All Seven BTS Members Announce Grammy Withdrawal
BTS has decided not to submit its music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards.
All seven members reportedly shared the same statement through their official social media accounts on Wednesday, July 29.
The announcement came from RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook.
“We have decided not to submit our work to this year’s Grammys,” the group said.
BTS also expressed concern about music being classified according to language or geographical region.
The group said it hoped music could be heard and appreciated without such divisions.
The members concluded their statement by thanking ARMY and everyone who has continued supporting them.
The decision means BTS will not submit its fifth studio album, Arirang, or any eligible tracks from the project for the 69th Grammy Awards.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 7, 2027.
BTS did not directly use the word “boycott” in its reported statement. However, the refusal to enter any music has widely been interpreted as a protest against the Recording Academy’s latest category changes.
New Asian Pop Grammy Category Sparks Debate
The Recording Academy announced five new Grammy categories on June 16, 2026.
One of them is Best Asian Pop Music Performance.
The category will recognise music originating from, or widely recognised within, Asian markets.
Eligible genres include K-pop, J-pop and C-pop. Other Asian pop styles may also qualify.
However, the category includes a major language requirement.
Songs must contain the meaningful use of at least one Asian language.
A few isolated words, short phrases or background expressions are not enough.
The Asian language must play an important role in the song. It must also make the recording identifiable with that language.
Songs performed entirely in an Asian language are eligible.
Bilingual and multilingual tracks can also qualify when an Asian language has a significant presence.
However, songs performed completely in English cannot compete in the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
The Recording Academy has clarified that English-language songs by Asian artists can still be entered in other suitable Grammy categories.
This means the rule is based on the musical work and its language content. It is not based only on an artist’s nationality or ethnicity.
The new category was introduced to provide greater recognition to the rapidly expanding Asian pop industry.
Recording Academy officials said K-pop, J-pop and C-pop had become major forces in the international music market.
However, the decision has also generated criticism.
Some listeners and commentators believe the category provides long-overdue recognition for Asian music.
Others fear it could separate Asian performers from mainstream pop categories.
Critics argue that globally successful Asian artists should not be defined mainly by their language or regional origin.
The debate became particularly important for BTS because the group has released music in Korean, English and several multilingual formats.
Its 2020 global hit Dynamite was performed entirely in English.
Under the new rules, Dynamite would not qualify for Best Asian Pop Music Performance if it were released during the current eligibility period.
However, it could still be submitted to another appropriate pop category.
The same principle would apply to future English-language releases by BTS or other Asian performers.
Tracks containing meaningful Korean lyrics could potentially qualify for the new Asian pop award.
However, BTS has now reportedly chosen not to submit any eligible recordings for the 2027 ceremony.
BTS Challenges Language-Based Music Classification
BTS has built its international career by releasing music across languages and genres.
The group has combined Korean and English lyrics with pop, hip-hop, R&B and electronic production.
Its latest statement appears to challenge the idea that music should be placed in a separate category because of its language or market of origin.
The group’s withdrawal could become one of the most significant artist protests in recent Grammy history.
BTS remains one of the most commercially successful acts to emerge from South Korea.
The group has also played a major role in expanding K-pop’s audience across the United States, Europe and other international markets.
Despite its global success, BTS has never won a Grammy.
According to the Recording Academy’s official records, the group has received five nominations.
Its nominations include Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Dynamite, Butter and the Coldplay collaboration My Universe.
BTS was also nominated for Best Music Video for Yet to Come.
The members were additionally recognised through Coldplay’s Album of the Year nomination for Music of the Spheres.
The group’s decision to remain outside the 2027 competition could increase pressure on the Recording Academy.
It may also encourage wider discussion about how international music is classified by major Western award organisations.
The Recording Academy has presented the new category as an expansion of Grammy recognition.
BTS appears to view the language-based structure differently.
Its reported statement places artistic identity above geographical and linguistic labels.
The decision could also affect interest in the newly created category.
BTS would have been considered a major potential contender because of its worldwide popularity and Korean musical identity.
Without a submission, neither Arirang nor its tracks can receive nominations at the 2027 Grammy Awards.
The Recording Academy has not yet publicly responded to the group’s reported withdrawal.
For BTS, the move sends a message beyond a single awards ceremony.
The group is asking the global music industry to judge songs by their artistic impact rather than placing them within regional boundaries.
