South Korean supergroup BTS has announced it will not participate in the 2027 Grammy Awards. The seven members decided to step away from music's biggest night after the Recording Academy introduced a new award category specifically for Asian pop music.
All seven members shared a message on Instagram explaining their choice. "We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year," they wrote. "I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language."
The group's decision comes shortly after the Recording Academy announced the creation of the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, alongside a new Latin music award. Academy president Harvey Mason Jr. said the new category was added because the music community requested more opportunities to celebrate new genres.
However, many fans and artists worry that creating a separate regional category will separate Asian artists from major awards like Album of the Year or Song of the Year. Instead of competing for the main prizes, artists might be restricted to genre-specific categories.
Asian pop artists have historically struggled for recognition at the US-based awards. BTS became the first K-pop act to receive a nomination in 2021. Recently, K-pop has made bigger gains at the Grammys, with songs like "Golden" winning an award and Rosé receiving multiple nominations for her hit collaboration "APT."
BTS released their album Arirang with mostly Korean lyrics, which would make them prime candidates for the new Asian pop category. By withdrawing completely, the group is taking a clear stand against dividing artists by their background.
The 2027 Grammy ceremony will take place on February 7 in Los Angeles. The Recording Academy has not yet commented on BTS's decision to withdraw.