEF campaigns, donating one million dollars to Black Lives Matter in 2020 and inspiring fans to match the amount, speaking at the White House in 2022 on anti-Asian hate and inclusivity, and been open about mental health struggles.
The group recently completed a European tour and headlined a Super Bowl-style halftime show at the World Cup final in the United States.
