BTS Chooses Not to Submit Music for 2027 Grammy Awards

K-pop sensation BTS announced they will not submit their music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, expressing concerns over category divisions in a group statement. The members of BTS, including RM, Jimin, V, Suga, Jungkook, Jin, and J-Hope, shared the message on their individual Instagram accounts. The statement reads, I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.

The Recording Academy has not yet commented on BTS’s decision. Many expected BTS to receive nominations for major awards at the upcoming 69th Grammy Awards, particularly for their latest album, Arirang. This album is among the year’s best-selling records, with the lead single Swim hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.

Under the new Grammy categorizations, Swim might not qualify for the best Asian pop music performance category, a new addition aimed at boosting inclusivity. These new rules state that recordings must prominently feature one or more Asian languages. Although most BTS songs are in Korean, Swim is mainly in English. The rulebook specifies that significant use of an Asian language is necessary for the recording to be identifiable with that language.

BTS formed in 2013 and has been compared to The Beatles. They have performed at the Grammy Awards and were the first K-pop group nominated, having received five nominations but no wins yet. BTS stands for Bangtan Sonyeondan, or Bulletproof Boy Scouts in Korean. The band has a vast global fanbase and recently performed in the U.S. during the World Cup final halftime show.

The group expressed gratitude to their fans, known as Army, saying, Thank you to Army and everyone who is always with us.